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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0694.PDF
688-689 FLIGHT, 29 May 1953 Seen in the formation on the left, Percival Prentice basic trainers (Gipsy Queen 30)— built to a most difficult post war specification—continue to give good service. Their successors, Provosts (Leon- ides) are more powerful and lively, as may be judged from the attitude of the one shown. Deliveries have just started. THE QUEEN'S AIR FORCES . . . TRAINING COMMAND A VERY great responsibility is carried by Flying Training Command of the R.A.F., for there is no doubt that the knowledge gained and the habits formed in the air and on the ground during the impressionable formative months of training have a lasting effect on a man's whole Service career. It is for this reason, too, that the staff and instructors at the various training establishments should be picked men, if necessary speci ally released from other duties, who will set the best possible example rather than—as has sometimes been the case in the past —second-best men who could be most easily spared from the operational squadrons. Training Command has been in an almost continuous state of change and evolution during post-war years. It is, of course, one of the first to feel the effect of fluctuations in international relation ships and military requirements—it has too frequently in the past (Above) Balliols (Merlin), which now equip one of the F.T.S.s, are used in addition to and for the same work as the older Harvards in Training Command. (Below) Over the R.A.F. College, Cranwell, is seen a Varsity as used for advanced navigator and pilot training. "Flight" photograph been among the last, on priority, to receive new aircraft and equipment. Today the Command is well advanced in its plans to introduce a simplified and practical training syllabus to suit the "all-jet" Air Force although, in fact, a few piston-engined aircraft will probably remain in service for a long time to come. The type for pilot training will be the Perch'al Provost basic trainer with Alvis Leonides piston engine, and the D.H. Vampire T.n with Goblin turbojet will be used for advanced training. All opera tional training in the pilots' syllabus is the responsibihty of the Commands concerned. The separation of navigators at the applied flying stage—according to the squadron duties foreseen for them—and the commencement of functional training in Flying Training Command is a possibility in the future. Within Flying Training Command there are for the time being four Groups:—No. 54, concerned chiefly with initial training and including Aircrew Selection Centre; No. 23, which is the F.T.S. Group and includes C.F.S.; No. 21 Group mainly concerned with aircrew training other than for pilots, but with the exception of a single Varsity-equipped advanced flying school for "heavy piston-engine" pilot training; and No. 25 Group, which has the jet Advanced Flying Schools. Each Group controls some dozen stations. Pilot training in the Command today is in accordance, broadly, with the following scheme. Candidates enter the Aircrew Selection Centre at Hornchurch (as do all aircrew categories) and then proceed with a twelve-week Initial Training School course as air crew cadets. On successful completion they become A.P/Os on probation, in time to start the course at their Flying Training School. The F.T.S. course is at present divided into 16 weeks of basic training on Prentices (or Chipmunks) and 32 weeks further training, including applied flying on Harvards (or Balliols). A "white" instrument rating is obtained at this stage. On obtain ing his wings on piston-engine types, the new pilot under the present scheme has his commission confirmed and he moves on to his Advanced Flying School to fly Meteors or Vampires for 14 (short course) to 18 (long course) weeks, or perhaps Varsities for 10 weeks. The short A.F.S. course is for those destined for day-fighter and ground-attack squadrons; the long course, which includes additional night and instrument flying, is for all-weather fighter and bomber pilots. The single Varsity A.F.S. is to meet Coastal and Transport Command requirements and, for a short time longer, those of Bomber Command's Lincoln squadrons. The next stage, operational training at the O.C.U., follows (as already mentioned) in the Command concerned. Already the scheme and organization outlined above is being modified to suit the smaller, very selective intake for aircrew duties now ordered, and in preparation for the proposed new and simplified scheme entailing 30 weeks and 120 hr on Provosts followed by 30 weeks and at least 110 hr on Vampires. The first Provost course will probably begin in August. Meteor 7s will be replaced over a period by Vampire T.ns (5s and 9s being used for solo). Harvards and the few remaining Oxfords will then be retired. Piston-engined twin conversion will be done on Varsities. Wellingtons are no longer used in the Command. Jet Provosts do not yet enter the picture, although a small order has been placed. The first batch of eight piston Provosts delivered is undergoing intensive flying and servicing trials. Navigators complete I.T.S. with the pilots in 12 weeks and
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