Here’s how we used to land the Grob 109B Vigilant T Mk 1

The Grob 109B was a two seat motor glider that was used by the Royal Air Force to train Air Cadets to fly. The type was operated by Volunteer Gliding Squadrons throughout the country, as well as by Central Gliding School at RAF Syerston. The aircraft was developed from the Grob 109A which first flew in 1980. The Vigilant featured a T-tail, which used to shake quite aggressively when side-slipping the aircraft. It was built from glass reinforced plastic (GRP) and had its undercarriage in the taildragger configuration. Maximum Take-Off-Weight for the Vigilant was 908kg and the aircraft had a maximum cross-wind component of 11 knots. The type was powered by a four cylinder, horizontally opposed air cooled engine that developed approximately 95 bhp at 2,950 RPM.

The Grob Vigilant was operated by 635 VGS. Originally based at RAF Burtonwood, 635 VGS operated the type from BAe Samlesbury in Lancashire, before moving to RAF Topcliffe in 2008.

Following the retirement from VGS Operations, the type was then converted into the Grob 109 Able.