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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0795.PDF
22 June 1956 797 pilot in a fighter squadron or bomber crew can get by withoutit. But there are two difficulties here. Leadership is not a quality easily found in men coming up for flying training nowa-days, and leadership and flying skill are not always well com- bined in one man. Other very important qualities are anaggressive and resourceful mentality combined with thorough technical knowledge and the ability to fly accurately. Add to thisintelligence and physical fitness and a mental alertness akin to that type of "low cunning" which often leads to success in wilygames of strength played at the less inhibited parties. Timidity has no place in the air and is very easily spotted. Hard andfast tests for these qualities in the air are obviously difficult if not impossible to set. A great deal therefore depends on the abilityand knowledge of the instructor, both in relation to the R.A.F.'s requirements and to the trainee's character. About the only testof this kind is that for instrument flying. On the ground as much as possible is done to bring out thequalities just described, while at the same time inculcating the necessary technical knowledge. The latter takes the time-honoured form of lectures on and study of engines, aerodynamics, navigation, meteorology, airmanship, signals, weapons, aviationmedicine, R.A.F. law, man-management and general education. The last-named is not as basic as it might sound because in addi-tion to hearing lectures on world affairs and related topics, the student officers spend much of this part of their course workingon their own initiative—preparing lecturettes or projects such as illustrated surveys of neighbouring towns or organizations. In thelectures on weapons mentioned above, basic instruction on guided weapons is included with the traditional "gunnery and bombery." Great prominence is given to initiative training both for thedevelopment of character, and because it goes as far as possible towards replacing the escape and evasion training which is verynecessary for aircrew. Full-scale escape and evasion exercises have now been discontinued because of inconvenience to thepublic in general and particularly to farmers. Initiative exer- cises take a number of forms, and are often based on the tradi-tional formula of sending small groups or individuals to out-of- the-way places with only 15s and some specific task to performwithin a limited time. This might be the surveying of a village for suitable defence positions and helicopter landing grounds, onwhich a written report with sketch maps must be submitted. Meanwhile transport, food and shelter must be obtained withoutexceeding the allowance and, of course, without breaking the law. Traditional P.T. is important and has now been renamed fit-ness training. It includes games and special exercises for aircrew such as synthetic parachute training with instruction on steeringand landing, wet dinghy drills and swimming training. Every aircrew member must now be able to swim something over10 yd by the time he gets his wings. Alternatively he can gain a certificate as a qualified swimmer if he is able to cover a con-siderably longer distance. Life-saving training may also be introduced at No. 5 F.T.S. as an extra activity. To build upstamina and agility, an assault course and road work are being added. Oakington is a keen sporting station and its teams havenow won all the cups awarded in No. 25 Group. These include squash, lawn tennis, tug-of-war, athletics, boxing and rugbyseven-a-side. There are twelve different soccer teams. Because of the strict requirements of the training programme,flying intensity is high at Oakington and the air traffic con- trollers have a considerable task. Oakington itself and its relieflanding ground at Graveley handle many thousands of movements each month and, because most of the flights are made by pupils,careful supervision is necessary. A great factor in this has been the "jet clock," invented at Oakington and now used at several Another impression of Vampire Trainers with a fighter-bomber. other stations. It consists of a contacting electric clock con-nected to a circular plotting board so arranged that buzzers sound to remind controllers to check such items as pupils' oxygensetting and airborne time at correct intervals after take-off. A more recent device is a slide-rule-type computer for calculatingan aircraft's course from bearings received at certain times. It will more quickly determine an aircraft's course when its com-pass is unserviceable than the traditional plotting method. Having first started work with a C.R.D.F. homer, Oakington had a manualhomer installed at Waterbeach so that cross bearings could be taken to give an aircraft a distance as well as a bearing from base.Though this is useful for approach work it is not the complete answer, and a Cossor Approach Control Radar is being set up.This is a small equipment with the scanner semi-permanently located close to the instrument runway, with the operator accom-modated in a hut close by. The approach controller will continue to work in the tower while talk-down is given from the hut. It was at Oakington that the Vampire part of the Provost/Vampire training scheme was initiated, soon after No. 206 A.F.S. was renamed No. 5 F.T.S. From that time till now G/C.C. R. J. Hawkins has commanded the station and has been respon- sible for making the Vampire stage of training a practical andefficient process. He has now been appointed S.A.S.O. at No. 23 Group with overall responsibility for piston-engined basic train-ing, and his place at Oakington has been taken by G/C. J. E. Kirk, who came from the British Joint Services Mission. An Oakington pupil on the point of a neat touch-down.
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