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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 0364.PDF
FLIGHT, AUGUST 17, 1933 GUNNERY INSTRUCTION : A pupil learning all about machine guns. (FLIGHT Photo.) the mat for some unknown offence. When they found that they were only needed to make a group to be photo graphed—well, our illustration on page 831 shows that they no longer looked unhappy. The story of Grantham is told pretty well by the photo graphs which we publish in this article. The day starts with physical training and drill. One picture shows the officers' squad marching off the parade ground past the " Archie," which is a very useful thing for R.A.F. officers to note. Then the pupils have a lecture for 40 minutes, after which half of them go off for flying instruction and the other half have another lecture. The number of sub jects on which instruction has to be given is multitudinous. The modern Air Force officer has to be a very accom plished person, and the same applies to the airman pilot. Our illustrations show instruction in rigging, engine fitting, machine gunnery, navigation, and signalling. The subjects on the syllabus are:—Administration, airmanship, air pilotage, armament, drill, engines, law and discipline, meteorology, organisation of the Royal Air Force, history of the Royal Air Force, rigging, signals, and theory of flight. The subject which occupies most time is armament, with air pilotage second, and engines third. In signalling the pupils have to read eight words a minute on the lamp and 10 words a minute on the semaphore. How many of our readers, we wonder, will be able to read the words spelt out by the front rank and by the rear rank in our photograph of the signalling class? We offer no prize for the first three correct answers opened on Thursday morning, and we must regretfully add that readers in Scotland are prohibited from competing. Flying training is given a b initio. Each term is divided into two flights. Each flight comman der takes two pupils and each of his assistant instructors takes four pupils. The flying course consists of 22 weeks' instruction in each term. The first term is spent on elementary types, the Avro " Tutor " and (recently) the D.H. " Tiger Moth." Pupils are given a complete training programme on these types, including forced landings, aero batics, cross-country and instrument flying. This pro gramme must be completed satisfactorily before passing to the senior term. In the senior term it is repeated on the Service types, in addition to tests at the end of the term to enable them to qualify for certificate " B." Stan dard single-seaters, " Siskins " and " Atlases " at present, are used for solo work. At each period the pupils are practised thoroughly in making forced landings. Three fields not far from the aerodrome are used as landing grounds. The two elementary flights each have the use of one field, while the two Service flights share the use of the third. Towards the end of the junior term a forced landing competition is held, and is run on the lines of an inter-flight competition. The best four pupils from each THE HEADQUARTERS STAFF : Names (left to right)—Fit. Lt. G. H. Harrison, D.F.C., Fit. Lt. Whitaker, M.B.E., Group Capt. C. W. Nutting, O.B.E., D.S.C., Commanding Officer, Fit. Lt. A. T. S. Leguen de Lacroix (Chief Ground Instructor), Fit. Lt. R. L. Sweeny, W/O. H'. J. Gibbs. . . (FLIGHT Photo.) • 830
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