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{{Short description|Flying Training School of the Royal Air Force}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
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| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| dates = 26 Apr 1920 - 1 April 1922<br>1 Apr 1935 - 22 Apr 1942<br>17 Dec 1945 - 30 Jun 1968<br>1 May 1970 - 31 Mar 1996<br>7 Sept 2015 - present
| dates = 26 April 1920 - 1 April 1922<br />1 Apr 1935 - 22 April 1942<br />17 Dec 1945 - 30 June 1968<br />1 May 1970 - 31 March 1996<br />7 Sep 2015 - present
| country = {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| country = {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| branch = {{nowrap| [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|24px|border|Royal Air Force Ensign]] [[Royal Air Force]]}}
| branch = {{nowrap| [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|24px|border|Royal Air Force Ensign]] [[Royal Air Force]]}}
| command_structure =
| command_structure =
| garrison = RAF College Cranwell
| garrison = [[Royal Air Force College Cranwell|RAF College Cranwell]]
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| role =
| role =
| motto = {{lang-la|Aspice et Imitare}}<br>"Look and imitate"<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pine|first1=L.G.|title=A dictionary of mottoes|date=1983|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|location=London|isbn=0-7100-9339-X|page=17|edition=1}}</ref>
| motto = {{lang-la|Aspice et Imitare}}<br />"Look and imitate"<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pine|first=L.G.|title=A dictionary of mottoes|date=1983|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|location=London|isbn=0-7100-9339-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/17 17]|edition=1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/17}}</ref>
| commander1 = Group Captain Howard ‘Howie’ Edwards
| commander1 = Group Captain Matt Barker
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label =
| identification_symbol_label =
| equipment = Grob Tutor T1
| equipment = Grob Tutor T.1
| equipment_label = Aircraft
| equipment_label = Aircraft
}}
}}
'''No. 6 Flying Training School RAF''' is a Flying Training School (FTS) within [[No. 22 Group RAF|No. 22 (Training) Group]] of the [[Royal Air Force]] that delivers flying training to [[University Air Squadrons]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/universityairsquadrons/|title=RAF University Air Squadrons|publisher=Royal Air Force|accessdate=10 October 2015}}</ref> and [[Air Experience Flights]].<ref>http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/6-flying-training-school-08102015</ref>
'''No. 6 Flying Training School RAF''' is a Flying Training School (FTS) within [[No. 22 Group RAF|No. 22 (Training) Group]] of the [[Royal Air Force]] that delivers flying training to [[University Air Squadrons]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/universityairsquadrons/|title=RAF University Air Squadrons|publisher=Royal Air Force|access-date=10 October 2015}}</ref> and [[Air Experience Flights]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/6-flying-training-school-08102015 |title=6 Flying Training School |access-date=10 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012054010/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/6-flying-training-school-08102015 |archive-date=12 October 2015}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The school was formed by renaming 39 Training School at [[RAF Spitalgate]].
The school was formed by renaming No. 39 Training School RAF at [[RAF Spitalgate]] on 26 April 1920 under [[No. 3 Group RAF]], using [[Avro 504]]Ks and other aircraft until moving to [[RAF Manston]] on 21 September 1920 under control of the [[School of Technical Training RAF]]. The school was disbanded on 1 April 1922.{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=153}}


After moving from [[RAF Netheravon]], the school became the first flying unit at [[RAF Little Rissington]] in August 1938 with Audaxes, Furies, Harts and Ansons as '''No. 6 Service Flying Training School'''. It was disbanded by being redesignated '''No.6 (P)AFU''' (Pilot-Advanced Flying Unit) on 22 April 1942.<ref>http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/airfields/airfield.php?pid=1790</ref>
The school was reformed on 1 April 1935 upon [[No. 23 Group RAF]]. After moving from [[RAF Netheravon]], the school became the first flying unit at [[RAF Little Rissington]] in August 1938 with [[Hawker Audax]]es, [[Hawker Fury|Hawker Furies]], [[Hawker Hart]]s and [[Avro Anson]]s. It was renamed to '''No. 6 Service Flying Training School''' on 3 September 1939 and [[North American T-6 Texan|North American Harvard]]s joined. The School's Advanced Training Squadron used various airfields for armament training such as [[RAF Penrhos]] and [[RAF Warmwell]]. The School's Initial Training Squadron used [[RAF Kidlington]], [[RAF Windrush]], [[RAF Chipping Norton]] and [[RAF Hullavington]]. [[Airspeed Oxford]]s joined from November 1940 and the unit was disbanded by being redesignated '''No. 6 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF''' on 1 April 1942.{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=153}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/airfields/airfield.php?pid=1790|title=RAF Little Rissington in the Second World War 1939-1945 - The Wartime Memories Project -|website=wartimememoriesproject.com}}</ref>


