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Empire Test Pilots' School

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The Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS) is a training establishment for test pilots (on both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft) and flight test engineers, based at MOD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, England. It was established in 1943, making it the first school of its type world-wide. Motto: "learn to test - test to learn".

ETPS is run as a partnership between the UK MOD and defence contractor QinetiQ, under a long term partnering agreement.

History

In 1943 Air Marshal Sir Ralph Sorley, who had been concerned at the high rate of fatalities during the testing of the many new aircraft being introduced during World War II, formed the "Test Pilots' Training Flight" at MOD Boscombe Down.[1]

On 21 June 1943, the unit became an institution in its own right as the Test Pilots' School within the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down.[2] The school's terms of reference were "to provide suitably trained pilots for testing duties in aeronautical research and development establishments within the service and the industry".[3] It was renamed the "Empire Test Pilots' School" (ETPS) on 28 July 1944.[4], so the students on Number 1 Course, which began in the Summer of 1943 and formally ended on 29 February 1944, were the only graduates of the school under the original name.[5]

The first training course, held by the Commandant, Wing Commander S. Wroath with G. Maclaren Humphreys, a civilian, as Technical Instructor, was initially attended by eighteen pilots, drawn largely from the R.A.F. and the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy but included three civilian attendees (all from the Bristol Aeroplane Company).[6] Five students found the standard of maths required on the course to be too high and left within the first week;[7] the thirteen students who completed the first course comprised eleven from the RAF (including one American, Sqn. Ldr. J.C. Nelson, who was serving with one of the Eagle Squadrons) and two from the FAA.[8] Of those who attended No. 1 Course, 5 were eventually to lose their lives as test pilots.[9]

The Armstrong Whitworth Apollo served the ETPS as a multi-engined trainer at Farnborough during the mid-fifties

Due to the rapid growth of the A&AEE, at Boscombe Down, the school moved to RAF Cranfield in October 1945. On 12 July 1947 it was attached to the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, where it remained for almost 21 years, flying a wide variety of current aircraft types, before returning to Boscombe Down on 29 January 1968.[10]

Until 1963 the course catered for both fixed wing and rotary wing pilots, with the latter specialising late in the course. In 1963 a separate rotary wing course was established,[11] followed in 1974 by a course for Flight test engineers. The school also offers a number of short courses "to meet specific Air Test and Evaluation (AT&E) training needs of the wider flight test community".[12]

In 2001, ETPS was included with those research departments sold off by the Government to Carlyle Group during the formation of QinetiQ. It is now run as a partnership between QinetiQ and the UK MOD.

The Empire Test Pilots' School was the first of its kind, and was soon followed by other similar schools, such as the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California in 1944, the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Maryland in 1945 and the EPNER in France (École du Personnel Navigant d'Essais et de Réception) in 1946. Other schools in India (Indian Air Force Test Pilots' School in Bangalore) and Japan were established in later years. Some of these schools operate exchange programmes, which expands the variety of aircraft the students have available to them for gaining flight test experience.[13]

In addition to such student exchanges, British, French and American schools share access to their aircraft, so that students can experience a wider range of aircraft types during their respective courses.[14]

E.T.P.S. Commandants

Note: Commandants' names prior to 1968 are taken from the ETPS 25th anniversary brochure (see References below).

