page_title: Grob G 109
section_title: Operational history (Vigilant T1)
hierarchical_section_title: Grob G 109 / Operational history (Vigilant T1)
caption_attribution_description: English: A Grob Vigilant T1 of 637 VGS. Author: Steven Mason.
context_page_description: The Grob G109 is a light aircraft developed by Grob Aircraft AG of Mindelheim Mattsies in Germany. It first flew in 1980 the G109B followed in 1984. It is a two-seat self-launching motor glider in which the pilot and passenger or student sit side by side, with good visibility provided by large windows.
  As well as normal civilian use this aircraft was also used in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Gliding Squadrons to train Air Cadets through the Gliding Induction and Gliding Scholarship courses up until 5 May 2018, when it was retired from service. The Grob 109B was known in RAF service as the Vigilant T1. The G 109 was the first motor glider built using composite construction to be granted Federal Aviation Administration approval.
context_section_description: The Vigilant T1 variant was introduced into service in 1991, replacing the Slingsby Venture, and was used by Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (VGS) around the UK to train Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force cadets in basic flying with the aim of bringing them to a standard where they are able to fly solo. The initial order for 53 was topped up by aircraft bought in the private market. The Vigilant was also used by the Royal Air Force Central Gliding School, at RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire, which trains VGS instructors as well as providing standards checking, syllabus development and engineering support.
  During the early 2000's Australian Air Force Cadets adopted the Grob109 for pilot training purposes. The type is still in use to date.
  The RAF Vigilant fleet was 'paused' from flying since April 2014 due to ongoing maintenance issues associated with airworthiness certification. A recovery plan was put into in operation on 2016 which saw Vigilant numbers reduced to 15 nationwide, flown by 4 VGSs at 'Regional hubs'.  It was anticipated that these relaunched gliders will be disposed of in October 2019. This date was brought forward and the Vigilant was retired from service on 5 May 2018.
  On Tuesday 3 March 2020, the UK disabled flying Charity Aerobility announced that they had acquired the RAF Vigilant T1 hulls and would re-engine some with Rotax 912is3 engines and retrofit the latest Garmin glass cockpits. The new aircraft will be known as the Grob 109 Able.
caption: A Grob Vigilant T1 of 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron
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