Royal Air Force Gliding & Soaring Association

The Royal Air Force Gliding & Soaring Association (RAFGSA) is a voluntary organisation which exists to provide recreational flying to all RAF servicemen and women, in particular those employed in ground duties.

In 1945, the British Air Forces of Occupation (BAFO) in Germany began using captured German gliders to provide recreational flying for RAF personnel.

This resulted in a demand for similar facilities in the United Kingdom, and the Royal Air Force Gliding & Soaring Association was founded in 1949.

[6] Jock Wishart, Ron Newall, Ian Strachan, Con Greaves, & Paddy Kearon were gliding instructors and RAFGSA or BGA competition pilots.

He was skilled in aviation engineering and was an innovative influence in light aircraft and gliding practices These included safe aerotowing, winching and scroll-gear machining and elastic rope bungee launching.

He also successfully converted military de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunks to the civil register for aerotowing gliders, which were used by the RAFGSA and other gliding organisations from the late 1960s.

Another addition was an dymotape embossed plastic label inscribed IAS VNE 120KT (Indicated Airspeed "Never Exceed" is 120 knots) (222Km/h), which was a lower speed than RAF Chipmunks that were also qualified to carry out aerobatics, not needed in an Aero-tow aircraft.