=== No. 6 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF ===
From 30 April 1946, 6 FTS was based at [[RAF Ternhill]]<ref>http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-T.htm</ref> equipped with [[North American Harvard]]s, receiving [[Percival Prentice]]s in late 1948; from July 1953 [[Percival Provost]] T1 piston engine training aircraft replaced both types.<ref>Sturtivant, 1997, p. 153</ref> However on 24 July 1961 the school moved out to [[RAF Acklington]] where it closed again on 30 June 1968.<ref>http://www.jetprovostfile.org/operating-units/</ref>
The unit was formed at Little Rissington under 23 Group and used Ansons, Oxfords, Harvard and [[Blackburn Botha]]s. The unit used multiple airfields such as [[RAF Windrush]], [[RAF Chipping Norton]], [[RAF Akeman Street]] and [[RAF Moreton Valence]] as relief landing grounds along with [[RAF Honiley]] and [[RAF Chedworth]] for detachment locations. It became 6 SFTS on 17 December 1945.{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=42}}

The unit was reformed back to No. 6 SFTS at RAF Little Rissington on 17 December 1945 with Harvards, Ansons and [[Miles Magister]]s. From 30 April 1946, 6 FTS was based at [[RAF Ternhill]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-T.htm|title=Stations-T|website=www.rafweb.org}}</ref> equipped with North American Harvards and [[de Havilland Tiger Moth]]s and unit was renamed back to 6 FTS on 14 May 1947. The school received [[Percival Prentice]]s in late 1948; from July 1953 [[Percival Provost]] T.1 piston engine training aircraft replaced both types.{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=153}} During this period the school used [[RAF Akeman Street]], [[RAF Southrop]], [[RAF Chetwynd]], [[RAF Sleap]] and [[RAF High Ercall]]. On 24 July 1961 the school moved out to [[RAF Acklington]] where the [[BAC Jet Provost|Hunting Aircraft Jet Provost T.3]] was introduced and [[RAF Ouston]] was the satellite airfield.The school was renamed to '''No. 6 (Advanced) Flying School RAF''' during December 1966, it closed again on 30 June 1968.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jetprovostfile.org/operating-units/ |title=Jet Provost File - OPERATING UNITS |access-date=10 October 2015 |archive-date=6 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106213425/http://www.jetprovostfile.org/operating-units/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=153}}


[[File:Hunting Jet Provost T5 XW309 V.6 FINN 30.07.77 edited-3.jpg|thumb|left|Operational Jet Provost T.5 of No.6 Flying Training School in 1977]]
[[File:Hunting Jet Provost T5 XW309 V.6 FINN 30.07.77 edited-3.jpg|thumb|left|Operational Jet Provost T.5 of No.6 Flying Training School in 1977]]
⚫
The School reformed 1 May 1970 at [[RAF Finningley]], within [[No. 23 Group RAF]] as an Air Navigation School (ANS). This was an amalgamation of the [[British Aerospace 125|Hawker Siddeley Dominie]] T.1 s of No.1 ANS from [[RAF Stradishall]] and the Varsities No.2 ANS from [[RAF Gaydon]]. Low level navigation training took place on the [[BAC Jet Provost|Jet Provost]] from August 1970, eventually using the T5B variant which had extra fuel capacity in the form of wingtip tanks due to the extra fuel burn at low level. This part of the school was known as the '''Low Level and Air Defence Training Squadron''' (LLADTS). The [[Vickers Varsity]] was phased out in 1976 making No.6 FTS an all-jet school.


