No. 1 Basic Flying Training School RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 1 Basic Flying Training School (No. 1 BFTS) was a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF). It was formed in 1951 in response to increased demand for aircrew during the Korean War
and Malayan Emergency
. Established at RAAF Base Uranquinty
, New South Wales, and operating De Havilland Tiger Moth
s and CAC Wirraway
s, the school moved to RAAF Base Point Cook
, Victoria, in 1958, by which time it was exclusively flying CAC Winjeel
s. No. 1 BFTS was re-formed as No. 1 Flying Training School
at Point Cook in 1969.
(RAAF) was conducted under the auspices of one unit, No. 1 Flying Training School
(No. 1 FTS), at RAAF Point Cook
, Victoria. With the dramatic expansion of aircrew training under the wartime Empire Air Training Scheme
, No. 1 FTS was supplanted in 1940–41 by twelve Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS) and eight Service Flying Training Schools (SFTS). Post-war rationalisation saw all the EFTSs and SFTSs disbanded. No. 1 FTS, re-formed using the personnel and equipment of No. 5 Service Flying Training School
in Uranquinty, New South Wales, returned to Point Cook and again became the RAAF's sole facility for training new pilots.
In response to demands for more aircrew to meet Australia's commitments to the Korean War
and Malayan Emergency
, flying training in the RAAF was again expanded in 1951–52, with the functions of No. 1 FTS being split among three separately located units. No. 1 FTS itself was renamed No. 1 Applied Flying Training School (No. 1 AFTS) in March 1952, and assumed responsibility for advanced weapons and combat training on CAC Wirraway
s. Meanwhile, in November 1951, No. 1 Initial Flying Training School
(No. 1 IFTS) was raised at RAAF Station Archerfield
, Queensland, to impart students with general aeronautical and military knowledge, after which they received their flight grading during twelve hours on De Havilland Tiger Moth
s. Graduate pilots of No. 1 IFTS went on to another new unit, No. 1 Basic Flying Training School (No. 1 BFTS) at RAAF Base Uranquinty
, New South Wales, where they underwent further aerial instruction that included instrument, formation and night flying, the first phase including 40 hours on Tiger Moths and the second phase 50 hours on Wirraways. Successful students finally transferred to No. 1 AFTS, before graduating as Sergeant Pilot
s.
When No. 1 BFTS formed at Uranquinty on 1 December 1951, it had 377 staff, 37 Tiger Moths and 37 Wirraways, and came under the control of Headquarters Southern Area. The first pilots' course commenced on 1 April 1952, and graduated on 1 August. The first course of graduates from No. 1 IFTS transferred in the same month. As well as RAAF pilots, No. 1 BFTS trained students from the Royal Australian Navy
's Fleet Air Arm
. In February 1953, a prototype CAC Winjeel
, designed and manufactured in Australia, arrived at the school to undergo trials. From January 1956 to February 1957, the Winjeel gradually replaced both the Tiger Moth and the Wirraway as No. 1 BFTS's training aircraft. In addition to these aircraft, Link Trainer
instrument flying simulators were employed at the school. By November 1954, the RAAF's need for further aircrew to fulfil international obligations had eased and the decision was made to combine the syllabus of No. 1 IFTS with No. 1 BFTS starting in January 1955, after which No. 1 IFTS was disbanded.
In May 1958, No. 1 AFTS relocated to RAAF Base Pearce
, Western Australia, to re-equip with De Havilland Vampire
jet trainers. Its place at Point Cook was taken by No. 1 BFTS, which transferred from Uranquinty. RAAF Base Uranquinty closed on 18 December 1958, and No. 1 BFTS commenced operation at Point Cook the following day. Trainee pilots could now expect to fly approximately 85 hours on Winjeels at No. 1 BFTS, followed by 125 hours on Vampires at No. 1 AFTS. From 1961, cadets at the recently established RAAF Academy were given between 25 and 50 hours "motivational flying" at No. 1 BFTS, as practical relief from the "hard grind" of their four years of academic study. By the mid-1960s, the pace of flying training had begun to increase again, as the RAAF expanded and more aircrew were needed to fulfil Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War
. According to Air Force historian Alan Stephens, "It was not uncommon for thirteen aircraft, some flown by inexperienced solo students, to be in the circuit simultaneously at Point Cook, creating something of a 'sink or swim' environment for the trainees". On 31 December 1968, No. 1 BFTS was disbanded at Point Cook, re-forming there as No. 1 FTS on 1 January 1969. At the same time, No. 1 AFTS was disbanded at Pearce and re-formed as No. 2 Flying Training School
. Rationalisation of RAAF flying training saw the disbandment of No. 1 FTS at Point Cook on 31 January 1993. Initial flight grading and basic flying training has since 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 formed in 1951 in response to increased demand for aircrew during 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....
. Established at RAAF Base Uranquinty
RAAF Base Uranquinty
RAAF Base Uranquinty was a Royal Australian Air Force base located at Uranquinty, New South Wales, Australia. Land was requisitioned in 1940 as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme during the Second World War for the formation of the No. 5 Service Flying Training School.The base was closed in...
