No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 1 Flying Training School (No. 1 FTS) was a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF). It was one of the Air Force's original units, dating back to the service's formation in 1921, when it was based at RAAF Point Cook
, Victoria. The school underwent a number of reorganisations during its existence. In 1940 it was re-formed as No. 1 Service Flying Training School under the wartime Empire Air Training Scheme
, disbanding in 1944. After World War II, it was re-established at Point Cook, as No. 1 FTS. It re-formed again in 1952 as No. 1 Applied Flying Training School (No. 1 AFTS), and was transferred to RAAF Base Pearce
, Western Australia, in 1958. Meanwhile, in 1951, No. 1 Basic Flying Training School
(No. 1 BFTS) had been formed at Uranquinty, New South Wales, moving to Point Cook in 1958. In 1969, No. 1 AFTS re-formed as No. 2 Flying Training School
and No. 1 BFTS re-formed as No. 1 FTS. No. 1 FTS was finally disbanded at Point Cook in 1993.
on 31 March 1921 (the prefix "Royal" was added in August that year). No. 1 FTS was formed from the remnants of Australia's original military flying unit, Central Flying School
, at RAAF Point Cook
, Victoria. Squadron Leader William Anderson
, who was in charge of Point Cook, was effectively No. 1 FTS's first commanding officer. Its initial complement of aircraft included twelve Avro 504
Ks, six Airco DH.9
s, three Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
s, and three Sopwith Pup
s. Flight Lieutenant Frank McNamara VC took command of the school in 1922. The inaugural flying course commenced in January 1923, with basic instruction taking place on the 504K, and advanced training on the other types. Squadron Leader Anderson formally took command of No. 1 FTS in 1925; the following year he handed over to Wing Commander Adrian Cole
, who led the unit until 1929. The first Citizen Air Force (reserve) pilots' course took place in 1926; although 24 accidents occurred, there were no fatalities, leading Cole to remark at the graduation ceremony that the students were either made of India rubber or had learned how to crash "moderately safely". However, the Permanent Air Force cadet course that year was marred by three fatal accidents.
Squadron Leader McNamara again assumed command of the school in 1930. By this time, it had been reorganised into three components: Training Squadron, operating Westland Wapiti
s; Fighter Squadron, operating Bristol Bulldog
s; and Seaplane Squadron, operating Supermarine Southampton
s. The latter pair were, however, "really little more than flights
"; Fighter Squadron was dissolved in 1935 when its Bulldogs were transferred to No. 1 Squadron
at RAAF Laverton
, while Seaplane Squadron was extant until 1939, when it was separated to form the basis of No. 10 Squadron
. One of the school's leading instructors
at this time was Flight Lieutenant Frederick Scherger
, who was also a flight commander in Fighter Squadron. In 1932, No. 1 FTS began running two courses each year, the first commencing in January and the second in July. Wing Commander Hippolyte De La Rue
became commanding officer in 1933. The Wapitis were augmented by Avro Cadet
trainers in 1936. By the time De La Rue handed over to Wing Commander Frank Lukis
in 1938, the school was training a maximum of 96 new pilots per year, a small number of whom were slated for secondment to the Royal Air Force
. Link Trainer
simulators were introduced in March 1939.
. A number of Elementary Flying Training Schools were formed, to provide basic flight instruction to cadets, while more advanced instruction was to take place at Service Flying Training Schools. During April–May 1940, No. 1 FTS was re-formed at Point Cook as No. 1 Service Flying Training School (No. 1 SFTS), while its Instructors' Training Squadron formed the nucleus of a re-formed Central Flying School, which relocated to Camden
, New South Wales, in June. The courses at the Service Flying Training Schools consisted of two streams, intermediate and advanced; the total duration varied during the war as demand for aircrew rose and fell. Initially running for 16 weeks, the course was cut to 10 weeks (which included 75 hours flying time) in October 1940. A year later it was raised to 12 weeks (including 100 hours flying time), and again to 16 weeks two months later. It continued to increase after this, peaking at 28 weeks in June 1944.
