By the Armistice in November, pilots were receiving instruction in all aspects of air fighting on an eleven-month course which included an average of 50 hours’ solo flying. When the Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed in April 1918, it inherited over 100 training squadrons and 30 specialist schools units that would later boast more than 7,000 aircraft. These changes helped the RFC to turn out large numbers of capable combat pilots quickly while reducing the number of accidents. Perhaps the most important development was the adoption of Major Robert Smith-Barry’s ‘Gosport System’ of training, which gave students the confidence to fly their aircraft to the limit. A Training Brigade was formed and specialist schools, staffed by veterans, were established to teach air fighting, bomb dropping, night flying and a variety of other skills. Gradually the situation improved and, as the RFC continued to grow, its training organization became more sophisticated. Partly because of this, casualties rose sharply and by the spring of 1917 the life expectancy of a new pilot could be measured in weeks. Unfortunately, the ever-increasing demand for pilots at the front, and a lack of resources at the flying schools, meant some students received insufficient training and arrived at operational squadrons unprepared for combat. In early 1916, the RFC began regulating training standards, with pupils expected to fly at least 15 hours’ solo. Accidents were common and for most of the war casualties at training units were greater than losses in action. The quality of the instructors engaged varied, however, and many of the aircraft used were unsuitable. The Central Flying School (CFS) did not have the capacity to support this growth, so new training units were opened and civilian flying schools commandeered. With the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, it was clear that the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) would have to expand if it were to serve the Army in France and replace its own casualties. An Enduring Relationship : A History of Friendship between the Royal Air Force and the Royal Air Force of Omanįirst World War flying training – Taking Flight.Sir Alan Cobham A Life of a Pioneering Aviator.Never Forgotten: The RAF in the Far East.Battle of Britain Aircrew 31 Aug to 6 Sep.Battle of Britain Groundcrew 7 to 13 September.Enter the RAF Museum Green Aviation Challenge.Spitfire Family Run – Design your medal!. 2022 Museum Annual Conference: Meaning, Memory, and the (Mis-)Remembered Past.VJ75: Geography and Rediscovered Stories.Virtual Lecture: Together through it all – The importance of camaraderie to airmen in RAF Bomber Command.
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