Headed to Gimli, Manitoba

[jamiesonaelick]

Hello All!
I recently got my training orders for Gliding at Gimli Manitoba! I live near toronto in Ontario. What is it like? Pictures please?:airsalute:

[westwood]

Gimli is an old RCAF airbase. Expect some temperature swings, and mosquitoes. When I was there in 2008 the field was pretty wet. From what I have heard, the field has had some fill added to try to keep it drier. This may or may not seem to have had much effect this year, all depending on the weather between now and the end of course. The accommodations when I was there were two to a room, with a sink, bunks, a closet and a desk. They were originally built for training train crew. I don't have any pictures, but the RGS has some albums which can be pretty easily found on the internet. If you are a fan of drag racing, you may enjoy the neighbors. From what little I know of CSTCs, it was a fairly small CSTC. The shakeup in courses may have changed that to some extent, however.

The airport had some crop dusting, military, water bombing, and light civilian traffic while I was there, but was pretty quiet, all things considered. Of course, the gliding operation does make the airport much busier during the summer months.

There are a few others on this forum who have been back more recently than I, and will most likely be able to give you more specifics.

[J. Gleiberman]

Gimli is an old RCAF airbase. Expect some temperature swings, and mosquitoes. When I was there in 2008 the field was pretty wet. From what I have heard, the field has had some fill added to try to keep it drier. This may or may not seem to have had much effect this year, all depending on the weather between now and the end of course. The accommodations when I was there were two to a room, with a sink, bunks, a closet and a desk. They were originally built for training train crew. I don't have any pictures, but the RGS has some albums which can be pretty easily found on the internet. If you are a fan of drag racing, you may enjoy the neighbors. From what little I know of CSTCs, it was a fairly small CSTC. The shakeup in courses may have changed that to some extent, however.

The airport had some crop dusting, military, water bombing, and light civilian traffic while I was there, but was pretty quiet, all things considered. Of course, the gliding operation does make the airport much busier during the summer months.

There are a few others on this forum who have been back more recently than I, and will most likely be able to give you more specifics.

Don't forget the odd Air Canada 767 that just drops in for refueling.:D

[Bravo-One]

I went to Gimli last summer, here's what I can add.
-3 non-national courses; Basic Aviation, Basic Aerospace, Advanced Aviation, all one flight each
-1 national course; glider with two flights
-great food
-good accommodations
-pretty good weather (warm/humid, little rain)
-I've heard a lot about Mosquitos, but there weren't many when I was there
-there is a canteen and internet facilities, but those are heavily blocked (no FB, gmail, not sure about hotmail or twitter)
-movie room with your standard cadet movies (Top Gun, Speed, etc.)
-as for airport traffic, when I was there there was anywhere from 3-8 CL415/215s of the Alberta, Sask, and Manitona governments there. The occasional Hercules from Winnipeg, a skydiving school and corresponding jump aircraft, and the occasional other visitor.
-If you're into old airplanes, there a handful of old DC3s kicking around from a bankrupt First Nations airline, FNT or something
-Most classes are done inside the air cadet hanger, glided has sort of their own classes and facilities separated from the AT courses
-dance every week
Overall it's a great base, I think you'll really enjoy it, I'll see you there this summer as I am also on glider. I'll see if I have any pictures...

[Insane Power Pilot]

-good accommodations

Yes, air conditioned rooms. What a dream. :woot:

[Bravo-One]

