Central Flying School
Central Flying School | |
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![]() | |
Active | 12 May 1912 | – present
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Flying training school |
Role | Instructor training and flying training oversight |
Part of | No. 22 Group |
Stations | RAF Cranwell (HQ) RAF Shawbury (Helicopters Squadron) |
Motto(s) | Imprimis Praecepta (Latin: Our teaching is everlasting) |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Group Captain Anthony R Franklin |
The Central Flying School (CFS) is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 at the Upavon Aerodrome, it is the longest existing flying training school. The school was based at RAF Little Rissington from 1946 to 1976. Its motto is Imprimis Praecepta, Latin for "The Teaching is Everlasting".
The school currently manages a series of training squadrons and the RAF Display Team.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/HS_Gnat_T.1_XR534_%2793%27_CFS_L.Rissington_01.10.67_edited-2.jpg/220px-HS_Gnat_T.1_XR534_%2793%27_CFS_L.Rissington_01.10.67_edited-2.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Gloster_Meteor_T.7_WA669_27_CFS_COLT_18.09.71_edited-2.jpg/220px-Gloster_Meteor_T.7_WA669_27_CFS_COLT_18.09.71_edited-2.jpg)
The Central Flying School was established by the Royal Navy at Upavon Aerodrome, near Upavon, Wiltshire, on 12 May 1912.[1] The school’s strength at the outset was ten Staff Officers and eighty flying students, whose course lasted for sixteen weeks.[2] Its first commandant was Captain Godfrey Paine RN, and it also trained pilots for the Royal Flying Corps, created in 1912, and the Royal Naval Air Service, 1914–1918. It has been responsible for instructor training since 1920, with pilot training being delegated to the Flying Training Schools.
In 1926, the school moved from Upavon to RAF Wittering, but in 1935 it returned to Upavon.[2] The school was based at RAF Little Rissington from 1946 to 1976.[3]
Display teams
When the Red Arrows, the RAF's sole aerobatic team was formed by amalgamation of other teams, the responsibility was transferred to the CFS from Fighter Command. The Red Arrows moved to RAF Scampton in 1983 when the CFS was moved there and out in 1995– though the Red Arrows returned in 2000.
Elementary flying training
The section started using de Havilland Chipmunk T.10 and Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1.[4]
In 2000 the Grob Tutor T.1 replaced the Scottish Aviation Bulldog as the initial trainer operated by the unit.
Fast jet training
During the 1950s the CFS was equipped with the Gloster Meteor. During 1976 the Hawker Siddeley Gnat T.1s were based at RAF Valley however during 1977 these were replaced as the CFS main advanced jet trainer by the Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1.
From 1993 the Short Tucano took the place of the BAC Jet Provost.
Helicopter training
Helicopter instruction began in 1955 on the Westland Dragonfly and Bristol Sycamore at RAF South Cerney in Gloucestershire. It moved to RAF Ternhill in August 1961. From 1966, the Westland-built Sioux helicopter began service, lasting until 1973, when replaced with the more modern Westland Gazelle HT.2s. During the 1970s the Westland Whirlwind HAR.10s were also used and the School had a detachment at RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales for SAR and mountain rescue training.[5]
In 1997 the Gazelle HT.2's and HT.3's were replaced by the Squirrel (Eurocopter AS350), and the Griffin (Bell 412) is also used. RAF Shawbury has been the home of the helicopter training school since 1977, becoming the Defence Helicopter Flying School in 1997. A satellite unit of the CFS is maintained at RAF Shawbury to train and develop helicopter instructors.
Current training squadrons
Under the new UK Military Flying Training System, provided by Ascent Flight Training, a consortium of Lockheed Martin and Babcock International, new aircraft will be procured for the pipeline:[6][7]
UK military aircrew from all three services start their flying careers with elementary flying training:[8]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/G120_Prefect_-_RIAT_2017_%2836273768463%29.jpg/220px-G120_Prefect_-_RIAT_2017_%2836273768463%29.jpg)
- Grob 120TP Prefect T1 (RAF Cranwell/RAF Barkston Heath)[9]
- No. 57 (R) Squadron – Elementary Flight Training (EFT)
- 703 Naval Air Squadron – Elementary Flying Training (EFT)
- Grob 115E Tutor T1 (RAF Cranwell/RAF Wittering)
- No. 16 (R) Squadron – Legacy Elementary Flight Training (EFT)
- No. 115 (R) Squadron – training of QFI Instructors for EFT and UAS/AEF squadrons
Following EFT, aircrew students are streamed to either fast jet, rotary-wing or multi-engine pipelines.