===No. 6 Flying Training School RAF===
⚫
During the 1960s and 1970s all the RAF's Colleges and Flying Training Schools had their own Jet Provost aerobatics team. One of the less known and publicised display teams was flown by 6 FTS. They flew a team for five seasons between 1962 and 1966 and it was unofficially christened the "Cocks O'the North".<ref>http://www.jetprovostheaven.com/jpteams/</ref>

⚫
The School reformed on 1 May 1970 at [[RAF Finningley]], within [[No. 23 Group RAF]] as an Air Navigation School (ANS). This was an amalgamation of the [[British Aerospace 125|Hawker Siddeley Dominie]] T.1 s of No. 1 ANS from [[RAF Stradishall]] and the [[Vickers Varsity|Vickers Varsities]] of No. 2 ANS from [[RAF Gaydon]] along with the [[Airmen Aircrew Initial Training School RAF]]. Low-level [[Weapons Systems Officer]] (formerly known in the RAF as 'Navigators') training took place on the [[BAC Jet Provost|Jet Provost]] from August 1970, eventually using the T.5B variant which had extra fuel capacity in the form of wingtip tanks due to the extra fuel burn at low level.{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=153}} This part of the school was known as the '''Low Level and Air Defence Training Squadron''' (LLADTS).<ref name=Key/> [[Scottish Aviation Bulldog]]s were added from January 1976 with [[Short Tucano]]s joining later.{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=153}}<ref name=Key/>

⚫
During the 1960s and 1970s all the RAF's Colleges and Flying Training Schools had their own Jet Provost aerobatics team. One of the less known and publicised display teams was flown by 6 FTS. They flew a team for five seasons between 1962 and 1966 and it was unofficially christened the "Cocks O'the North".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jetprovostheaven.com/jpteams/|title=Jet Provost heaven - RAF Jet Provost display teams|website=www.jetprovostheaven.com}}</ref>

⚫
On 14 August 1993, the LLADTS made its final farewell to the Jet Provost in the navigation training role when four aircraft staged a "dying swan" formation over the airfield.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

⚫
6 FTS also played host to the '''Multi-engine Training Squadron''' (METS) and was responsible for Operational Navigation training of all RAF multi-engine pilots, using twin-turboprop [[Handley Page Jetstream]] T1 aircraft. METS was granted the [[No. 45 Squadron RAF|No. 45 (R) Squadron]] number plate in June 1992{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=153}} before leaving 6 FTS and moving to [[No. 3 Flying Training School RAF|3 FTS]] at [[RAF Cranwell]] in October 1995.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} During April 1995, the Tucano Element moved to [[RAF Topcliffe]].{{sfn|March|1996|p=79}}


The school was disbanded on 31 March 1996{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=153}} with the closure of [[RAF Finningley]].<ref name=Key>{{Cite web |author=Peter R Foster|url=https://www.key.aero/article/farewell-tucano |title=Farewell to the Tucano|date=19 September 2019 |publisher=Key Publishing Ltd |access-date=17 March 2023}}</ref>
⚫
On 14 August 1993, the LLADTS made its final farewell to the Jet Provost in the navigation training role when four aircraft staged a "dying swan" formation over the airfield.


;Structure:{{sfn|Jackson|1995|p=10}}
⚫
6 FTS also played host to the '''Multi-engine Training Squadron''' (METS) and was responsible for Operational Navigation training of all RAF multi-engine pilots, using twin-turboprop [[Handley Page Jetstream]] T1 aircraft. METS was granted the [[No. 45 Squadron RAF|No. 45 (R) Squadron]] number plate in July 1992 before leaving 6 FTS and moving to [[No. 3 Flying Training School RAF|3 FTS]] at [[RAF Cranwell]] in October 1995.