The initial complement of 52 aircraft at No. 1 SFTS included Wapitis, Cadets, Avro Anson
s, Hawker Demons, and a De Havilland Tiger Moth. Group Captain John McCauley
served as commanding officer from October 1940 until July 1941, when he handed over to Wing Commander Evelyn King, who went on to take charge of Station Headquarters Point Cook in October. By this stage, No. 1 SFTS had an establishment of 100 officers and over 2,000 airmen, operating more than 100 aircraft and training up to 300 cadets at any one time. The aircraft types now included De Havilland Gypsy Moths
and DH.89 Dragon Rapide
s, Douglas C-47 Dakotas, CAC Wirraway
s and Airspeed Oxford
s, the latter two being the mainstays. Wing Commander Charles Read
held command of the school from October 1943 until its disbandment in September 1944, by which time almost 3,000 pilots had graduated from the school. Among these were Nicky Barr
, who became one of Australia's leading fighter aces
, and Bill Newton, awarded the Victoria Cross
for bombing raids in New Guinea
during 1943.
, which had been reduced after the war to a care-and-maintenance unit at its base in Uranquinty, New South Wales, were used to re-establish No. 1 FTS. Its aircraft included one Anson, two Tiger Moths, and 55 Wirraways. By August 1947, the school had been transferred to Point Cook, where it was led by Wing Commander Read. Its No. 1 Aircrew Course commenced in February 1948, graduating in August the following year, after which Read handed over to Squadron Leader Glen Cooper. In response to demands for more aircrew to fulfill Australia's commitments to the Korean War
and Malayan Emergency
, flying training in the RAAF underwent major changes in 1951–52, with the syllabus at No. 1 FTS being split among three separately located units. No. 1 Initial Flying Training School
(No. 1 IFTS) was raised at Archerfield
, Queensland, to impart students with general aeronautical and military knowledge, after which they received their flight grading during twelve hours on Tiger Moths. Graduate pilots of No. 1 IFTS went on to the newly formed No. 1 Basic Flying Training School
(No. 1 BFTS) at Uranquinty, where they underwent a further 90 hours of aerial instruction that included instrument, formation and night flying, first on Tiger Moths and then on Wirraways. Successful students finally transferred to No. 1 FTS, which was renamed No. 1 Applied Flying Training School (No. 1 AFTS) in March 1952. There they undertook 100 flying hours of advanced weapons and combat training on Wirraways, before graduating as Sergeant Pilot
s. The Tiger Moths and Wirraways were later replaced by the locally designed CAC Winjeel
, first delivered in 1955.
In May 1958, No. 1 AFTS relocated to RAAF Base Pearce
, Western Australia, where it re-equipped with De Havilland Vampire
jet trainers. Its place at Point Cook was taken by No. 1 BFTS, which transferred from Uranquinty. The Vampires of No. 1 AFTS were replaced by Macchi MB-326Hs
commencing in 1968. The introduction of the Macchi led to a brief flirtation with "all-through" jet training in the Air Force, which was dropped after two courses as being "an expensive way of finding out that some pupils lacked the aptitude to become military pilots". On 31 December 1968, No. 1 AFTS was disbanded at Pearce, re-forming there as No. 2 Flying Training School
on 1 January 1969. At the same time, No. 1 BFTS was disbanded at Point Cook and re-formed as No. 1 FTS. In late 1975, the Winjeels of No. 1 FTS were replaced by CT-4 Airtrainers. On 1 May 1988, the CT-4s took part in one of the RAAF's largest flypast
s, when 24 of the trainers formed the number "88" in the sky above Point Cook. In November 1989, one of the school's CT-4s recreated the first trans-Australia flight that had taken place 70 years before, when Captain Henry Wrigley
and Sergeant Arthur Murphy
flew a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 biplane from Point Cook to Darwin
, Northern Territory, in 1919. Rationalisation of RAAF flying training saw the retirement of the CT-4s in late 1992, followed by disbandment of No. 1 FTS on 31 January 1993. Since this date initial flight grading and basic flying training has been conducted by civilian contractors at the Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School
.
