633 VGS HISTORY
633 VGS was formed at RAF Cosford in 1948 under its original name 'No 633 Gliding School'. The unit was initially equipped with a Mk II single-seat and three Kirby Cadet Mk III two-seat conventional gliders. In 1952 these ageing designs were replaced by 3 side-by side two-seat Slingsby Sedburghs and two Mk IIIs. All of the school's gliders were launched using a twin-drum 'Eagle' winch with a 90hp engine.
Slingsby Sedburgh.
In 1978, 633 VGS was prestigiously selected to be the first unit to convert to the Venture self-launching glider. Based on a Scheibe design and license-built by Slingsby as the T61A, the Venture was operated as a powered aircraft, with the engine being switched off downwind and the rest of the circuit flown as a conventional glider. The Venture was much loved by 633's pilots due to its benign handling characteristics and rugged construction.
T61 Venture
In 1991 the Venture was replaced by the Grob 109B Vigilant. It is a slightly modified version of the Grob 109 design for the RAF. It is fabricated from glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) and offers considerably better performance than its predecessors.
In 2005 all VGS' had a name change from Volunteer Gliding School to Volunteer Gliding Squadron. However the term VGS will still apply. To show this change, 633 VGS changed its Official Badge from the original badge designed in 1948 to the current one displayed on this site.
The 'old' Badge, created when the Sqn first formed in 1948.
COMMANDING OFFICERS
1948-50 Flt Lt Irvine
1950-56 Flt Lt Baxter
1956-67 Flt Lt Hughes
1967-89 Sqn Ldr G H Crump
1990-Present Sqn Ldr J Bullock