Central Flying School

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.^{[citation needed]} The school was transferred from the Southern Training Bridge to HQ Training Division on 5 January 1918 and was redesignated Flying Instructors School RAF on 23 December 1919.^[3] The school was reformed on 26 April 1920 and it has been responsible for instructor training since 1920, with pilot training being delegated to the Flying Training Schools.

On 7 October 1926, the school moved from Upavon to RAF Wittering, but on 30 August 1935 it returned to Upavon^[2] Due to the Second World War the school was redesignated as No. 7 Flying Instructors School RAF on 1 April 1942.^[3] The school was reformed from the disbandment of the Empire Central Flying School RAF on 7 May 1946 at RAF Little Rissington.

Between May 1952 and 1 June 1957 the CFS was split into two, assets at Little Rissington became CFS (Advanced) with assets at South Cerney becoming CFS (Basic) by renumbering No. 2 Flying Training School RAF. On 1 November 1954 the school was transferred to No. 81 Group RAF. On 12 April 1976 the school moved to RAF Cranwell for the first time, only staying until 5 September 1977 when it moved to RAF Leeming. It then moved to RAF Scampton on 19 September 1984 and finally back to Cranwell on 31 May 1995 as part of No. 3 Flying Training School RAF^[3]

The school used various airfields as Relief landing grounds such as: High Post, Alton Barnes, Overton Heath, New Zealand Farm, Manningford, Enstone, Wellesbourne Mountford, Aston Down, Kemble and Fairford.^[3]

During January 1996, the Central Flying School museum moved from RAF Scampton to RAF Cranwell, where it had been based since 1985.^[4]

In 1964 the Central Flying School at RAF Little Rissington became responsible for the provision of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team. This responsibility had previously been held by Fighter Command. The 'Red Pelicans' equipped with six Mk 4 Jet Provosts were given the honour of this role and became The 1964 RAF Premier Aerobatic Team. The team displayed in the UK, France, Belgium, Denmark, and Norway.

During 1964 RAF Valley formed a team of five Gnats named 'The Yellow Jacks". It was decided that the Gnat team would become the Premier Team for 1965. In preparation for the handover the Red Pelicans and the Yellowjacks performed combined displays at the 1964 Farnborough Airshow.

The Yellowjacks were repainted to the well known Red colour and in 1965 the team became, the now world famous, Red Arrows.

The Primary Flying Squadron moved from South Cerney to Church Fenton on 16 January 1967.^[3]

The squadron started using de Havilland Chipmunk T.10 and Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1^[5] while Bulldog Squadron moved to Cranwell on 31 March 1995 and became part of No. 3 Flying Training School RAF.^[3] In 2000 the Grob Tutor T.1 replaced the Scottish Aviation Bulldog as the initial trainer operated by the squadron.

The training started on 1 October 1955 at Kemble as the Type Flight evolving into the Type Squadron on 10 July 1957 with a:^[3]

• Hawker Hunter Flight at Kemble
• English Electric Canberra Flight at Little Rissington
• Gloster Meteor Flight at Little Rissington
• Communication Flight at Little Rissington

The Folland Gnat T.1 was added and initially used at Fairford before moving to Kemble, with the Jet Provost moving from Fairford to Aston Down from 1966. The Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1 was added and became No. 19 (Reserve Squadron) RAF on 1 October 1994.^[3]

During 1976 the Folland 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. ^{[citation needed]}

From 1992 the Short Tucano T.1 took the place of the BAC Jet Provost.^[6] The Tucano Squadron moved to RAF Topcliffe on 24 April 1995.^[3]

The Refresher Flying Flight was formed during April 1984 at Church Fenton operating the Jet Provost and moved to Scampton during 1991 but was disbanded during 1992. The flight was re-established on 24 April 1995 within the Tucano Squadron at Topcliffe.^[6] The first Shorts Tucano was delivered to the CFS on 1 September 1988.^[7]

Helicopter instruction began on 8 March 1954 at RAF Middle Wallop as the CFS Helicopter Flight. The flight used the Westland Dragonfly and Bristol Sycamore at RAF South Cerney in Gloucestershire from 18 June 1955 until 1 June 1957 when it moved to Little Rissington. It moved to RAF Tern Hill 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.^[8]

During 1974 it consisted of:^[3] No. 1 Squadron with Gazelles No. 2 Squadron teaching Advanced Training No. 3 Squadron teaching SAR training at Valley