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF). It was one of the Air Force's original units, dating back to the service's formation in 1921, when it was based at RAAF Point Cook
RAAF Williams
RAAF Williams comprises the two bases of Point Cook and Laverton. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases until 1999 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams...
, Victoria. The school underwent a number of reorganisations during its existence. In 1940 it was re-formed as No. 1 Service Flying Training School under the wartime Empire Air Training Scheme
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
, disbanding in 1944. After World War II, it was re-established at Point Cook, as No. 1 FTS. It re-formed again in 1952 as No. 1 Applied Flying Training School (No. 1 AFTS), and was transferred to RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce is the main RAAF base in Western Australia. The base is located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. It is used for training by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force...
, Western Australia, in 1958. Meanwhile, in 1951, No. 1 Basic Flying Training School
No. 1 Basic Flying Training School RAAF
No. 1 Basic Flying Training School was a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force . It was formed in 1951 in response to increased demand for aircrew during the Korean War and Malayan Emergency...
(No. 1 BFTS) had been formed at Uranquinty, New South Wales, moving to Point Cook in 1958. In 1969, No. 1 AFTS re-formed as No. 2 Flying Training School
No. 2 Flying Training School RAAF
No. 2 Flying Training School is the main flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force . Formed under its present name in 1969, it is located at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia. The unit operates a fleet of Pilatus PC-9 turboprop trainers...
and No. 1 BFTS re-formed as No. 1 FTS. No. 1 FTS was finally disbanded at Point Cook in 1993.
Early years
No. 1 Flying Training School (No. 1 FTS) was the first unit to be formally established as part of the new Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
on 31 March 1921 (the prefix "Royal" was added in August that year). No. 1 FTS was formed from the remnants of Australia's original military flying unit, Central Flying School
Central Flying School RAAF
The Central Flying School RAAF is a Royal Australian Air Force training establishment, based at RAAF Base East Sale. It was formed in March 1913, and during the First World War it trained over 150 pilots, who fought in Europe and the Middle East....
, at RAAF Point Cook
RAAF Williams
RAAF Williams comprises the two bases of Point Cook and Laverton. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases until 1999 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams...
, Victoria. Squadron Leader William Anderson
William Anderson (RAAF officer)
Air Vice-Marshal William Hopton Anderson CBE, DFC was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force . He flew with the Australian Flying Corps in World War I, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Belgian Croix de guerre, and leading Nos. 3 and 7 Squadrons...
, who was in charge of Point Cook, was effectively No. 1 FTS's first commanding officer. Its initial complement of aircraft included twelve Avro 504
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
Ks, six Airco DH.9
Airco DH.9
The Airco DH.9 - also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 - was a British bomber used in the First World War...
s, three Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Although the first examples reached the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel and it had a much better overall performance, problems with its Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the geared-output H-S...
s, and three Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
s. Flight Lieutenant Frank McNamara VC took command of the school in 1922. The inaugural flying course commenced in January 1923, with basic instruction taking place on the 504K, and advanced training on the other types. Squadron Leader Anderson formally took command of No. 1 FTS in 1925; the following year he handed over to Wing Commander Adrian Cole
Adrian Cole (RAAF officer)
Air Vice Marshal Adrian Lindley Trevor Cole, CBE, DSO, MC, DFC was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force . Joining the army at the outbreak of World War I, he transferred to the Australian Flying Corps in 1916 and flew with No. 1 Squadron in the Middle East and No. 2...
, who led the unit until 1929. The first Citizen Air Force (reserve) pilots' course took place in 1926; although 24 accidents occurred, there were no fatalities, leading Cole to remark at the graduation ceremony that the students were either made of India rubber or had learned how to crash "moderately safely". However, the Permanent Air Force cadet course that year was marred by three fatal accidents.