Fast jet
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Hawker_Beechcraft_T-6C_Texan_II_N2824B_%2835871033230%29.jpg/220px-Hawker_Beechcraft_T-6C_Texan_II_N2824B_%2835871033230%29.jpg)
- Beechcraft T-6 Texan II – (RAF Valley)
- 72(R) Squadron – Basic Fast Jet Training (BFJT)[10]
- BAE Systems Hawk T.2 – (RAF Valley)
- 4(R) Squadron – Advanced Fast Jet and Tactics Training
Following Fast Jet training, successful students go on to the Typhoon or F-35 Lightning.
Multi-engine
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/45_%28R%29_Squadron%2C_Embraer_Phenom_100_MOD_45164825.jpg/220px-45_%28R%29_Squadron%2C_Embraer_Phenom_100_MOD_45164825.jpg)
- Embraer Phenom 100 – (RAF Cranwell)
- No. 45 (R) Squadron RAF – Multi-Engine training.[11]
Multi Engine students will go on to fly the C-17, Atlas, Hercules or Voyager transport aircraft or ISTAR assets like the Shadow, Sentry, Sentinel or Rivet Joint.
Rotary wing
No. 1 Flying Training School (replaced Defence Helicopter Flying School in 2020).
- Airbus H135 Juno – (RAF Shawbury)
- 660 Squadron Army Air Corps – Basic Rotary Training: 660 AAC and 705 NAS take alternate intakes from all three services[citation needed]
- 705 Naval Air Squadron[12]
- No. 60 Squadron – Advanced and Tactical rotary training[13]
- Airbus H145 Jupiter – (RAF Valley)
- No. 202 Squadron – Advanced Helicopter training (Maritime and Mountain flying)[14]
RAF rotary wing students stream onto the Chinook or the Merlin.
Future system
- Advanced Fast Jet Training: BAe Hawk T.2, already in service at RAF Valley
Training
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Grob_g115e_tutor_g-bywx_arp.jpg/220px-Grob_g115e_tutor_g-bywx_arp.jpg)
Suitable pilots are trained as Qualified Flying Instructor (QFIs) on the Grob Tutor, Grob Prefect and Embraer Phenom[15] at RAF College Cranwell. Texan and Hawk QFI's are trained by CFS personnel at RAF Valley.[15] Helicopter instructors (QHI's), both pilots and rearcrew, are trained at RAF Shawbury, home of No. 1 Flying Training School.
Flying instructors are awarded the Qualified Flying Instructor qualification for fixed-wing types. Helicopter instructors are referred to as Qualified Helicopter Instructors (QHI) or Qualified Helicopter Crewman Instructors (QHCI).
Commandants
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Central_Flying_School_staff_in_January_1913.jpg/220px-Central_Flying_School_staff_in_January_1913.jpg)
Ranks given are the highest rank the officer in command held during his tenure.
