Expeditions

In late January 2020, 4 members of the RAF GSA; Air Vice Marshal Johnny Stringer (the Chairman of the RAF GSA), Sqn Ldr Mark Williams, Flt Lt Martyn Pike and SAC(T) Alistair Webb traveled to Chile to represent the RAF and the UK as part of a high-level Defence Engagement Exchange over two weeks. Each year since 1996 the Royal Air Force Gliding and Soaring Association (RAFGSA) and the Chilean Air Force, the Fuerza Aérea de Chile (FACh) “No Engine Squadron” have held an exchange as part of the Defence Engagement Strategy to build and maintain Diplomatic and Military Relations, Read More

Written by SAC(T) Alistair Webb, here is the account of the 2019 expedition to Chile with Gp Capt Moriarty, Sgt McLean and Sgt Critchlow:   The week began on Sunday when we landed at Santiago International Airport, met by Major Gonzalo Vera, the Officer in Charge of the FACh Glider “No Engine Squadron” who welcomed us and and showed us to our accommodation for the exchange, a military hotel in Santiago, just 15 minutes from the airfield.   The first day we arrived at the airfield and were all very warmly welcomed by the other members of the Squadron. After Read More

Day 1   Day one starts we being collected from the military hotel that is downtown Santiago, a journey of about 30mims to the airfield of Vitacura. We given 3 comprehensive briefs on the local operation, security and a met office briefing. The weather brief, give the impression of poor conditions 4 knots with high cirrus locally. We launch on day one with a poor forecast from the DGAC met officer. Jon Arnold I am second to launch and it looks poor, but we prepare to tow to the same location as the first glider. However a mis-communication with the Read More

A fantastic final day to end the exped with wave climbs up to 16,000ft. After totalling the stats we have managed to achieve 345 flying hours and a combined height gain of 965,000ft using the max altitude of each flight. Highlights include AM Phil Sturley (Ret’d), ex RAFGSA president, managing to reach the summit of Mt Blanc in his ASH26e glider and numerous trips for our students into the Briancon valley to view the turrets on Mont Chaberton.   Only one day was lost due to bad weather making this one of the most successful expeditions to the French Alps in recent Read More

Nearly a week into the exped and we’ve flown every day so far! The exped CFI has declared the first Saturday as a stand down day to allow the majority to rest and recuperate, giving opportunity to tour the land-out fields that scatter the surrounding valleys.   New personnel join us today and tomorrow, whilst some leave to return back to home units. A quick summary of hours and kms flown so far shows we’re having one of the most productive expeds in recent memory.   Multiple pilots have been soaring up the Maurienne and round via Grenoble with wave Read More