Yes, air conditioned rooms. What a dream. :woot:
And carpet, none of this mopping up craziness!
And I did find some pictures, hopefully they can give you a general feel of the place. As for Gimli itself, I hear its a "resort town"? It is on the side of a big lake, and there's lots of boats kicking around, a few on base too. Not sure what they do for glider citizenship trips, or even if they do them, but on my course we went to 17 Wing Winnipeg and the aviation museum in Winnipeg, always fun. And here's the link to their smugmug - http://gimliglidingaircadets.smugmug.com/
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/yqlben/DNDCadetFlightsSummer2011178-Copy.jpg
One of the towplanes and what I think is a deHavilland Heron in the back
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/yqlben/DNDCadetFlightsSummer2011164.jpg
Gimli itself from the air
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/yqlben/DNDCadetFlightsSummer2011159.jpg
The airport and base from the air, we use the closer runway and the base is in the middle right corner
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/yqlben/DNDCadetFlightsSummer2011151.jpg
The old DC3 and C54?
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/yqlben/DNDCadetFlightsSummer2011150.jpg
View from the runway towards the cadet hanger and the assortment of water bombers

Hope you enjoy the pics!

[westwood]

And carpet, none of this mopping up craziness!
And I did find some pictures, hopefully they can give you a general feel of the place. As for Gimli itself, I hear its a "resort town"? It is on the side of a big lake, and there's lots of boats kicking around, a few on base too. Not sure what they do for glider citizenship trips, or even if they do them, but on my course we went to 17 Wing Winnipeg and the aviation museum in Winnipeg, always fun. And here's the link to their smugmug - http://gimliglidingaircadets.smugmug.com/

Yes, Gimli is pretty much a resort town. It also has a large Icelandic population, hence the one time my flight went into town being the weekend of the Icelandic festival. There are re-enactors of Norse history present, and they put on a good show. Gimli is a smaller town, so there isn't too much to worry about on your day off as far as getting on the wrong subway train. Due to the presence of said lake, and the positioning of the runway, you will get a certain amount of cross wind experience due to the sea breeze.

Also, I had access to Hotmail in 2008, but that may very well have changed. That is also where I, during my fifteen minute stints online, found out about Cadet-World, so it wasn't blocked back then. The Air Conditioning is not a thermostat type unit. You turn it on, select your fan speed, and will most likely have a cold night or two as it roars away, at least until you find your preferred setting or remember to turn it off. I recall them having a certain musty odor the first few days of my course, so be prepared for that.

The aircraft in the background of the first picture posted by Bravo-One is, from my research, a Heron converted to turboprop. Apparently, it was one of very few such conversions done by Saunders (it's an ST-28). The same source says that it is owned by the Western Canada Aviation Museum, which is in Winnipeg.

I also recall a large contingent of fish flies every morning that I was on course, as well.

In 2008, my experience was that time off base was limited to one day, outside of any leave you got with your family. However, you will be quite busy, and if the folks while you are there are anything like the flight I was in, you will be quite entertained.

[westwood]

Don't forget the odd Air Canada 767 that just drops in for refueling.:D

Actually, they picked the drag strip during a circuit race, sir. And then forgot to fuel the van for their technicians. :wow::rolleyes::eek:

[Harrison]

Second everything said here so far. So far it was my favorite CSTC to spend a summer at. I was there in 2010 and the field was mostly dry when we were there and other traffic was nonexistent except for the odd Cessna. For Internet access as was already mentioned the cadet computers are censored but there is the odd wifi network floating around and as well there's a few hotspots in town.

[jamiesonaelick]

Thank you so much. Any ideas ( funny or not ) for items to bring?:airsalute:

[Bravo-One]

-iPod and speaker dock, nescessary for studying, hall parties, and alleviating boredom.
-Civvies, lots of civilian clothes. Once your flight earns them, you are set!
-A camera
I'm sure others have better ideas too, I'll add if I think of more.

[westwood]

I wound up using a lot of Crystal Light over the summer. The water is, as I recall, all stuff in the five gallon jugs like you get in office coolers, but you have to drink a lot of it to keep yourself working well, and the water bottles they issued in my year really tended to make the water taste off. I also wound up getting my own aluminum water bottle sent to me, both for durability and drinkability. Otherwise, bring your study materials, the stuff on the kit list, and I do believe you can leave the flight suit behind. At least, that was the way it was my year. Some reading material might help, because you can find yourself with some spare time after writing the MOT, and while you aren't flying. The kit list covers pretty much all of the necessities, so don't feel that any of the above, with the exception of what is on the kit list, is mandatory. I would say that it is mandatory to bring your brain, your common sense, and a willingness to work hard. You will be running a lot on the field, retrieving gliders, so doing some physical conditioning in advance might be helpful.

