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[1][2] and also for the training of all non-pilot aircrew for the RAF and is home to the Central Flying SchoolTutor Squadron.
No. 3 Flying Training School
No. 3 Flying Training School badge
Active
26 April 1920 – 1 April 1922 2 Apr 1928 – 3 September 1939 3 Sep 1939 – 1 March 1942 17 December 1945 – 9 April 1947 9 April 1947 – 31 May 1958 15 September 1961 – Dec 1966 Dec 1966 – 26 April 1984 1 February 1989 – present
Although the school is nominally based at RAFC Cranwell,[3] only the multi-engine pilots and students on 57 Squadron fly from this aerodrome, with the Navy elements based at the nearby RAF Barkston Heath and the remaining trainee pilots based at RAF Wittering.
No 3 FTS was first formed at Scopwick (later renamed RAF Digby) on 26 April 1920 from No. 59 Training Squadron in No. 3 Group. That month Squadron LeaderArthur Harris, later AOC-in-C Bomber Command, was jointly appointed both station and school commander. It was transferred to No. 1 Group on 31 August 1921 but disbanded on 1 April 1922.
On 16 August 1937 the school relocated to RAF South Cerney, becoming No. 3 Service Flying Training School on 3 September 1939, where it remained until being redesignated No. 3 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit on 1 March 1942. By the outbreak of war the school was operating Harts and Airspeed Oxfords but on 24 June 1940 it became a No. 2 Group school, specialising on twin engined training using Oxfords. During this part of its life, the school used a number of relief landing grounds including RAF Stormy Down, RAF Bibury, RAF Long Newnton and RAF Wanborough. With the end of the war No. 3 (P) AFU was redesignated No. 3 SFTS again on 17 December 1945 and was now equipped with North American Harvards. On 24 April 1946 the school moved to RAF Feltwell and on 9 April 1947, its title reverted to No. 3 FTS and continued to operate from here until 31 May 1958 by which time it was using the Percival Provost T.1.
Third and Fourth formations
It entered the jet age when it was reformed at RAF Leeming on 15 September 1961, equipped with the Hunting Aircraft Jet Provost T.3. In 1966 it took over the Vampire Advanced Training Unit from No. 7 FTS and in December of the same year became No. 3 (Basic) FTS. 1971 saw control transfer from No. 22 to No. 23 Group and in December 1973 it took over the School of Refresher Flying from RAF Manby. In November 1974 it took over another unit when the RN Elementary Flying Training School arrived from RAF Church Fenton, but with the reduction in the demand for pilots and the RAF cut back, the school was disbanded at Leeming on 26 April 1984.
Fifth formation
The school's current incarnation began on 1 February 1989 when it became part of RAF Cranwell by redesignating the flying element of the Royal Air Force College[4] and undertook the basic flying training of some graduates from Initial Officer Training at the co-located RAF College Cranwell, other graduates going to RAF Linton-on-Ouse.[citation needed]Shorts Tucanos began arriving from December 1990 with the last flight of the Jet Provost on 29 October 1991.[5] In 1992 the school took over the CFS Bulldog element, which was later replaced by the CFS Tutor element. Also in 1995 the Dominies and British Aerospace Jetstreams (No. 45 (Reserve) Squadron) of 6 FTS were taken over on the closure of RAF Finningley, with the Dominie element becoming No 55 (Reserve) Squadron on 1 November 1996. The Dominie was withdrawn from service when WSO and WSOp training ended on 20 January 2011. Crew training is now carried out in King Airs
Due to its proximity to, and because of, the busier circuit at RAF Cranwell, elementary flying training units use RAF Barkston Heath for a significant amount of their operations.
674 Squadron AAC formed the Army Air Corps contingent of 3 FTS up until its standing down in April 2021.[2]
References
Citations
^. Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
^ ab"674 Sqn AAC - Standing Down". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 10 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
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, Air of Authority.
