No. 5 Flying Training School RAF

Last updated

No. 5 Flying Training School
Vickers Varsity T.1 WF413 V 5 FTS MILD 22.05.71 edited-3.jpg
Vickers Varsity T.1 WF413 of No. 5 Flying Training School Royal Air Force in 1971
Active26 Apr 1920 – 11 Apr 1942
23 Apr 1947 – 4 Jan 1948
22 Jan 1951 – 30 Dec 1953
1 Jun 1954 – 31 Dec 1974
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
RolePilot training

No. 5 Flying Training School (5 FTS) is a former Royal Air Force flying training school that operated between 1920 and 1974. [1]

Contents

History

First formation

The school was formed on 26 April 1920 at RAF Shotwick and redesignated No. 5 Service Flying Training School from 3 September 1939, part of No. 23 Group. It used a variety of aircraft including de Havilland DH.9s, Avro 504s, Sopwith Snipes, Westland Wapitis, Avro Tutors, Gloster Gauntlets, Westland Wallaces, Hawker Audaxs, Hawker Hinds, Fairey Battles, Hawker Hurricanes, North American Harvards, Miles Masters, Airspeed Oxfords, Miles Magisters and de Havilland Tiger Moths. [1]

It was disbanded in April 1942 at RAF Ternhill [1] by redesignation to No. 5 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit.

Second formation

The school was reformed from 23 April 1947 at RAF Thornhill, Southern Rhodesia as part of the Rhodesian Air Training Group until 4 January 1948 when it was redesignated No. 3 Air Navigation School (3 ANS), specialising in training Navigators on Avro Ansons. Their other aircraft (Tiger Moths and Harvards) were sent to nearby No. 4 Flying Training School RAF at RAF Heany. [2]

Third formation

Reformed as a standard flying training school, again in Southern Rhodesia, flying Tiger Moths and de Havilland Chipmunks on 22 January 1951. It would reabsorb 3 ANS on 28 September 1951 and stay at RAF Thornhill until disbanding on 30 December 1953. [2]

Fourth formation

1954–1974 No. 5 Flying Training School, (5 FTS), reformed at RAF Oakington (5 miles NW of Cambridge) on 1 June 1954. Its initial role was to convert trainee pilots to jets using De Havilland Vampire T.5 single seat jets and Vampire T.11 twin-seat jets. In March 1962 these types were exchanged for the Vickers Varsity T.1 twin piston-engine navigational trainers. The school took new graduates who had completed basic pilot training and provided further training in the handling of multi-engine aircraft as a precursor to posting onto Bomber or Transport squadrons/units. The Varsity remained in service with 5 FTS until early in 1974 when it was replaced in the role by the Scottish Aviation Jetstream T.1. 5 FTS was disbanded on 31 December 1974 when the need for training on piston engined aircraft reduced. The airfield was then closed, becoming a British Army barracks.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Brawdy</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Royal Air Force Brawdy, or more simply RAF Brawdy, is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located 6.3 miles (10.1 km) east of St Davids, Pembrokeshire and 9.8 miles (15.8 km) south west of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was operational between 1944 and 1992; it was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy (1946–1971), before the site was turned over to the British Army and renamed Cawdor Barracks.

The Pilot Training Squadron based at RNZAF Base Ohakea, and trained RNZAF pilots from 1966 until 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Flying School</span> British Royal Air Force pilot school

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit RAF</span> Military unit

No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit was a Royal Air Force Operational Conversion Unit which was active between 1946 and 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hucknall Aerodrome</span> Aerodrome near Nottingham, England

Hucknall Aerodrome was a former general aviation and RAF aerodrome located 5 nmi north north-west of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England and west of Hucknall town. The aerodrome had been operated by the Merlin Flying Club since 1971 and then by Rolls-Royce Group plc. Before its closure, it was owned and operated by ITP Aero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 63 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 63 Squadron was a bomber aircraft and training squadron of the Royal Air Force that was active during various periods from 1916 to 1992. Originally using De Havilland DH4 aircraft in World War I, it was last equipped with BAe Hawk jet trainers.

Royal Air Force Filton or more simply RAF Filton is a former Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Air Force (RAF) station located 5 miles (8 km) north of the city centre of Bristol, England.

Royal Air Force Oakington or more simply RAF Oakington was a Royal Air Force station located 0.5 miles (0.80 km) north of Oakington, Cambridgeshire, England and 5.1 miles (8.2 km) north-west of Cambridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 1 Flying Training School RAF</span> Flying Training School of the Royal Air Force

The No. 1 Flying Training School is the oldest military pilot training school in the world, currently used to deliver rotary training to aircrew of the British armed forces.

No. 240 Operational Conversion Unit RAF is a former Royal Air Force Operational conversion unit which was formed by a series of mergers, it then became No. 27 Squadron RAF in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">440 Transport Squadron</span> Unit of the Canadian Forces

440 Transport Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Armed Forces under the Royal Canadian Air Force. It is part of 8 Wing and works closely with Joint Task Force (North) located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 2 Flying Training School RAF</span> Flying Training School of the Royal Air Force

No.2 Flying Training School is a Flying Training School (FTS) of the Royal Air Force (RAF). It is part of No. 22 (Training) Group that delivers glider flying training to the Royal Air Force Air Cadets. Its headquarters is located at RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire and gliding takes places from several sites throughout the UK using the Grob Viking T1. The RAF Central Gliding School is also under its command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 3 Flying Training School RAF</span> Flying Training School of the Royal Air Force

No. 3 Flying Training School is a Royal Air Force military training school, which manages elementary flying training for the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and also for the training of all non-pilot aircrew for the RAF and is home to the Central Flying School Tutor Squadron.

No. 6 Flying Training School RAF is a Flying Training School (FTS) within No. 22 (Training) Group of the Royal Air Force that delivers flying training to University Air Squadrons and Air Experience Flights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 4 Flying Training School RAF</span> Military unit

No. 4 Flying Training School is a Royal Air Force military flying training school, which manages Advanced Fast Jet Training (AFJT) from its base at RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales. Its role is to provide fast jet aircrew to the Operational Conversion Units for the RAF's jet attack aircraft, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 7 Flying Training School RAF</span> Former Royal Air Force flying training school

No. 7 Flying Training School is a former Royal Air Force flying training school that operated between 1935 and 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flying Boat Training Squadron RAF</span> Former Royal Air Force Coastal Command Flying Boat Training Squadron

Flying Boat Training Squadron RAF is a former Squadron of the Royal Air Force which was operational between 1931 and 1956 through various names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coastal Command Anti U-Boat Devices School RAF</span> Former Royal Air Force Coastal Command training school

Coastal Command Anti U-Boat Devices School RAF was a training unit of the Royal Air Force and part of RAF Coastal Command. The unit was established during April 1945 by the redesignating of an existing RAF Coastal Command unit. The unit had several different identities beforehand. It began as the short lived No. 7 Operational Training Unit which only existed during 1940, before reforming in 1942 as No. 7 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit. It disbanded and was redesignated a few more times before becoming the Coastal Command Anti U-Boat Devices School.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Lake 1999, p. 106.
  2. 1 2 "Rhodesia & The RAF" . Retrieved 29 February 2016.

Bibliography

Air of Authority - RAF Flying Training Schools at the Wayback Machine (archived 25 November 2012)