, New South Wales, and operating De Havilland Tiger Moth
De Havilland Tiger Moth
The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft...
s and 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, the school moved to RAAF Base 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, in 1958, by which time it was exclusively flying 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...
s. No. 1 BFTS was re-formed as No. 1 Flying Training School
No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF
No. 1 Flying Training School was a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force . 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...
at Point Cook in 1969.
History
Prior to World War II, all pilot training in the Royal 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...
(RAAF) was conducted under the auspices of one unit, No. 1 Flying Training School
No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF
No. 1 Flying Training School was a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force . 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...
(No. 1 FTS), 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. With the dramatic expansion of aircrew training 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...
, No. 1 FTS was supplanted in 1940–41 by twelve Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS) and eight Service Flying Training Schools (SFTS). Post-war rationalisation saw all the EFTSs and SFTSs disbanded. No. 1 FTS, re-formed using the personnel and equipment of No. 5 Service Flying Training School
No. 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...
in Uranquinty, New South Wales, returned to Point Cook and again became the RAAF's sole facility for training new pilots.
In response to demands for more aircrew to meet 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 was again expanded in 1951–52, with the functions of No. 1 FTS being split among three separately located units. No. 1 FTS itself was renamed No. 1 Applied Flying Training School (No. 1 AFTS) in March 1952, and assumed responsibility for advanced weapons and combat training on 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. Meanwhile, in November 1951, 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 RAAF Station Archerfield
RAAF Station Archerfield
RAAF Station Archerfield was a permanent Royal Australian Air Force station at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, from 1939 to 1956.- 1939 - 1945 :...
, Queensland, to impart students with general aeronautical and military knowledge, after which they received their flight grading during twelve hours on De Havilland Tiger Moth
De Havilland Tiger Moth
The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft...
s. Graduate pilots of No. 1 IFTS went on to another new unit, No. 1 Basic Flying Training School (No. 1 BFTS) at RAAF Base Uranquinty
RAAF Base Uranquinty
RAAF Base Uranquinty was a Royal Australian Air Force base located at Uranquinty, New South Wales, Australia. Land was requisitioned in 1940 as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme during the Second World War for the formation of the No. 5 Service Flying Training School.The base was closed in...
, New South Wales, where they underwent further aerial instruction that included instrument, formation and night flying, the first phase including 40 hours on Tiger Moths and the second phase 50 hours on Wirraways. Successful students finally transferred to No. 1 AFTS, 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.
When No. 1 BFTS formed at Uranquinty on 1 December 1951, it had 377 staff, 37 Tiger Moths and 37 Wirraways, and came under the control of Headquarters Southern Area. The first pilots' course commenced on 1 April 1952, and graduated on 1 August. The first course of graduates from No. 1 IFTS transferred in the same month. As well as RAAF pilots, No. 1 BFTS trained students from the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
's Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm (RAN)
The Fleet Air Arm , known formally as the Australian Navy Aviation Group, is the division of the Royal Australian Navy responsible for the operation of aircraft. The FAA was founded in 1947 following the purchase of two aircraft carriers from the Royal Navy...
. In February 1953, a prototype 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...
, designed and manufactured in Australia, arrived at the school to undergo trials. From January 1956 to February 1957, the Winjeel gradually replaced both the Tiger Moth and the Wirraway as No. 1 BFTS's training aircraft. In addition to these aircraft, 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...
instrument flying simulators were employed at the school. By November 1954, the RAAF's need for further aircrew to fulfil international obligations had eased and the decision was made to combine the syllabus of No. 1 IFTS with No. 1 BFTS starting in January 1955, after which No. 1 IFTS was disbanded.
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, to re-equip 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. RAAF Base Uranquinty closed on 18 December 1958, and No. 1 BFTS commenced operation at Point Cook the following day. Trainee pilots could now expect to fly approximately 85 hours on Winjeels at No. 1 BFTS, followed by 125 hours on Vampires at No. 1 AFTS. From 1961, cadets at the recently established RAAF Academy were given between 25 and 50 hours "motivational flying" at No. 1 BFTS, as practical relief from the "hard grind" of their four years of academic study. By the mid-1960s, the pace of flying training had begun to increase again, as the RAAF expanded and more aircrew were needed to fulfil Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. According to Air Force historian Alan Stephens, "It was not uncommon for thirteen aircraft, some flown by inexperienced solo students, to be in the circuit simultaneously at Point Cook, creating something of a 'sink or swim' environment for the trainees". On 31 December 1968, No. 1 BFTS was disbanded at Point Cook, re-forming there as No. 1 FTS on 1 January 1969. At the same time, No. 1 AFTS was disbanded at Pearce and 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...
. Rationalisation of RAAF flying training saw the disbandment of No. 1 FTS at Point Cook on 31 January 1993. Initial flight grading and basic flying training has since 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...
.