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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 0862.PDF
868 FLIGHT,28 June 1957 One of the finest and most famous jet aerobatic teams in the world—and the only one to have evolved routines with five aircraft together—is that of 111 Sqn., whose black Hunter 6s are seen (left) in a precise echelon. (Below) The box-man's view of the vie of three aircraft ahead of him. The aircraft are Hunter 6s from 92 Sqn. FIGHTER COMMAND . . . support for Service aircraft and aid to civilians when requested.No. 22 Sqn. of Coastal Command, with Whirlwinds, covers the south and west coasts. These squadrons are supplemented byU.S.A.F. amphibians and helicopters and by helicopters of the Royal Navy at various airfields around the coasts.The Command's training group, No. 81, runs the O.C.U.s which take care of operational conversion training for all pilotsentering the Command. Some of the pilots beginning active ser- vice with the R.A.F. first complete one tour of duty in a primaryr61e—day fighters—before continuing to an advanced role tour on all-weather fighters or bombers. The great majority of pilotsreaching Chivenor and Pembrey therefore come straight from the flying training schools; and those who recently completed the firstall-through jec training courses are now at Chiyenor. Vampires have been used extensively to give initial tactical and weaponstraining at the Hunter O.C.U.s, but the system is now being changed so that the new pilots convert straight away to Huntersand carry out all their tactical training on this type. All-weather fighter training is given at Leeming and NorthLuffenham, where pilots and navigator/radar operators are paired into crews and taught the craft of interception by radar. It is atechnique which requires skill, knowledge of the equipment available, intensive practice and considerable cunning. In theJavelin, the all-weather crews now have an aircraft which has a performance equal to that of the current day fighter, and equip-ment and working conditions which fully satisfy their exacting requirements. Javelins are now replacing the Meteor and Venomnight fighters which have for so long held the fort. With the arrival of new aircraft in the form of Javelins andHunter F.6s, the prospect of missiles, and the very severe cuts imposed by the last defence estimates, the face of Fighter Com-mand is rapidly changing. The Fighter squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force were the first to go. They were groundedby the first announcement (in early January) of coming disband- ment and were given a short period in which to complete theadministrative formalities which made the grounding an effective disbandment. The Auxiliaries thus had time to lay up standardsand hold farewell parades. The remaining units are re-equipping with Hunter 6s or Javelins. As for the air-to-air missiles which must one day form theprimary armament of these intercepters, the equipment pro- gramme is now getting under way. As a first step, a quantity ofFairey Fireflash beam-riders and a small number of specially- fitted Vickers-Supermarine Swift F.7s are being used to assessthe problems and develop the techniques of missile handling in everyday service. This is being done by the Guided WeaponsDevelopment Squadron at Valley, which is jointly run by Fighter Command and Air Ministry through Central Fighter Establish-ment. Work is to continue until the end of this year to determine not only the procedures and facilities required by this type ofweapon in service, but also to establish the best control techniques for missile-carrying fighters. The operational air-to-air weaponwill, of course, be the infra-red homing de Havilland Firestreak. Considerable equipment is required inside the carrier aircraft toaccommodate this weapon. Javelins and P.ls, but not Hunters, will carry missiles. A new set of initials in Fighter Command is S.A.G.W.—surface-to-air guided weapons. The first such weapon system to go into service will be the Bristol Bloodhound for which test ranges are Old faithfuls still on guard, but yielding to the Javelin: Meteor N.F.I4s of 264 Sqn. (below, left) and Venom N.FJs of 33 Sqn.
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