FAMIL (Familiarization) FLYING
Nationally, the Air Cadet program aims to provide each cadet with at least one "Famil" flight per training year. This might be in the Air Cadet glider, a power famil supported by a local flight school, or any other event where cadets participate as passengers on a training flight exercise.
Famil Gliding in Clarenville
Cadets will join a bus from our regular training location, Garrison St. John's at 115 The Boulevard, and travel to the air strip in Clarenville. Cadets will be shuttled in small groups onto the operational zone, taking turns in flights on the Air Cadet Glider (see "About the Glider" below). Cadets are invited and encouraged to take plenty of pictures, as permitted by air operations.
For the 2025-2026 training year, this event is taking place on Sunday, 17 May 2026.
Registration
Space is limited, as we will only be provided one bus, and air ops is limited by daylight for safe operations. To register, complete the below form no later than 12 May 2026:
Event Details
Date: Sunday, 17 May 2026
Schedule:
0700 - Arrive at Garrison St. John's, 115 The Boulevard
0730 - Bus departs St. John's for Clarenville
1900 - Estimated return from Clarenville at Garrison St. John's, 115 The Boulevard
Lunch:
Meal orders are due by Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
Lunch will be provided by A&W and delivered to the site.
Cadets may specify an order using the meal form.
We already have orders for: Dandeneau, Santander-Diaz, Hornell, An, Kayode-Johnson and Kaithaparambu
If you do not complete a meal form, we will order a meal according to any identified dietary restrictions.
More details:
Dress - Cadets will wear civilian attire, appropriate for the weather and outdoor conditions. Dress in layers, and consider other protection, including windbreakers, sunglasses, sunscreen, gloves, etc.) The glider does not have cabin heating or air conditioning. On a cool day, it can be very chilly at altitude - And on a hot day it can be intensely warm under the canopy of the glider. Be prepared!
Downtime - There is significant downtime between famil flights, and each cadet will only get one chance to fly. Prepare for several hours of time on the ground or in transit.
Facilities - There are only port-a-potties available, and the only hard shelter will be the bus, which will remain at the site for the duration of our event.
Snacks - Lunch will be provided. Cadets may pack nut-free snacks, but are not permitted to eat any snacks during travel. Only when the bus has stopped at Clarenville, or returned to St. John's can food be eaten on the bus.
The Schweizer SGS 2-33 is an American two-seat, high-wing, strut-braced, training glider.
The 2-33 has a welded steel tube fuselage covered in aircraft fabric. The single-spar, aluminum structure wings are tapered from mid-span and feature top and bottom balanced divebrakes. The wings are covered in aluminum stressed skin.
The SGS 2-33 remains popular with glider schools, the largest operator is the Air Cadet League of Canada with a fleet of 79 2-33s and 2-33As as of 2022.