Squadron Leader McNamara again assumed command of the school in 1930. By this time, it had been reorganised into three components: Training Squadron, operating Westland Wapiti
Westland Wapiti
The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general purpose military single-engined biplane of the 1920s. It was designed and built by Westland Aircraft Works to replace the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service....
s; Fighter Squadron, operating Bristol Bulldog
Bristol Bulldog
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Andrews, C.F. The Bristol Bulldog . Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1965.* Barnes, C.H. Bristol Aircraft Since 1910. London: Putnam, 1964....
s; and Seaplane Squadron, operating Supermarine Southampton
Supermarine Southampton
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Supermarine Aircraft since 1914 . London: Putnam, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-800-3....
s. The latter pair were, however, "really little more than flights
Flight (military unit)
A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. It usually comprises three to six aircraft, with their aircrews and ground staff; or, in the case of a non-flying ground flight, no aircraft and a roughly equivalent number of support personnel. In most usages,...
"; Fighter Squadron was dissolved in 1935 when its Bulldogs were transferred to No. 1 Squadron
No. 1 Squadron RAAF
No. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley. The squadron is currently being re-equipped with F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.-World War I:...
at RAAF Laverton
RAAF Williams
RAAF Williams comprises the two bases of Point Cook and Laverton. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases until 1999 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams...
, while Seaplane Squadron was extant until 1939, when it was separated to form the basis of No. 10 Squadron
No. 10 Squadron RAAF
No. 10 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron based at RAAF Base Edinburgh. The Squadron was first formed in 1939 and has seen active service in World War II, East Timor, the War on Terrorism and the 2003 Gulf War.-Second World War:...
. One of the school's leading instructors
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
at this time was Flight Lieutenant Frederick Scherger
Frederick Scherger
Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Rudolph William Scherger KBE, CB, DSO, AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force...
, who was also a flight commander in Fighter Squadron. In 1932, No. 1 FTS began running two courses each year, the first commencing in January and the second in July. Wing Commander Hippolyte De La Rue
Hippolyte De La Rue
Air Commodore Hippolyte Ferdinand De La Rue CBE, DFC was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force . Joining the Mercantile Marine as a youth, he became a pilot in the Royal Naval Air Service during World War I, and was given command of No. 223 Squadron RAF in 1918...
became commanding officer in 1933. The Wapitis were augmented by Avro Cadet
Avro Cadet
|-See also:-External links:**...
trainers in 1936. By the time De La Rue handed over to Wing Commander Frank Lukis
Frank Lukis
Air Commodore Francis William Fellowes Lukis, CBE was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force . A veteran of World War I, he first saw combat as a soldier in the Australian Imperial Force at Gallipoli...
in 1938, the school was training a maximum of 96 new pilots per year, a small number of whom were slated for secondment to the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. Link Trainer
Link Trainer
The term Link Trainer, also known as the "Blue box" and "Pilot Trainer" is commonly used to refer to a series of flight simulators produced between the early 1930s and early 1950s by Ed Link, based on technology he pioneered in 1929 at his family's business in Binghamton, New York...
simulators were introduced in March 1939.
World War II
RAAF flying training was heavily reorganised soon after the outbreak of World War II, in response to Australia's participation in the Empire Air Training SchemeBritish Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
. A number of Elementary Flying Training Schools were formed, to provide basic flight instruction to cadets, while more advanced instruction was to take place at Service Flying Training Schools. During April–May 1940, No. 1 FTS was re-formed at Point Cook as No. 1 Service Flying Training School (No. 1 SFTS), while its Instructors' Training Squadron formed the nucleus of a re-formed Central Flying School, which relocated to Camden
Camden, New South Wales
-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
, New South Wales, in June. The courses at the Service Flying Training Schools consisted of two streams, intermediate and advanced; the total duration varied during the war as demand for aircrew rose and fell. Initially running for 16 weeks, the course was cut to 10 weeks (which included 75 hours flying time) in October 1940. A year later it was raised to 12 weeks (including 100 hours flying time), and again to 16 weeks two months later. It continued to increase after this, peaking at 28 weeks in June 1944.