No. 6 FTS Basic Navigation Wing (Wing created October 1992):{{sfn|March|1993|p=87}}
The school was disbanded on 31 March 1996 with the closure of [[RAF Finningley]].
* No. 1 Basic Navigation Training Squadron - Bulldog T.1 and Tucano T.1
* No. 2 Basic Navigation Training Squadron - Dominie T.1
* Ground School
* Officer Training Squadron
No. 6 FTS Advanced Navigation Wing (Wing created October 1992):{{sfn|March|1993|p=87}}
* No. 100 Squadron - Hawk T.1
* Air Navigation Training Squadron - Dominie T.1
* Navigation School Standards Squadron
* Multi-Engine Training Squadron (No. 45 Squadron)


===Reformation===
===Reformation===
[[File:G115ELinton.jpg|thumb|Operational Tutor T.1 of No. 6 Flying Training School in 2018]]
On 7 September 2015, 6 FTS was reborn, to command and manage the [[University Air Squadron|University Air Squadrons]] and their associated [[Air Experience Flight|Air Experience Flights]] located across the UK. This role was transferred from 3 FTS, due to the implementation of the [[Military Flying Training System]]. The Elementary Flying Training (EFT) in the Royal Air Force and the other services upgrades to the [[Grob G 120TP]] in 2017, while the University Air Squadrons and Air Experience Flights will remain on the Tutor T.1.<ref>{{cite web|title=6 Flying Training School|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/6-flying-training-school-08102015|website=raf.mod.uk|publisher=Royal Air Force|accessdate=14 November 2015}}</ref>
On 7 September 2015,<ref>{{cite web|title=RAF College Cranwell|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-college-cranwell/#no-6-flying-training-school|publisher=Royal Air Force|access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref> 6 FTS was reborn to command and manage the [[University Air Squadron]]s and their associated [[Air Experience Flight]]s across the UK. This role was transferred from 3 FTS due to the implementation of the [[Military Flying Training System]]. The Elementary Flying Training (EFT) units in the Royal Air Force and the other services upgraded to the [[Grob G 120TP|Grob Prefect T.1]] in 2017, while the University Air Squadrons and Air Experience Flights will remain on the Tutor T.1.<ref>{{cite web|title=6 Flying Training School|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/6-flying-training-school-08102015|website=raf.mod.uk|publisher=Royal Air Force|access-date=14 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012054010/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/6-flying-training-school-08102015|archive-date=12 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>


The task of 6 FTS is also to ensure continual recruitment of UAS cadets into the Royal Air Force proper; those who do not join will have a better appreciation for the military, which they will take forward into their careers.
The task of 6 FTS is also to ensure continual recruitment of UAS cadets into the Royal Air Force proper; those who do not join will have a better appreciation for the military, which they will take forward into their careers.


==Current Units==
==Current units==
{{Location map+|UK|float=right|relief=1|width=300|caption='''University Air Squadrons & Air Experience Flight bases'''|places=
{{Location map+|UK|float=right|relief=1|width=300|caption='''University Air Squadron''' (UAS) and<br>'''Air Experience Flight''' (AEF) bases in the United Kingdom|places=
⚫
{{Location map~|UK|lat=54.655|long=-6.227|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=left|label='''[[JHCFS Aldergrove]]'''}}

