Primary flying training duration
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Primary flying training duration
Can anyone remember how long primary flying training lasted in the late 60s, and was there a ground school element to the course.
Last edited by Cerney218; 28th Jun 2020 at 20:33.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Certainly up until '66, it was ab initio JP. 160 hours or thereabouts. I believe the Chipmunk came in soon after that, as a cheaper way of weeding out those who passed Biggin, but couldn't cope with an aeroplane. Prepared to be corrected. Graduated JP course May '66.
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To put it in context, a new name has been added to the list of those entitled to wear the Battle of Britain clasp, sadly posthumously.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-80-years.html
- Sergeant James Eric William Ballard has joined the ranks of Churchill's 'The Few'
- Had nine hours of flying time before joining 610 (County of Chester) Squadron
- Follows discovery of logbook, which shows an operational sortie flown in 1940
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-80-years.html
To put it in context, a new name has been added to the list of those entitled to wear the Battle of Britain clasp, sadly posthumously.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-80-years.html
- Sergeant James Eric William Ballard has joined the ranks of Churchill's 'The Few'
- Had nine hours of flying time before joining 610 (County of Chester) Squadron
- Follows discovery of logbook, which shows an operational sortie flown in 1940
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-80-years.html
Slightly earlier in 1956. ITS Kirton Lindsey 3.5 months. Ternhill - Piston Provost 9 months - 62 hrs dual/60 hrs solo. Swinderby - Vampire T11 and FB5/9 10 months - 70 hrs dual/50 hrs solo. (Inc 1 month extension due to grounding of single seat Vampire 5 and 9.
Gentleman Aviator
Along with a few others, I did an "experimental" Primary course in 1968. We did 60 hours Chipmunk at Linton with the RN HSP (pre-helicopter) Course, which included 12:30 solo (a pretty good ratio - better than PFS - of about 21%). All - with a lot of ground school - in about 5 months (8th July to 22nd November)
We then joined a (shorter) ex-UAS Course at Syerston on the JP. Oh, and just to completely muck up any comparisons/conclusions, we (the non-UAS bit) only flew the JP 4, on which I did 141 hours (probably should have been less - there was a LOT of flex!), which included 42:30 solo (30%!). And that lot took 8 and a bit months; 15th December to 28th August.
Chipmunk to JP4 was a sporting transition - kind of 11+ direct to A level........
But somehow I went solo after 6:30 dual - the quintessential frightened teenager!!
We then joined a (shorter) ex-UAS Course at Syerston on the JP. Oh, and just to completely muck up any comparisons/conclusions, we (the non-UAS bit) only flew the JP 4, on which I did 141 hours (probably should have been less - there was a LOT of flex!), which included 42:30 solo (30%!). And that lot took 8 and a bit months; 15th December to 28th August.
Chipmunk to JP4 was a sporting transition - kind of 11+ direct to A level........
But somehow I went solo after 6:30 dual - the quintessential frightened teenager!!
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Chipmunk to JP4 was a sporting transition - kind of 11+ direct to A level...
My Dad died last year aged 85, and I now have his logbooks.
He was Fleet Air Arm.
Basic training between Feb 56 and March 57 was 6 months/135 hours on Provost T1, at Syerston, followed by 6 months/115 hours on Vampire T11/FB5 at Valley, before going on to Gannets, and eventually anti-submarine helicopters via Hiller12, Whirlwind, Wessex.
He was Fleet Air Arm.
Basic training between Feb 56 and March 57 was 6 months/135 hours on Provost T1, at Syerston, followed by 6 months/115 hours on Vampire T11/FB5 at Valley, before going on to Gannets, and eventually anti-submarine helicopters via Hiller12, Whirlwind, Wessex.
While we are on the subject of training, does anyone know when flight cadets stopped doing 2/3 years of combined IOT and BFT at Cranwell? Was it 1973? ISTR Cranwell became a 18 week course running concurrently with OCTU Henlow, then all at Cranwel in 1981?
I have checked wiki and OldCranwelians but can't see a definitive answer.
I have checked wiki and OldCranwelians but can't see a definitive answer.
The change at Cranwell was before 1973. By 1971, the University cadetship scheme was in full flow, and the Cranwell cadet scheme had ended. The University Cadetship started with a quick (4-6 weeks?) initial Officer Training Course at Cranwell, which the guys (yes, all male) left as Acting Pilot Officers, then 3 years at a University, with UAS membership and Chipmunk(later Bulldog) flying. This was followed by a "proper" IOT course at Cranwell, then a JP course to wings standard.
The change at Cranwell was before 1973. By 1971, the University cadetship scheme was in full flow, and the Cranwell cadet scheme had ended. The University Cadetship started with a quick (4-6 weeks?) initial Officer Training Course at Cranwell, which the guys (yes, all male) left as Acting Pilot Officers, then 3 years at a University, with UAS membership and Chipmunk(later Bulldog) flying. This was followed by a "proper" IOT course at Cranwell, then a JP course to wings standard.
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By 1978 the DE BFT/AFT/TWU pilot training system I went through was as follows: April to Aug '78 IOT RAF Henlow; Sept '78 1FTS Linton, 4 weeks GS, 134 hrs JP3A till July '79, then 64 hrs JP5A til Sep '79; 4FTS Valley Oct '79 to May '80 with 98 hrs Hawk T1; 1 TWU at Brawdy from May to Sep '80 with 71 hrs Hawk T1, then to Phantom OCU in Nov '80. So, total of about 20 months and 367 hrs jet time (including lots of non-course gash trips) from start of IOT to hitting the OCU.
Last edited by Proudlion; 30th Jun 2020 at 15:48.
1956 89 hours JP1 and 2 at Hullavington then 120 Vampire at Swinderby then 40 minutes conversion to taildragger prop Chipmunk.Now that was a sporting transition.
