7 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps

7 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps
Active	c. 1969 – present [1]
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Aviation
Role	Training
Size	Regiment
Part of	Joint Aviation Command
Base	Middle Wallop Flying Station

7 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps is a regiment of the British Army under Joint Aviation Command. ^[2] The regiment is responsible for providing all of the flight training of Army Air Corps (AAC) pilots. ^[3] The regiment is based at the Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop. ^[3]

Structure

The regiment consists of three squadrons: ^[3]

• No. 671 Squadron AAC conducts Conversion to Type training for graduates of the Operational Training Phase and students on the Aviation Crewman course. ^{[3] [4]}
• No. 673 Squadron AAC conducts Conversion to Type training on the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter for both newly qualified and experienced Army pilots. ^{[3] [5]}
• No. 653 Squadron AAC conducts the Conversion to Role training on the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter.

Former

• No. 25 Flight AAC was based at Nanyuki in Kenya and was responsible for providing 24/7 medical evacuation and range clearances for the British Army Training Unit Kenya until 2015. ^{[3] [6]}

History

7 Army Aviation Regiment was formed c. 1969 at Airfield Camp, Netheravon. ^[1] In 1971, the regiment was renamed to 7 Regiment Army Air Corps. ^[1] During its time as a regular unit, the following squadrons and flights were part of the regiment: 651 Squadron, 658 Squadron, 2 Flight and 8 Flight. ^[1] 658 Squadron had reformed c. 1982. ^[7] The Agusta A109A helicopter had entered service with 8 Flight in 1984. ^[8] 666 (V) Squadron had become part of the regiment in 1986. ^{[1] [9]}

In April 1995, the regiment re-roled as a volunteer unit 7 Regiment AAC (V). ^{[1] [10] [7]} The regiment consisted of 666 Squadron (V), 658 Squadron (V), 3 Flight (V) at RAF Turnhouse (later RAF Leuchars) and 6 Flight (V) based at Shawbury. ^{[1] [11] [12]}

On 1 April 2009, the regiment re-roled as a regular training unit 7 (Training) Regiment AAC based at Middle Wallop as part of the School of Army Aviation. ^[3] On 1 August 2009, the school was renamed as the Army Aviation Centre. ^[3] The regiment consisted of 670 Squadron, 671 Squadron and 673 Squadron. ^[3]

References

1. 'LZ' (Spring 2012). "Airfield Camp, Netheravon 1912 – 2012" (PDF). Army Air Corps Journal. No. 52. pp. 40–42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2013.
2. "Joint Helicopter Command". British Army. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
3. "Army Aviation Centre". British Army. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
4. "671 Squadron Army Air Corps". British Army. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
5. "673 Squadron Army Air Corps". British Army. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
6. "25 Flight Army Air Corps". British Army. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
7. "658 Sqn Army Air Corps History". British Army. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007.
8. "Helicopters - Secretary of State for Defence - Column 1835W". www.parliament.uk. 22 June 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
9. "History of 666 Squadron". British Army. Archived from the original on 9 January 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
10. "Major Units 5 to 9". British Army units from 1945 on. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
11. "7 Regiment (V) of the Army Air Corps". British Army. Archived from the original on 23 October 2006. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
12. "3 Flight History". British Army. Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2020.

External links

• Official website