{{Location map~|UK|lat=52.645|long=-2.255556|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=left|label='''[[RAF Cosford]]'''}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=52.645|long=-2.255556|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=left|label='''[[RAF Cosford]]'''}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=51.441111|long=-2.2825|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=top|label=[[RAF Colerne|'''Colerne''']]}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=51.441111|long=-2.2825|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=top|label=[[RAF Colerne|'''Colerne''']]}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=52.6125|long=-0.476389|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=bottom|label='''[[RAF Wittering]]'''}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=52.6125|long=-0.476389|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=bottom|label='''[[RAF Wittering]]'''}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=53.030278|long=-0.483333|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=right|label='''[[RAF Cranwell]]'''}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=53.030278|long=-0.483333|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=top|label='''[[RAF Cranwell]]'''}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=56.373056|long=-2.868611|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=right|label=[[Leuchars Station|'''Leuchars''']]}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=56.373056|long=-2.868611|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=right|label='''[[Leuchars Station]]'''}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=55.871944|long=-4.433056|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=bottom|label='''[[Glasgow Airport]]'''}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=55.871944|long=-4.433056|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=bottom|label='''[[Glasgow Airport]]'''}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=53.581667|long=-3.05556|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=top|label='''[[RAF Woodvale]]'''}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=53.581667|long=-3.05556|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=top|label='''[[RAF Woodvale]]'''}}
Line 58: Line 79:
{{Location map~|UK|lat=51.152222|long=-1.7475|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=bottom|label=[[MoD Boscombe Down|'''Boscombe Down''']]}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=51.152222|long=-1.7475|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=bottom|label=[[MoD Boscombe Down|'''Boscombe Down''']]}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=51.404722|long=-3.435833|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=left|label=[[MoD St Athan|'''St Athan''']]}}
{{Location map~|UK|lat=51.404722|long=-3.435833|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=left|label=[[MoD St Athan|'''St Athan''']]}}
⚫
{{Location map~|UK|lat=54.048889|long=-1.252778|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=right|label='''[[RAF Linton-on-Ouse]]'''}}
}}
}}

{{Location map~|UK|coordinates = {{Coord|54|38|58|N|006|13|31|W|region:NI_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
⚫
{{Div col|colwidth=}}
|mark=RAF roundel.svg|position=left|label='''[[JHFS Aldergrove]]'''}}
⚫
{{colbegin|colwidth=}}
'''[[RAF Cosford]]'''
'''[[RAF Cosford]]'''
*[[University of Birmingham Air Squadron]]
*[[University of Birmingham Air Squadron]]
*[[No. 8 Air Experience Flight RAF|8 AEF]]
*[[No. 8 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (8 AEF)
'''[[Colerne Airfield]]'''
'''[[Colerne Airfield]]'''
⚫
*[[No. 3 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (3 AEF)
⚫
*Bristol University Air Squadron
⚫
*[[No. 3 Air Experience Flight RAF|3 AEF]]
'''[[RAF Wittering]]'''
'''[[RAF Wittering]]'''
*115 Squadron
*[[No. 115 Squadron RAF]]
*[[Cambridge University Air Squadron]]
*[[Cambridge University Air Squadron]]
*[[University of London Air Squadron]]
*[[University of London Air Squadron]]
*[[No. 5 Air Experience Flight RAF|5 AEF]]
*[[No. 5 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (5 AEF)
'''[[RAF College Cranwell]]'''
'''[[RAF Cranwell]]'''
*East Midlands Universities Air Squadron
*[[East Midlands Universities Air Squadron]]
*[[No. 7 Air Experience Flight RAF|7 AEF]]
*[[No. 7 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (7 AEF)
'''[[Leuchars Station]]'''
'''[[Leuchars Station]]'''
*[[East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron]]
*[[East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron]]
*[[No. 12 Air Experience Flight RAF|12 AEF]]
*[[No. 12 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (12 AEF)
'''[[Glasgow International Airport]]'''
'''[[Glasgow Airport]]'''
*[[Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron]]
*[[Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron]]
*[[No. 4 Air Experience Flight RAF|4 AEF]]
*[[No. 4 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (4 AEF)
'''[[RAF Woodvale]]'''
'''[[RAF Woodvale]]'''
*[[Liverpool University Air Squadron]]
*[[Liverpool University Air Squadron]]
*Manchester and Salford Universities Air Squadron
*[[Manchester and Salford Universities Air Squadron]]
*[[No. 10 Air Experience Flight RAF|10 AEF]]
*[[No. 10 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (10 AEF)
'''[[RAF Leeming]]'''
'''[[RAF Leeming]]'''
*[[Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron]]
*[[Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron]]
⚫
*[[Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron]]
*[[No. 11 Air Experience Flight RAF|11 AEF]]
*[[No. 11 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (11 AEF)
⚫
*[[No. 9 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (9 AEF)
'''[[RAF Benson]]'''
'''[[RAF Benson]]'''
*[[Oxford University Air Squadron]]
*[[Oxford University Air Squadron]]
*[[No. 6 Air Experience Flight RAF|6 AEF]]
*[[No. 6 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (6 AEF)
'''[[MoD Boscombe Down]]'''
'''[[MoD Boscombe Down]]'''
⚫
*[[Bristol University Air Squadron]]
*[[Southampton University Air Squadron]]
*[[Southampton University Air Squadron]]
*[[No. 2 Air Experience Flight RAF|2 AEF]]
*[[No. 2 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (2 AEF)
'''[[MoD St Athan]]'''
'''[[MOD St Athan]]'''
*University of Wales Air Squadron
*[[Universities of Wales Air Squadron]]
*[[No. 1 Air Experience Flight RAF|1 AEF]]
*[[No. 1 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (1 AEF)
'''[[Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove|JHC FS Aldergrove]]'''
'''[[RAF Linton-on-Ouse]]'''
*Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron
*[[Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron]]
*[[No. 9 Air Experience Flight RAF|9 AEF]]
*[[No. 13 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (13 AEF)
{{Div col end}}
'''[[JHFS Aldergrove]]'''
⚫
*[[Northern Ireland Universities' Air Squadron]]
⚫
*[[No. 14 Air Experience Flight RAF|14 AEF]]
{{colend}}


