Vigilant withdrawn from use early

[Dave Smith]

The Vigilant was withdrawn from use on Friday after it was decided hat the limited number of servicable frames were no longer supportable. The one school operating them at rernhill will transfer to the Viking.

[Graham]

Dishforth was also operating them with the 645 VGS.

[Freeman Lowell]

As a taxpayer, one can only hope that the officer/s responsible for overseeing the documentation within the original operating contract and the officer/s responsible for agreeing that sufficient airframes were recoverable are 'withdrawn from use early ' too.
Freeman

[Agent K]

Dishforth was also operating them with the 645 VGS.

? Quite a few VGS squadrons were operating them across the country....

[tm74sqn]

That was true before the type was grounded, but not since. Vigilants were gradually beginning to be brought back into service ('recovered') from late 2016 but, as far as I know, the only VGSs operating them recently have been 644 VGS at RAF Syerston and 645 VGS at Topcliffe airfield/Alanbrook Barracks - maybe only half-a-dozen aircraft between them, despite plans that 15 would be 'recovered'. The plans also noted that only 60 Vikings would be recovered, but with the demise of the Vigilants maybe that number will be increased.
Cheers, TM74

[phantom2430uk]

That was true before the type was grounded, but not since. Vigilants were gradually beginning to be brought back into service ('recovered') from late 2016 but, as far as I know, the only VGSs operating them recently have been 644 VGS at RAF Syerston and 645 VGS at Topcliffe airfield/Alanbrook Barracks - maybe only half-a-dozen aircraft between them, despite plans that 15 would be 'recovered'. The plans also noted that only 60 Vikings would be recovered, but with the demise of the Vigilants maybe that number will be increased.
Cheers, TM74

644 VGS converted to the Viking in 2012 due to Vigilant shortages.

[TomTwin]

Wonder if there will be a dispersal sale of these now they are gone from service. Was lucky enough to pilot ZH184 solo in June 2010 from RAF Tern Hill, on my last day as an Air Cadet.

Given the tail also has my initials on it, that's two reasons why I'm interested!

Regards,

Tom

[Vulture 01]

To get an understanding of the whole story behind this shambles, why not have a look at the 'Air cadets grounded' thread on PPrune website. Be prepared for a long read though.

As an ex-cadet, and instructor for over 40 years, this was part of the reason why I resigned earlier this year. The ACO 'management' seem to have lost touch with the real world, and the idea that Air cadets want to fly........

[TonyO]

Apparently Sea Cadets are being trained on privately-registered machines quite safely.