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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 0706.PDF
3o8 FLIGHT APRIL 2ND, 1942 EMPIRE AIR TRAINING Original Estimates Greatly Exceeded : Output of Air Crews Reaching Its Peak Technicians, Also, from Dominions TIE Commonwealth Joint Air Training Plan is now-passing into another year of successful development, and it can safely be stated that the results achieved so far have far outstripped original estimates. All along the line the great training plan has worked more smoothly, and more speedily, than its designers ever thought would be possible. Naturally, this speeded-up effort to "fill German skies with Empire airmen," as the admirably written booklet by I. Norman Smith on the Canadian end of the scheme so aptly puts it, presented the problem of getting enough aircraft and engines. This was met, in Canada, by placing orders with America for new and used machines and by taking over orders placed by the French Government before its collapse. Elans were also made for building Ansons, with Jacobs engines, in Canada, so that the shortage of aircraft, feared by some, never assumed serious dimensions. What shortage did temporarily exist was confined to the advanced trainer type, and, fortunately, it came at a time when not many of the advanced schools were operating. There never was any shortage in elementary trainers. The De Havilland factory was turning out hundreds of Tiger Moths, many of which were fitted with transparent hoods for winter flying, and there was also a plentiful supply of Fleet Finch trainers. More recently the Fair- child trainer was added to the list by an agreement under which this low-wing monoplane could be manufactured north of the 49th parallel. Congratulatory Message On the occasion of the second anniversary—in Decem ber—of the signing of the Ottawa Agreement from which the Empire Training Scheme was created, Sir Archibald Sinclair, Secretary of State for Air, sent the following message to Major Power, the Canadian Minister for Air, on the completion of the Scheme ahead of schedule: — '' Please accept my warmest congratulations on the occasion of the opening of the last school under the Joint Air Training Plan, and thu^ completing this great Scheme much ahead of schedule. « " It is all the more remarkable because the capacity of the schools has been increased much beyond what was provided for under the original plan, and because simultaneously you have provided a large number of flying training schools to take the place of schools previously established, or planned to be established in the United Kingdom. On behalt of the Air Council I wish to thank you most sincerely for all that you have done." During three years of operation—the period visualised by the Ottawa Agreement—the Scheme will cost upwards of ^180,000,000, of which Canada will provide no less than ^115,000,000. Not long ago it was officially announced that the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan administered no fewer than 124 training establishments of all kinds, including 100 airfields and 90 flying schools. By the end of last year twice as many air fighters as the original target figure had been turned out, and a very large number had ar^*#e>l in Britain to take their place in front-line squadrons. Increasing Output Every month the output rate of pilots, observers, air gunners, and wireless operators has steadily increased. The work accomplished has been stupendous in every sense. The Commonwealth Scheme in Canada provides com plete training up to the operational stage for pilots, observers, wireless operator/air gunners, and air gunners. Naturally, the majority of the cadets are drawn from the Dominion, but others are provided in agreed proportions by Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and a smaller number from Newfoundland. Civilian co-operation also plays its share, for when wr* broke out the 22 civilian flying clubs in Canada at once offered their help to the R.C.A.F., and it was as quickly accepted; similarly, the several air transport companies in Canada undertook to operate Air Observer Schools. The result is that 26 E.F.T.S'. and 10, A.O.S. are operated by these civilian companies under contract to the Canadian Government, all other schools within the plan being run by the R.C.A.F. In spite of the inevitable differences in outlook as FAIRED-IN FAIRCHILD : A Canadian version of the American elementary train»rrthe Fairchild M-62A, is instruction under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Powered by a 175 h.p. inverted 4-cyl. R Canadian Fairchild will, as the picture shows, have covered cockpits like the Canadian Tiger ^ produced for r
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