With the reduction in the gliding fleet, MoD have announced they intend to create No.s 13 and 14 AEFs. No. 14 should be based in Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2016-03-10/HCWS605|title=Air Cadet Aviation Relaunch:Written statement - HCWS605|work=MoD|accessdate=10 March 2016}}</ref>
With the reduction in the gliding fleet for [[Royal Air Force Air Cadets|Air Cadets]] of the [[Air Training Corps]] (ATC) and the RAF section of the [[Combined Cadet Force]] (CCF), the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD) announced in 2016 they intend to create two additional AEFs; No. 13 and No. 14, the latter is penned to be based in Northern Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brazier|first=Julian|date=10 March 2016|url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2016-03-10/HCWS605|title=Air Cadet Aviation Relaunch: Written statement - HCWS605|website=Parliament.uk|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] / [[UK Parliament]]|access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
; Bibliography
; Bibliography
* {{cite book|last=Sturtivant|first=R.C.|title=Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units|year=1997|publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Limited|ISBN=0-85130-252-1}}
*{{cite book |last1=March|first1=Peter&nbsp;R.|title=Royal Air Force Yearbook 1993|year=1993|publisher= Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund|location=[[Fairford]], UK}}
*{{cite book |last1=March|first1=Peter&nbsp;R.|title=Royal Air Force Yearbook 1996|year=1996|publisher= Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund|location=[[Fairford]], UK}}
*{{cite book |last1=Jackson|first1=Paul|title=Royal Air Force |year=1995 |publisher= Ian Allan Publishing|location= UK|isbn=0-7110-2338-7|edition=Second}}
*{{cite book |last1=Sturtivant|first1=Ray|last2=Hamlin|first2=John|last3=Halley|first3=James&nbsp;J.|title=Royal Air Force flying training and support units |year=1997 |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians)|location= UK|isbn=0-85130-252-1}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125032445/http://www.rafweb.org/FTS.htm |date=25 November 2012|title=Air of Authority - RAF Flying Training Schools}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125032445/http://www.rafweb.org/FTS.htm |date=25 November 2012|title=Air of Authority - RAF Flying Training Schools}}


{{commonscat|No. 6 Flying Training School}}
{{commons category|No. 6 Flying Training School}}
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{RAF Training}}
{{RAF Training}}


{{authority control}}
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[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1920]]

[[Category:Education in Lincolnshire]]
[[Category:Flying training schools of the RAF|06]]
[[Category:Flying training schools of the RAF|06]]
⚫
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1920]]
[[Category:2015 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2015 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:North Kesteven District]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Lincolnshire]]
[[Category:Universities in the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 13:20, 26 April 2024