From Until Rank/Style Name Decorations Service Country E.T.P.S. Course
1943 1944 Wing Commander (Wg. Cdr.) S. Wroath A.F.C. R.A.F. United Kingdom -
1944 1945 Group Captain (Grp. Cpt.) J.F.X. McKenna A.F.C. R.A.F. United Kingdom -
1945 1947 Grp. Cpt. H.J. Wilson A.F.C. R.A.F. United Kingdom -
1947 1948 Grp. Cpt. S.R. Ubee A.F.C. R.A.F. United Kingdom -
1949 1950 Grp. Cpt. L.S. Snaith A.F.C. R.A.F. United Kingdom -
1950 1953 Grp. Cpt. A.E. Clouston D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C. R.A.F. New Zealand -
1953 1957 Grp. Cpt. S. Wroath C.B.E., A.F.C. R.A.F. United Kingdom -
1957 1959 Grp. Cpt. R.E. Burns C.B.E., D.F.C., A.F.C. R.A.F. United Kingdom -
1960 1961 Captain K.R. Hickson A.F.C. and bar R.N. United Kingdom No. 4
1961 1965 Grp. Cpt. R.A. Watts A.F.C. R.A.F. United Kingdom No. 6
1965 19xx Grp. Cpt. W.J.P. Straker A.F.C. R.A.F. United Kingdom No. 9
n/a n/a Wg. Cdr. Martin Mayer n/a R.A.F. United Kingdom No. 7 RW
1998 2001 Wg. Cdr. Dave Best n/a R.A.F. United Kingdom n/a
n/a 2005 Commander (Cdr.) ‘Charlie’ Brown n/a R.N. United Kingdom n/a
n/a 2007 Cdr. C.P. Maude n/a R.N. United Kingdom n/a
2007 2010 Cdr. Phil Hayde n/a R.N. United Kingdom n/a

Aircraft

ETPS Saab JAS 39B Gripen taxis after landing at RIAT 2008, England
Since retired SEPECAT Jaguar T2 on display in 2004

The ETPS currently (2010) uses the following types of aircraft:

An English Electric Lightning previously operated by ETPS (Serial no. XS422) is undergoing restoration under the aegis of the Anglo-American Lightning Organisation.

Course Trophies and Awards

Note: Recipients' names prior to 1968 are taken from the ETPS 25th anniversary brochure (see References below).

In the tables of trophy winners the following abbreviation are used in the course names:

  • FW:  Fixed wing
  • RW:  Rotary wing
  • FTE: Flight test engineer

McKenna Trophy

In memory of the second Commandant of the School, Group Captain J.F.X. McKenna, AFC, who was killed in a flying accident while serving in that post,[15][16] Initially the school awarded the McKenna Trophy to the best fixed-wing student, but it is now open to the rotary-wing course as well. Award recipients include:

Winners of the McKenna Trophy
Year Course Rank/Style Name Decorations Employer Country
1945 No. 3 Wg. Cdr. D.R. Cuming A.F.C. R.A.A.F. Australia
1945 No. 4 (Short course) (no award) - - -
1946/47 No. 5 Wg. Cdr. W.M.Foster D.F.C. R.C.A.F. Canada
1947 No. 6 Sqn. Ldr. R. W. Whittome O.B.E., D.F.C. R.A.F. United Kingdom
1948 No. 7 Lieut. J. Elliot - R.N. United Kingdom
1949 No. 8 Cdr. J. G. Smith - U.S.N. USA
1950 No. 9 Flt. Lt. G. A. Heck - R.C.A.F. Canada
1951 No. 10 Flt. Lt. J. K. Hough A.F.C. R.A.F. United Kingdom
1952 No. 11 n/a R.J. Ross - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1953 No. 12 Captain B.O.J. Fryklund - Swedish Air Force Sweden
1954 No. 13 Flt. Lt. V.J. Hill D.F.C. R.A.A.F. Australia
" No. 13 Capt. R. Bignamini - Italian Air Force Italy
1955 No. 14 Lieut. R. E. Moore - U.S.N.
1956 No. 15 Lt. Cdr. J. S. Humphreys - R.N. United Kingdom
1956 No. 15 Lieut. J. A. Hablot - French Navy France
1957 No. 16 Lt. Cdr. T. C. Evans - R.N. United Kingdom
1958 No. 17 Flt. Lt. C. V. Gole - Indian Air Force India
1959 No. 18 Sqn. Ldr. H. R. Radford - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1960 No. 19 Lt. Cdr. L. N. Hoover - U.S.Navy U.S.A.
1961 No. 20 Flt. Lt. C.C. Rustin - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1962 No. 21 Capt. J.I. Meeker - U.S.A.F. U.S.A.
1963 No. 22 FW Flt. Lt. M.K. Adams - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1964 No. 23 FW Flt. Lt. T.E. Riddihough - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1965 No. 24 FW Flt. Lt. S.C. Fisher - R.A.A.F. Australia
1966 No. 25 FW Capt. D.T. Ward - U.S.A.F. U.S.A.
1967 No. 26 FW Lt. Cdr. V.W. Klein - U.S.N. U.S.A.
1972 No. 31 FW Flt. Lt. Terry Farquharson[17] - R.A.A.F. Australia
1973 n/a n/a Peter Nicholson - R.A.A.F. Australia
1975 No. 35 FW n/a Tom Morgenfeld[18] - U.S.A.F. U.S.A.
1977 n/a Flt. Lt. Trevor Ralston[19] - South African Directorate of Civil Aviation South Africa
1978 No. 38 FW Flt. Lt. Graham Tomlinson[20] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1980 No. 40 FW F/O John Blackburn[21] - R.A.A.F. Australia
1984 n/a n/a Mario Renzo Ottone - Italian Air Force Italy
1985 No. 44 FW Flt. Lt. Dave Southwood[22] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1988 n/a n/a Maurizio Cheli[23] - Italian Air Force Italy
1989 No. 48 FW Flt Lt Dave Best - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1992 n/a n/a Frank De Winne[24] - Belgian Air Force Belgium
1996 n/a Lt. Cdr. Paul Stone[25] - R.N. United Kingdom
2001 No. 60 FW Capt. Todd C. Ericson - U.S.A.F U.S.A
2004 n/a n/a Jim Schofield[26] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
2007 n/a n/a Tytus Rogoyski[27] - R.A.A.F. Australia