No. 2 Squadron was renamed to No. 2 (Advanced) Flying Training School RAF (2 AFTS) while at Tern Hill during February 1974 with Whirlwinds. On 29 September 1976 the Helicopter Flight and No. 2 AFTS joined to form No. 2 Flying Training School RAF at Shawbury with No. 3 Squadron at Valley becoming No. 2 SAR Training Squadron.^[3]

In 1997 the Gazelle HT.2's and HT.3's were replaced by the Eurocopter Squirrel HT.1 and the Bell Griffin HT.1. 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.^{[citation needed]}

The CFS also used other aircraft:

• Airspeed Oxford, Auster T.7, Avro 504K,^[9] Avro 504N, Avro Tutor, Bristol Bulldog TM,^[10] de Havilland Tiger Moth, de Havilland Mosquito T.3, de Havilland Vampire T.11,^[11] Gloster Grebe (DC), Hawker Tomtit, Hawker Hart Trainer, Hunting Percival Provost, Miles Magister I,^[12] Miles Master, North American Harvard, Percival Prentice T.1, Vickers Varsity T.1.^[13]

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:^[14]

UK military aircrew from all three services start their flying careers with elementary flying training:

• Grob Prefect T.1 (RAF Cranwell/RAF Barkston Heath)^[15]
  • No. 57 Squadron – Elementary Flight Training (EFT)
  • 703 Naval Air Squadron – Elementary Flying Training (EFT)
• Grob Tutor T.1 (RAF Cranwell/RAF Wittering)
  • No. 16 Squadron – Legacy Elementary Flight Training (EFT)
  • No. 115 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.

• Beechcraft T-6C Texan II – (RAF Valley)
  • 72 Squadron – Basic Fast Jet Training (BFJT)^[16]
• BAE Systems Hawk T.2 – (RAF Valley)
  • 4 Squadron – Advanced Fast Jet and Tactics Training

Following Fast Jet training, successful students go on to the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 or Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II.

• Embraer Phenom T.1 – (RAF Cranwell)
  • No. 45 Squadron RAF – Multi-Engine training.^[17]

Multi Engine students will go on to fly the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, Airbus Atlas C.1 or Airbus Voyager KC.2/3 transport aircraft or ISTAR assets like the Beechcraft Shadow R.1 or Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint.

No. 1 Flying Training School (replaced Defence Helicopter Flying School in 2020).

• Airbus Helicopters Juno HT.1 – (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^[18]
  • No. 60 Squadron – Advanced and Tactical rotary training^[19]
• Airbus Helicopters Jupiter HT.1 – (RAF Valley)
  • No. 202 Squadron – Advanced Helicopter training (Maritime and Mountain flying)^[20]

RAF rotary wing students stream onto the Boeing CH-47 Chinook HC.4/5/6/6A.

• Advanced Fast Jet Training: BAe Systems Hawk T.2, already in service at RAF Valley
  • 4 Squadron
  • 25 Squadron

Suitable pilots are trained as Qualified Flying Instructor (QFIs) on the Grob Tutor T.1, Grob Prefect T.1 and Embraer Phenom T.1^[21] at RAF College Cranwell. Texan and Hawk QFI's are trained by CFS personnel at RAF Valley.^[21] Helicopter instructors (QHI's), both pilots and rear crew, 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).

Ranks given are the highest rank the officer in command held during his tenure.

1912 to 1919

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

1946 to present

Assistant Commandants

• List of Royal Air Force schools
• Robert Smith-Barry

Citations

Bibliography

• Bagshaw, Alan; Deacon, Ray; Pollock, Alan; Thomas, Malcolm (2006). RAF Little Rissington. Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Aviation. ISBN 978-1-84415-381-7.
• Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1976). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1976. Bromley: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
• Lake, Alan (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
• March, Peter R. (1989). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1989. Fairford, UK: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
• March, Peter R. (1997). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1997. Fairford, UK: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
• Sturtivant, Ray (1987). The History of Britain's Military Training Aircraft. UK: Haynes Publishing Group. ISBN 0-85429-579-8.
• Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John; Halley, James J. (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
• Taylor, John W. R. (1987) [1958]. Central Flying School, Birthplace of Air Power. Jane's Publishing. ISBN 0-7106-0486-6.
• Thetford, Owen (1995). Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0-85177-865-8.

• RAF website
• RAF Shawbury
• Central Flying School Association
• Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Other Establishments – Flying Schools and Colleges

53°01′53″N 0°29′36″W / 53.0314°N 0.4934°W / 53.0314; -0.4934