No. 6 Flying Training School
Active26 April 1920 - 1 April 1922
1 Apr 1935 - 22 April 1942
17 Dec 1945 - 30 June 1968
1 May 1970 - 31 March 1996
7 Sep 2015 - present
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force Ensign Royal Air Force
HeadquartersRAF College Cranwell
Motto(s)Latin: Aspice et Imitare
"Look and imitate"[1]
AircraftGrob Tutor T.1
Commanders
Current
commander		Group Captain Matt Barker

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[2] and Air Experience Flights.[3]

History

[edit]

The school was formed by renaming No. 39 Training School RAF at RAF Spitalgate on 26 April 1920 under No. 3 Group RAF, using Avro 504Ks and other aircraft until moving to RAF Manston on 21 September 1920 under control of the School of Technical Training RAF. The school was disbanded on 1 April 1922.[4]

The school was reformed on 1 April 1935 upon No. 23 Group RAF. After moving from RAF Netheravon, the school became the first flying unit at RAF Little Rissington in August 1938 with Hawker Audaxes, Hawker Furies, Hawker Harts and Avro Ansons. It was renamed to No. 6 Service Flying Training School on 3 September 1939 and North American Harvards joined. The School's Advanced Training Squadron used various airfields for armament training such as RAF Penrhos and RAF Warmwell. The School's Initial Training Squadron used RAF Kidlington, RAF Windrush, RAF Chipping Norton and RAF Hullavington. Airspeed Oxfords joined from November 1940 and the unit was disbanded by being redesignated No. 6 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF on 1 April 1942.[4][5]

No. 6 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF

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The unit was formed at Little Rissington under 23 Group and used Ansons, Oxfords, Harvard and Blackburn Bothas. The unit used multiple airfields such as RAF Windrush, RAF Chipping Norton, RAF Akeman Street and RAF Moreton Valence as relief landing grounds along with RAF Honiley and RAF Chedworth for detachment locations. It became 6 SFTS on 17 December 1945.[6]

The unit was reformed back to No. 6 SFTS at RAF Little Rissington on 17 December 1945 with Harvards, Ansons and Miles Magisters. From 30 April 1946, 6 FTS was based at RAF Ternhill[7] equipped with North American Harvards and de Havilland Tiger Moths and unit was renamed back to 6 FTS on 14 May 1947. The school received Percival Prentices in late 1948; from July 1953 Percival Provost T.1 piston engine training aircraft replaced both types.[4] During this period the school used RAF Akeman Street, RAF Southrop, RAF Chetwynd, RAF Sleap and RAF High Ercall. On 24 July 1961 the school moved out to RAF Acklington where the Hunting Aircraft Jet Provost T.3 was introduced and RAF Ouston was the satellite airfield.The school was renamed to No. 6 (Advanced) Flying School RAF during December 1966, it closed again on 30 June 1968.[8][4]

Operational Jet Provost T.5 of No.6 Flying Training School in 1977

No. 6 Flying Training School RAF

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The School reformed on 1 May 1970 at RAF Finningley, within No. 23 Group RAF as an Air Navigation School (ANS). This was an amalgamation of the Hawker Siddeley Dominie T.1 s of No. 1 ANS from RAF Stradishall and the Vickers Varsities of No. 2 ANS from RAF Gaydon along with the Airmen Aircrew Initial Training School RAF. Low-level Weapons Systems Officer (formerly known in the RAF as 'Navigators') training took place on the Jet Provost from August 1970, eventually using the T.5B variant which had extra fuel capacity in the form of wingtip tanks due to the extra fuel burn at low level.[4] This part of the school was known as the Low Level and Air Defence Training Squadron (LLADTS).[9] Scottish Aviation Bulldogs were added from January 1976 with Short Tucanos joining later.[4][9]

During the 1960s and 1970s all the RAF's Colleges and Flying Training Schools had their own Jet Provost aerobatics team. One of the less known and publicised display teams was flown by 6 FTS. They flew a team for five seasons between 1962 and 1966 and it was unofficially christened the "Cocks O'the North".[10]