Edwards Trophy

This trophy is awarded by the Edwards Air Force Base in California to the student who makes the greatest progress on the course.

Winners of the Edwards Trophy
Year Course Rank/Style Name Decorations Employer Country
1958 No. 17 Flt. Lt. R.A. Whyte - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1959 No. 18 Flt. Lt. J.M. Henderson - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1960 No. 19 Flt. Lt. G.M. Morrison - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1961 No. 20 Flt. Lt. P.J. Farris - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1962 No. 21 Flt. Lt. P.M. Ramachandran - Indian Air Force India
1963 No. 22 FW Flt. Lt. P. Ashoka - Indian Air Force India
" No. 1 RW Flt. Lt. R.F. Mundy - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1964 No. 23 FW Lieut. P.E.H. Banfield - R.N. United Kingdom
1965 No. 24 FW Lieut. W. Davies - U.S.Navy USA
1966 No. 4 RW Lieut. P.J.G. Harper - R.N. United Kingdom
1967 No. 26 FW Flt Lt. A.D.A. Cooke - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1972 n/a Capt. Ashalom Rom[17] - Israeli Air Force Israel
1977 n/a Flt Lt. John Foley[19] - R.A.A.F. Australia
1978 n/a Lieut. Nigel Armall-Culliford[20] - R.N. United Kingdom
1980 n/a Maj. Horst Hickl[21] - German Air Force Germany
1985 No. 44 FW Flt. Lt. R. Meiklejohn[22] - Canadian Armed Forces Canada


Hawker Hunter Trophy

This trophy, a model of the Hawker Hunter, was first awarded in 1960 by the Hawker Aircraft Company. It was originally awarded to the student who wrote the best Preview Handling report on the course. Since 1966 the Preview Exercise has been carried out by syndicates of two or three students; the trophy is awarded to the best team.

Winners of the Hawker Hunter Trophy
Year Course Rank/Style Name Decorations Employer Country
1972 n/a Mr. Gunter Sprenger[17] - German MoD Germany
" n/a Flt. Lt. Paul Buckland[17] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
" n/a Colin Hague[17] - R.N. United Kingdom
1977 n/a Capt Chris Roberts[19][28][29] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
" n/a Capt. Agostino Frediani[19] - Italian Air Force Italy
1978 n/a Capt. Pino Marani[20] - Italian Air Force Italy
" n/a Flt. Lt. Graham Tomlinson[20] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1980 n/a F/O John Blackburn[21] - R.A.A.F Australia
" n/a Lt. Cdr. Paul Habel[21] - U.S.Navy USA
1982 n/a n/a Michel Tognini[30] - French Air Force France
1985 No. 44 FW Sqn. Ldr. Les Evans[22] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
" No. 44 FW Cmdt. Serge Aubert[22] - French Air Force France
1988 n/a n/a Maurizio Cheli[23] - Italian Air Force Italy
2001 No. 60 FW Capt Todd C. Ericson - U.S.A.F. U.S.A
" No. 60 FW Civ Gordon Stewart - R.A.F United Kingdom

Patuxent Shield

This trophy is awarded by the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent River, to the runner-up for the Mckenna Trophy.