January 27, 2023
flying, training, school, flying, training, school, redirects, here, australian, unit, flying, training, school, raaf, flying, training, school, royal, force, military, training, school, which, manages, elementary, flying, training, royal, navy, royal, force, . No 3 Flying Training School redirects here For the Australian unit see No 3 Flying Training School RAAF 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 1 2 and also for the training of all non pilot aircrew for the RAF and is home to the Central Flying School Tutor Squadron No 3 Flying Training SchoolNo 3 Flying Training School badgeActive26 April 1920 1 April 19222 Apr 1928 3 September 19393 Sep 1939 1 March 1942 17 December 1945 9 April 1947 9 April 1947 31 May 1958 15 September 1961 Dec 1966 Dec 1966 26 April 1984 1 February 1989 presentCountry United KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceTypeFlying training schoolRoleElementary flying training and multi engine pilot trainingPart ofNo 22 Training GroupHeadquartersRAF CranwellMotto s AchieveAircraftEmbraer Phenom T1Grob Tutor T1Grob Prefect T1 Although the school is nominally based at RAFC Cranwell 3 only the multi engine pilots and students on 57 Squadron fly from this aerodrome with the Navy elements based at the nearby RAF Barkston Heath and the remaining trainee pilots based at RAF Wittering Contents 1 History 1 1 First formation 1 2 Second formation 1 3 Third and Fourth formations 1 4 Fifth formation 2 Current units 3 References 3 1 Citations 3 2 Bibliography 4 External linksHistory EditFirst formation Edit No 3 FTS was first formed at Scopwick later renamed RAF Digby on 26 April 1920 from No 59 Training Squadron in No 3 Group That month Squadron Leader Arthur Harris later AOC in C Bomber Command was jointly appointed both station and school commander It was transferred to No 1 Group on 31 August 1921 but disbanded on 1 April 1922 The school reformed at RAF Spitalgate near Grantham on 1 April 1928 equipped with Avro 504Ns and Armstrong Whitworth Siskins which were later replaced by Avro Tutors Armstrong Whitworth Atlases and Hawker Harts Second formation Edit On 16 August 1937 the school relocated to RAF South Cerney becoming No 3 Service Flying Training School on 3 September 1939 where it remained until being redesignated No 3 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit on 1 March 1942 By the outbreak of war the school was operating Harts and Airspeed Oxfords but on 24 June 1940 it became a No 2 Group school specialising on twin engined training using Oxfords During this part of its life the school used a number of relief landing grounds including RAF Stormy Down RAF Bibury RAF Long Newnton and RAF Wanborough With the end of the war No 3 P AFU was redesignated No 3 SFTS again on 17 December 1945 and was now equipped with North American Harvards On 24 April 1946 the school moved to RAF Feltwell and on 9 April 1947 its title reverted to No 3 FTS and continued to operate from here until 31 May 1958 by which time it was using the Percival Provost T 1 Third and Fourth formations Edit It entered the jet age when it was reformed at RAF Leeming on 15 September 1961 equipped with the Hunting Aircraft Jet Provost T 3 In 1966 it took over the Vampire Advanced Training Unit from No 7 FTS and in December of the same year became No 3 Basic FTS 1971 saw control transfer from No 22 to No 23 Group and in December 1973 it took over the School of Refresher Flying from RAF Manby In November 1974 it took over another unit when the RN Elementary Flying Training School arrived from RAF Church Fenton but with the reduction in the demand for pilots and the RAF cut back the school was disbanded at Leeming on 26 April 1984 Fifth formation Edit The school s current incarnation began on 1 February 1989 when it became part of RAF Cranwell by redesignating the flying element of the Royal Air Force College 4 and undertook the basic flying training of some graduates from Initial Officer Training at the co located RAF College Cranwell other graduates going to RAF Linton on Ouse citation needed Shorts Tucanos began arriving from December 1990 with the last flight of the Jet Provost on 29 October 1991 5 In 1992 the school took over the CFS Bulldog element which was later replaced by the CFS Tutor element Also in 1995 the Dominies and British Aerospace Jetstreams No 45 Reserve Squadron of 6 FTS were taken over on the closure of RAF Finningley with the Dominie element becoming No 55 Reserve Squadron on 1 November 1996 The Dominie was withdrawn from service when WSO and WSOp training ended on 20 January 2011 Crew training is now carried out in King AirsCurrent units EditSquadrons forming part of 3 FTS RAF Cranwell 45 Squadron 6 57 Squadron 703 Naval Air Squadron RAF Wittering 16 SquadronDue to its proximity to and because of the busier circuit at RAF Cranwell elementary flying training units use RAF Barkston Heath for a significant amount of their operations 674 Squadron AAC formed the Army Air Corps contingent of 3 FTS up until its standing down in April 2021 2 References EditCitations Edit No 3 Flight Training School and No 6 Flying Training School Ministry of Defence Archived from the original on 5 February 2018 Retrieved 6 July 2019 a b 674 Sqn AAC Standing Down Royal Air Force Retrieved 10 May 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link RAF Cranwell Royal Air Force Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 23 November 2014 Lake 1999 p 175 Jackson 1995 p 10 Cotter 2008 p 35 Bibliography Edit Cotter J 2008 Royal Air Force celebrating 90 years Stamford UK Key Publishing Ltd ISBN 978 0 946219 11 7 Jackson P 1995 Royal Air Force Second Edition UK Ian Allen Publishing ISBN 0 7110 2338 7 Lake A 1999 Flying units of the RAF Shrewsbury Airlife ISBN 1 84037 086 6 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 3 Flying Training School Flying Training Schools Air of Authority Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 3 Flying Training School RAF amp oldid 1106638698, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