On 14 August 1993, the LLADTS made its final farewell to the Jet Provost in the navigation training role when four aircraft staged a "dying swan" formation over the airfield.[citation needed]

6 FTS also played host to the Multi-engine Training Squadron (METS) and was responsible for Operational Navigation training of all RAF multi-engine pilots, using twin-turboprop Handley Page Jetstream T1 aircraft. METS was granted the No. 45 (R) Squadron number plate in June 1992[4] before leaving 6 FTS and moving to 3 FTS at RAF Cranwell in October 1995.[citation needed] During April 1995, the Tucano Element moved to RAF Topcliffe.[11]

The school was disbanded on 31 March 1996[4] with the closure of RAF Finningley.[9]

Structure
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No. 6 FTS Basic Navigation Wing (Wing created October 1992):[13]

  • No. 1 Basic Navigation Training Squadron - Bulldog T.1 and Tucano T.1
  • No. 2 Basic Navigation Training Squadron - Dominie T.1
  • Ground School
  • Officer Training Squadron

No. 6 FTS Advanced Navigation Wing (Wing created October 1992):[13]

  • No. 100 Squadron - Hawk T.1
  • Air Navigation Training Squadron - Dominie T.1
  • Navigation School Standards Squadron
  • Multi-Engine Training Squadron (No. 45 Squadron)

Reformation

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Operational Tutor T.1 of No. 6 Flying Training School in 2018

On 7 September 2015,[14] 6 FTS was reborn to command and manage the University Air Squadrons and their associated Air Experience Flights across the UK. This role was transferred from 3 FTS due to the implementation of the Military Flying Training System. The Elementary Flying Training (EFT) units in the Royal Air Force and the other services upgraded to the Grob Prefect T.1 in 2017, while the University Air Squadrons and Air Experience Flights will remain on the Tutor T.1.[15]

The task of 6 FTS is also to ensure continual recruitment of UAS cadets into the Royal Air Force proper; those who do not join will have a better appreciation for the military, which they will take forward into their careers.

Current units

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class=notpageimage|
University Air Squadron (UAS) and
Air Experience Flight (AEF) bases in the United Kingdom

RAF Cosford

Colerne Airfield

RAF Wittering

RAF Cranwell

Leuchars Station

Glasgow Airport

RAF Woodvale

RAF Leeming

RAF Benson

MoD Boscombe Down

MOD St Athan

JHC FS Aldergrove

With the reduction in the gliding fleet for Air Cadets of the Air Training Corps (ATC) and the RAF section of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced in 2016 they intend to create two additional AEFs; No. 13 and No. 14, the latter is penned to be based in Northern Ireland.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 17. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. ^ "RAF University Air Squadrons". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  3. ^ "6 Flying Training School". Archived from the original on 12 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 153.
  5. ^ "RAF Little Rissington in the Second World War 1939-1945 - The Wartime Memories Project -". wartimememoriesproject.com.
  6. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 42.
  7. ^ "Stations-T". www.rafweb.org.
  8. ^ "Jet Provost File - OPERATING UNITS". Archived from the original on 6 November 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  9. ^ a b c Peter R Foster (19 September 2019). "Farewell to the Tucano". Key Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Jet Provost heaven - RAF Jet Provost display teams". www.jetprovostheaven.com.
  11. ^ March 1996, p. 79.
  12. ^ Jackson 1995, p. 10.
  13. ^ a b March 1993, p. 87.
  14. ^ "RAF College Cranwell". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  15. ^ "6 Flying Training School". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 12 October 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  16. ^ Brazier, Julian (10 March 2016). "Air Cadet Aviation Relaunch: Written statement - HCWS605". Parliament.uk. Ministry of Defence / UK Parliament. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
Bibliography
  • March, Peter R. (1993). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1993. Fairford, UK: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
  • March, Peter R. (1996). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1996. Fairford, UK: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
  • Jackson, Paul (1995). Royal Air Force (Second ed.). UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2338-7.
  • Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John; Halley, James J. (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
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