Winners of the Patuxent Trophy
Year Course Rank/Style Name Decorations Employer Country
1961 No. 20 FW Flt. Lt. J. E. C. Mayes - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1962 No. 21 FW Sqn. Ldr. B. Carroll - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1963 No. 22 FW Flt. Lt. J. F. Farley - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1964 No. 23 FW Flt. Lt. D. L. Bywater - R.A.F. United Kingdom
" " Capt. A. M. Worden - U.S.A.F. USA
1965 No. 24 FW Capt. L. Fe d'Ostiani - Italian A.F. Italy
1966 No. 25 FW Flt. Lt. J. T. Lewis - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1967 No. 26 FW Sqn. Ldr. B. J. Graf - R.A.A.F. Australia
1972 No. 31 FW Flt. Lt. John Fawcett[17] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1977 n/a Flt. Lt. Ronald Cowpe[19] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1978 n/a Capt. Patrick Baudry[20] - French Air Force France
1980 n/a F. O. John Blackburn[21] - R.A.A.F. Australia
1982 n/a n/a Michel Tognini[30] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1985 No. 44 FW Sqn. Ldr. Les Evans[22] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1998 n/a n/a Antoine Van Gent[31] - R.N.L.A.F. Netherlands

Westland Trophy

The Westland Trophy, originally presented by Westland Aircraft Limited, is awarded to the best all-round student on the Rotary Wing Course.

Winners of the Westland Trophy
Year Course Rank/Style Name Decorations Employer Country
1963 No. 1 RW Flt. Lt. M. C. Ginn - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1964 No. 2 RW Lieut. M. Hope - R.N. United Kingdom
1965 No. 3 RW Lt. Cdr. L. G. Locke - R.N. United Kingdom
1966 No. 4 RW Flt. Lt. J. H. Cox - R.A.A.F. Australia
1967 No. 5 RW Flt. Lt. L. V. P. Galvin - R.C.A.F. Canada
1972 No. 10 RW Flt. Lt. Stuart Collins[17] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1977 No. 15 RW Mr. Trevor Ralston[20] - South African DCA South Africa
1978 No. 16 RW Lt. Cdr. David Chapman[20] - R.N. United Kingdom
1980 No. 18 RW Flt. Lt. Ted Mustard[21] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1985 No. 23 RW Lieut. Bob Horton[22] - R.N. United Kingdom

Sir Alan Cobham Trophy

Awarded to the fixed wing student who demonstrates the highest standard of flying during the course.

Winners of the Sir Alan Cobham Trophy
Year Course Rank/Style Name Decorations Employer Country
1977 n/a Capt. Agostino Frediani[19] - Italian Air Force Italy
1978 n/a Flt. Lt. Graham Tomlinson[20] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1980 No. 39 FW F. O. Tracey McCormick[21] - R.A.A.F. Australia
1985 No. 44 FW Flt. Lt. Dave Southwood[22] - R.A.F. United Kingdom
1988 n/a Lieut. Maurizio Cheli[23] - Italian Air Force Italy

Dunlop Trophy

The Dunlop Trophy, initially awarded by the Dunlop Rubber company, is awarded to the best student on each Flight Test Engineers' course.