1912 to 1919
- 19 June 1912 Captain G. M. Paine RN
- 15 November 1915 Lieutenant-Colonel D. le G Pitcher
- 1 February 1916 Colonel C. J. Burke[16]
- 18 June 1916 Lieutenant-Colonel A. C. H. MacLean
- 1917 Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. L. Scott[17]
1919 to 1920 (as Commandant, Flying Instructors' School)
- 17 January 1919 Lieutenant-Colonel P. H. L. Playfair
- 7 April 1919 Lieutenant-Colonel (later Wing Commander) C. D. Breese
1920 to 1944
- 3 May 1920 Wing Commander Norman MacEwen
- 1922 Air Commodore Edward Masterman
- 1 January 1923 Group Captain Felton Holt
- 22 April 1925 Group Captain Wilfrid Freeman
- 24 January 1927 Group Captain (later Air Commodore) C. S. Burnett
- 17 December 1928 Wing Commander (later Group Captain) J. E. A. Baldwin
- 19 January 1932 Group Captain Paul Maltby
- July 1935 Wing Commander (later Group Captain) Harry George Smart
- 14 December 1936 Group Captain James Robb
- 17 March 1940 Group Captain Harold Down
- 1944 Claude Vincent
1946 to present
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008) |
- 1951 Anthony Selway
- 1961 Hugh Connolly
- 1963 Harold Bird-Wilson
- 1968 Ivor Broom
- 1970 Freddie Hazlewood[18]
- 1974 John Severne
- 1983 John Kemball
- 1985 Air Commodore Allan Blackley
- Air Commodore David Leppard
- 1994 Air Commodore Simon Bostock
- 1996 Air Commodore Gavin Mackay
- 2007 Group Captain Nick Seward
- 2009 Group Captain Simon Blake
- 2012 Group Captain David Bentley
- 2014 Group Captain Jamie Hunter
- 2016 Group Captain Fin Monahan[19]
- 2018 Group Captain Anthony R Franklin (present)
Assistant Commandants
- 1912 Lieutenant Colonel Henry Cook[20]
- 23 September 1913 Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Trenchard[21][22]
- 7 August 1914 Major, later Lieutenant Colonel, Tom Webb-Bowen[23][24]
- 6 March 1915 Lieutenant Colonel D. Le G Pitcher[25]
Notable former instructors
- Air Marshal Sir Richard Atcherley (1925–28)
- Air Marshal Sir Lawrence Pendred (1924–30)
- Air Chief Marshal Sir James Robb (1927–30)
- Air Chief Marshal Sir Rex Roe (1953–55)
- Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Salmond (1912)
- Air Marshal Sir Anthony Selway (1932–34)
- Air Vice-Marshal Sir Tom Webb-Bowen (1912–15)
See also
References
- Citations
- ^ Lake 1999, p. 44.
- ^ a b Hugh Soar, Straight & True (2012), p. 87
- ^ Roy Bagshaw, Alan Pollock, Malcolm Thomas, RAF Little Rissington: The Central Flying School, 1946–76 (2006)
- ^ Thetford 1995, p. 398.
- ^ Green 1976, p. 13.
- ^ "News & Press". Ascent Flight Training. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
- ^ http://www.ascentflighttraining.net/.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ http://www.tonycunnane.uk/page-408.html.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircraft/120tp-prefect/.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/72-squadron/.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/45-squadron/.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/fleet-air-arm/support-and-training/705-naval-air-squadron.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/60-squadron/.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/202-squadron/.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ a b "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1916/1916%20-%200134.html
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 July 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2007.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Air Vice-Marshal Freddie Hazlewood". The Daily Telegraph. 29 July 2007.
- ^ O’Neill, Sean (14 December 2018). "Red Arrows commander still flying high after speedy cancer scan saved him cancer". The Times. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1912/1912%20-%200776.html
- ^ "H M Trenchard_P". rafweb.org.
- ^ "No. 28873". The London Gazette. 18 August 1914. p. 6496.
- ^ "T I Webb_Bowen_P". rafweb.org.
- ^ "No. 28901". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 September 1914. p. 7284.
- ^ "No. 29094". The London Gazette. 9 March 1915. p. 2368.
- Bibliography
- Green, W; Swanborough, G (1976). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1976. Bromley: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
- Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
- Taylor, John W R (1987) [1958]. Central Flying School, Birthplace of Air Power. Jane's Publishing. ISBN 0-7106-0486-6.
- Thetford, O (1995). Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0-85177-865-8.
External links
- Military units and formations established in 1912
- Training establishments of the Royal Air Force
- North Kesteven District
- Aviation schools in the United Kingdom
- Organisations based in Lincolnshire
- Organisations based in Gloucestershire
- Organisations based in Wiltshire
- 1912 establishments in the United Kingdom