I would also say to be careful with your valuables, as always. A good lock for your barracks box is a must.
I second the civvies, with enthusiasm. PT gear gets old on the field. You don't want to be wearing it the rest of the time, too.

[jamiesonaelick]

is the accomodations bunk beds or more like college dorms?
I've heard both

[Bravo-One]

It's pretty much both. In the main barracks it's one bunkbed per room, so 2 to people to a room. You have a desk, sink, two lockers, 2 barrack boxes, and an AC unit I believe. I'm just running from a few memories from the summer as I was housed in the trailer barracks, but I also believe there was a sort of commons area on each floor with couches. You'll really like it there, I'll see you at Gimli!

[Kristina]

I've obviously never been on a course at Gimli, being the Sea type. But we do have the Sail Centre work out of the camp.

Best things about Gimli:

- THE FOOD! Mandy andher staff are FANTASTIC and you're food is comparable home cooked.

- The staff! I know a good chunk of the officers out there this year. If you're headed out to Gimli for the summer, it's going to be a great time!

- The town is fabulous! It's a little home-like place, many tourists in the summer. But the beach is there, and Beach Boys has THE best chicken fingers :)

If you're already out there, you know all of these already. For those aspiring to go out to Gimli sometime for a course, these are things (aside from a great education at a good camp) that you'll have to possibly look forward to! :)

[jamiesonaelick]

Hello Everyone,
Do you guys know what the conditions are for leave and when it is given out for glider course cadets? My parents want to come see me at Gimli but I don't know if leave is on Saturday of like it says in a nother handbook that it can change.... Come thing like "5 days of flight school, 6 days flying, 1 day off"
Help Please?
Thanks
:airsalute:

[Glider Flyboy]

I would say just wait until you get there and then ask one of the Staff there...

Good luck on Glider this summer.

[Lukas Rausch]

Hello Everyone,
Do you guys know what the conditions are for leave and when it is given out for glider course cadets? My parents want to come see me at Gimli but I don't know if leave is on Saturday of like it says in a nother handbook that it can change.... Come thing like "5 days of flight school, 6 days flying, 1 day off"
Help Please?
Thanks
:airsalute:

Last year, we spend the week flying/ground schooling and we got one weekend day off and spend the other flying for the whole day. The other flight (there are two glider flights; Apache and Bandit) does the opposite on that weekend. So you get one day off a week, and it's either Saturday or Sunday. You'll know which ones on which weeks when you get there.

[Insane Power Pilot]

Hello Everyone,
Do you guys know what the conditions are for leave and when it is given out for glider course cadets? My parents want to come see me at Gimli but I don't know if leave is on Saturday of like it says in a nother handbook that it can change.... Come thing like "5 days of flight school, 6 days flying, 1 day off"
Help Please?
Thanks
:airsalute:

I would advise against taking leave until you've written the exam. When I went, that happened at the end of week 4. I have no idea how it's done now.

[jamiesonaelick]

Hey Insane Power Pilot,
when I say leave I mean that my parents pick me up on a day off, and return within a few hours. Is that leave or is it break or is there another term. Are you supposed to study during you're rest days?
Jamieson

[Huet]

It really depends on the schedule of the school. If you have an exam the next day, it might not be the best idea to take time away from studying. However if you don't have any pressing study to do (eg. you have 2 or more days until your next exam) then I don't think taking a couple hours off to go have supper with your parents or something of the sort would hurt, as long as you make-up the study time so you don't fall behind.

Last year when I was working at RGS(A), they had forms the cadets had to get their staff to sign in order to be able to be signed out - it basically was to ask their instructors if they could afford the time off studying.