The initial complement of 52 aircraft at No. 1 SFTS included Wapitis, Cadets, Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
s, Hawker Demons, and a De Havilland Tiger Moth. Group Captain John McCauley
John McCauley (RAAF officer)
Air Marshal Sir John Patrick Joseph McCauley, KBE, CB was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force . He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1954 to 1957. A Duntroon graduate, McCauley spent four years in the Australian Military Forces before transferring to the RAAF in 1924...
served as commanding officer from October 1940 until July 1941, when he handed over to Wing Commander Evelyn King, who went on to take charge of Station Headquarters Point Cook in October. By this stage, No. 1 SFTS had an establishment of 100 officers and over 2,000 airmen, operating more than 100 aircraft and training up to 300 cadets at any one time. The aircraft types now included De Havilland Gypsy Moths
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
The de Havilland DH 60 Moth was a 1920s British two-seat touring and training aircraft that was developed into a series of aircraft by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.-Development:The DH 60 was developed from the larger DH 51 biplane...
and DH.89 Dragon Rapide
De Havilland Dragon Rapide
The de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide was a British short-haul passenger airliner of the 1930s.-Design and development:Designed by the de Havilland company in late 1933 as a faster and more comfortable successor to the DH.84 Dragon, it was in effect a twin-engined, scaled-down version of the...
s, Douglas C-47 Dakotas, CAC Wirraway
CAC Wirraway
The Wirraway was a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1939 and 1946...
s and Airspeed Oxford
Airspeed Oxford
The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a twin-engine aircraft used for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
s, the latter two being the mainstays. Wing Commander Charles Read
Charles Read (RAAF officer)
Air Marshal Sir Charles Frederick Read KBE, CB, DFC, AFC is a retired senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force . He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1972 to 1975. Born in Sydney, Read joined the RAAF in 1937, and began his career flying biplane fighters. As a Beaufighter pilot, he...
held command of the school from October 1943 until its disbandment in September 1944, by which time almost 3,000 pilots had graduated from the school. Among these were Nicky Barr
Nicky Barr
Andrew William "Nicky" Barr, OBE, MC, DFC & Bar was a member of the Australian national rugby union team who became a fighter ace in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. He was credited with twelve aerial victories, all scored flying the Curtiss P-40...
, who became one of Australia's leading fighter aces
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
, and Bill Newton, awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for bombing raids in New Guinea
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
during 1943.
Post-war years
In February 1946, the personnel and equipment of No. 5 Service Flying Training SchoolNo. 5 Service Flying Training School RAAF
No. 5 Service Flying Training School was a Royal Australian Air Force flight training unit of World War II. Its role was to provide intermediate and advanced flight training to new pilots as part of Australia's contribution to the Empire Air Training Scheme...
, which had been reduced after the war to a care-and-maintenance unit at its base in Uranquinty, New South Wales, were used to re-establish No. 1 FTS. Its aircraft included one Anson, two Tiger Moths, and 55 Wirraways. By August 1947, the school had been transferred to Point Cook, where it was led by Wing Commander Read. Its No. 1 Aircrew Course commenced in February 1948, graduating in August the following year, after which Read handed over to Squadron Leader Glen Cooper. In response to demands for more aircrew to fulfill Australia's commitments to the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
, flying training in the RAAF underwent major changes in 1951–52, with the syllabus at No. 1 FTS being split among three separately located units. No. 1 Initial Flying Training School
No. 1 Initial Flying Training School RAAF
No. 1 Initial Flying Training School was a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force . It was formed in 1951 in response to increased demand for aircrew during the Korean War and Malayan Emergency...
(No. 1 IFTS) was raised at Archerfield
Archerfield, Queensland
Archerfield is an outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia. Archerfield is a sparsely populated suburb, with most of the land being occupied by Archerfield Airport.-Airport:...