Winners of the Dunlop Trophy
Year Course Rank/Style Name Decorations Employer Country
1977 n/a Lt. M. Maharik[19] - Israeli Air Force Israel
1978 n/a Lt. David Benedetti[20] - Italian Air Force Italy
1980 No. 7 FTE Mr Robert Badham[21] - UK MoD United Kingdom
1998 n/a Antoine Van Gent[31] - R.N.L.A.F. Netherlands
2003 No. 27 FTE Major Jeoh Leo[32] - Singapore Air Force Singapore
2008 n/a Lieut. Alrik Hoencamp[33] - R.NL.N. Netherlands

Notes

  1. ^ "Origins of Flight Test" (html). QinetiQ Group plc. Retrieved 2010-04-03. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ Sturtivant, 1997, P.44
  3. ^ Johnson, 1986, p.19
  4. ^ Sturtivant, 1997, P.112
  5. ^ Johnson, 1986, p.31
  6. ^ Johnson, 1986, p.23
  7. ^ Johnson, 1986, p.25
  8. ^ Johnson, 1986, p.27
  9. ^ Johnson, 1986, p.32
  10. ^ Sturtivant, 1997, P.112
  11. ^ Field, Hugh (1973-03-08). "Learning to Test". Flight International Magazine. 103 (3339): 340. Retrieved 2010/04/01. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ "Short Courses" (html). QinetiQ Group plc. Retrieved 2010-04-13. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ Johnson, 1986, pp. 39,40
  14. ^ "Learning to Test". Flight International Magazine. 158 (4757): 41. 2000-12-04. Retrieved 2010/04/01. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Group Captain McKenna was killed on January 19, 1945 flying a Mustang IV, when an ammunition box cover detached at high speed, causing structural failure of a wing. The aircraft crashed on the perimeter of Old Sarum airfield.
  16. ^ http://www.testflyingmemorial.com/1940-45.htm Test Flying Memorial site of British test pilots and engineers who died while test-flying (1940-1945 page).
  17. ^ a b c d e f g "ETPS - The McKenna Dinner". Flight Magazine. 102 (3329): 917. 1972-12-28. Retrieved 2010/04/01. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  18. ^ "Chief Test Pilot Thomas Morgenfeld" (html). AIAA Savannah. 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  19. ^ a b c d e f g "ETPS McKenna Dinner" (html). Flight International Magazine. 113 (3592): 172. 1978-01-21. Retrieved 2010/04/13. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Boscombe Down Pilots' Awards" (html). Flight International Magazine. 114 (3640): 2239. 1978-12-22. Retrieved 2010/04/01. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h "The Empire Test Pilots' School End-of-Course McKenna Dinner" (html). Flight International Magazine. 119 (3741): 126. 1981-01-17. Retrieved 2010/04/07. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  22. ^ a b c d e f g Johnson, 1986, p.270
  23. ^ a b c "NASA Astronauts with Texas Roots" (html). Texas Space Grant Consortium. 2004-08-01. Retrieved 2010-04-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  24. ^ "Astronaut biography - Frank de Winne" (html). European Space Agency. 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  25. ^ "Your Defence News" (html). Red Mist Media. 2009-05-01. Retrieved 2010-04-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  26. ^ "The Official Yakovlevs Website" (html). The Yakovlevs (air display team). 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  27. ^ "LinkedIn" (html). LinkedIn. 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  28. ^ "Newsletter No. 13" (pdf). The Hawker Association. 2006. Retrieved 2010-04-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  29. ^ Farley, John (2007-02-18). "Aviators Exraordinary" (html). PPRuNe. Retrieved 2010-04-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  30. ^ a b "Astronaut biography - Michel Tognini" (html). European Space Agency. 2005-11-21. Retrieved 2010-04-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  31. ^ a b "Antoine Van Gent" (html). LinkedIn. 2005-11-21. Retrieved 2010-04-011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  32. ^ leo, Jeoh (2007). "Tech Edge: Near-Space, Near Future" (html). Pointer: Journal of the Singapore Armed Forces. 33 (1). Government of Singapore. Retrieved 2010/04/11. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  33. ^ "Alle Hens: Logboek - Wie Wat Waar (p.35)" (pdf). Royal Netherlands Navy. 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-11. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

References

  • "The Empire Test Pilots' School - Twenty Five Years". ETPS Brochure (4th ed.). HMSO for The Empire Test Pilots' School: 68 pp. 1968. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Johnson, Brian (1986). Test Pilot. BBC Books. p. 287. ISBN 0-563-20502-4.
  • Sturtivant, Ray (1997). Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-252-1.

See also

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