|
Number
2 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets (2WGAAFC) was instrumental
in introducing gliding to the cadet syllabus back in 1968.
Nine cadets began a history-making glider flying test course
at the Southern Downs Soaring Club, at the Warwick aerodrome
on December 30th 1968 and it was officially endorsed by the
then Air Force Support Command as an official cadet activity.
The bulk of the finances for the test school were donated by
Wing Commander Gordon Olive DFC, a WW2 bomber pilot.
The
gliding training was conducted by a local gliding instructor,
Gus Mauch OAM. Since 1968 there have been thousands of young
people who have gained their wings, learning
to fly with the 2WGAAFC gliding flight. Many have gone
on to forge a flying career in the Australian Defence
Force and
major airlines.
On
Saturday 26th September 2009 at 11.30am, the 229 Flight
Australian Air Force Cadets (229 FLT AAFC) officially
opened their
new hangar, which is located at the Warwick aerodrome.
After years of negotiations and hard work, the project
to get a brand new Vietnam-era former Iroquois helicopter
hangar assembled to house the flight’s fleet of five
gliders had come to fruition. With the support of the
State RSL,
South district RSL and the Forest Lake RSL, the President
of the Forest Lake RSL and Commanding Officer of
229 FLTLT (AAFC), Bob Kilpatrick, helped to complete
the
successful negotiations to finance the assembly of the
hangar.
Former
Toowoomba 210 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadet,
Deputy Chief of Air Force, Air Vice- Marshal Geoff Brown,
AM, officially opened the hangar. It will be named in
honour of the original chief instructor for the cadets Gus
Mauch OAM and
the longserving past
Commanding Officer
of the gliding flight, Don Scott
MBE. Both gentlemen, who
are in their 80s, attended the official opening and
witnessed the
naming of the hangar in their honour.
At
the conclusion of the official opening of the Gus Mauch
OAM – Don
Scott MBE hangar, DCAF presented solo wings to cadets
who had achieved this qualification, and announced that
the CAF has approved the re-introduction of gliding
scholarships
into the AAFC system after a long absence.
|