, Queensland, to impart students with general aeronautical and military knowledge, after which they received their flight grading during twelve hours on Tiger Moths. Graduate pilots of No. 1 IFTS went on to the newly formed No. 1 Basic Flying Training School
No. 1 Basic Flying Training School RAAF
No. 1 Basic Flying Training School was a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force . It was formed in 1951 in response to increased demand for aircrew during the Korean War and Malayan Emergency...
(No. 1 BFTS) at Uranquinty, where they underwent a further 90 hours of aerial instruction that included instrument, formation and night flying, first on Tiger Moths and then on Wirraways. Successful students finally transferred to No. 1 FTS, which was renamed No. 1 Applied Flying Training School (No. 1 AFTS) in March 1952. There they undertook 100 flying hours of advanced weapons and combat training on Wirraways, before graduating as Sergeant Pilot
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
s. The Tiger Moths and Wirraways were later replaced by the locally designed CAC Winjeel
CAC Winjeel
|-See also:-External links:* http://www.warbirdalley.com/winjeel.htm* http://www.dropbears.com/f/felix_noble/winjeel.htm* http://www.raafmuseum.com.au/raaf2/html/body_winjeel.htm...
, first delivered in 1955.
In May 1958, No. 1 AFTS relocated to RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce is the main RAAF base in Western Australia. The base is located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. It is used for training by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force...
, Western Australia, where it re-equipped with De Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
jet trainers. Its place at Point Cook was taken by No. 1 BFTS, which transferred from Uranquinty. The Vampires of No. 1 AFTS were replaced by Macchi MB-326Hs
Aermacchi MB-326
The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a light military jet aircraft designed in Italy. Originally conceived as a two-seat trainer, there have also been single and two-seat light attack versions produced. It is one of the most commercially successful aircraft of its type, being bought by more than 10...
commencing in 1968. The introduction of the Macchi led to a brief flirtation with "all-through" jet training in the Air Force, which was dropped after two courses as being "an expensive way of finding out that some pupils lacked the aptitude to become military pilots". On 31 December 1968, No. 1 AFTS was disbanded at Pearce, re-forming there as No. 2 Flying Training School
No. 2 Flying Training School RAAF
No. 2 Flying Training School is the main flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force . Formed under its present name in 1969, it is located at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia. The unit operates a fleet of Pilatus PC-9 turboprop trainers...
on 1 January 1969. At the same time, No. 1 BFTS was disbanded at Point Cook and re-formed as No. 1 FTS. In late 1975, the Winjeels of No. 1 FTS were replaced by CT-4 Airtrainers. On 1 May 1988, the CT-4s took part in one of the RAAF's largest flypast
Flypast
Flypast is a term used in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and other countries to denote ceremonial or honorific flights by groups of aircraft and, rarely, by a single aircraft...
s, when 24 of the trainers formed the number "88" in the sky above Point Cook. In November 1989, one of the school's CT-4s recreated the first trans-Australia flight that had taken place 70 years before, when Captain Henry Wrigley
Henry Wrigley
Air Vice Marshal Henry Neilson Wrigley CBE, DFC, AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force . A pioneer aviator and theorist, he piloted the first trans-Australia flight from Melbourne to Darwin in 1919, and subsequently laid the groundwork for the RAAF's air power doctrine...
and Sergeant Arthur Murphy
Arthur William Murphy
Air Commodore Arthur William Murphy DFC, AFC, FRAeS was a senior engineer and aviator in the Royal Australian Air Force . He accompanied Captain Henry Wrigley on the first trans-Australia flight from Melbourne to Darwin in 1919, a feat that earned both men the Air Force Cross...
flew a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 biplane from Point Cook to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, Northern Territory, in 1919. Rationalisation of RAAF flying training saw the retirement of the CT-4s in late 1992, followed by disbandment of No. 1 FTS on 31 January 1993. Since this date initial flight grading and basic flying training has been conducted by civilian contractors at the Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School
Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School
The Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School is located in Tamworth in northern New South Wales. It is currently run by BAE Systems Flying Training Academy, which conducts tri-service flight screening and basic flying training for the Australian Defence Force aircrew from the...
.