Central Flying School (United Kingdom)

Central Flying School (United Kingdom). The Central Flying School (CFS) is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for training flight instructors and setting the standards for flying training across British military aviation. Established in 1912 at Upavon on Salisbury Plain, it is one of the world's oldest military flying training schools. Its role has evolved from basic pilot instruction to becoming the guardian of instructional technique and safety for the RAF, Royal Navy, and British Army.

History

The Central Flying School was founded on 12 May 1912 by order of the Committee of Imperial Defence, merging the flying training elements of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. Its first commandant was Captain Godfrey Paine of the Royal Navy. During the First World War, CFS was pivotal in rapidly expanding the pilot cadre for the Western Front, though its primary training function was later dispersed to other stations like RAF Gosport. In the interwar period, it was central to developing the standardized training syllabus that underpinned the expansion of the RAF before the Second World War. Post-war, it moved to RAF Little Rissington in 1946, becoming the focus for advanced instructor training. It later absorbed the Empire Central Flying School and has since been based at several locations, including RAF Scampton and RAF Syerston, before consolidating at RAF Cranwell in 1995.

Role and function

The core function of the Central Flying School is to train qualified pilots to become certified flying instructors (CFIs), who then deliver training across all RAF operational commands. It is responsible for defining and maintaining the central standards for all military flying instruction in the UK through its Standardisation Wing. CFS also runs the prestigious Examiners Wing, which qualifies the senior instructors who assess and examine other instructors. Furthermore, it operates the Tutor Wing for elementary flying training and provides specialized training for instructors on multi-engine aircraft and helicopters, supporting the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and the British Army's Army Air Corps. Its expertise is often exported to allied air forces through training missions and advisory roles.

Aircraft

Throughout its history, the Central Flying School has operated a vast array of training aircraft. Early types included the Avro 504, Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2, and Sopwith Camel. In the interwar and Second World War periods, it used aircraft such as the de Havilland Tiger Moth, North American Harvard, and Airspeed Oxford. The jet age introduced the de Havilland Vampire and BAC Jet Provost. Its current primary elementary trainer is the Grob Tutor T1. For multi-engine pilot instruction, it employs the Embraer Phenom 100 as the Phenom T1, while advanced fast-jet instructor training is conducted on the Short Tucano T1 and, historically, the BAE Hawk. Rotary-wing training has featured the Aérospatiale Gazelle and the Eurocopter Squirrel.

Notable personnel

Many distinguished aviators have served with or been trained by the Central Flying School. Its first commandant, Godfrey Paine, later became a Rear-Admiral and Fifth Sea Lord. Renowned First World War ace Albert Ball was a student early in his career. Pioneering aviator and later Air Vice-Marshal Donald Hardman served as its commandant. Perhaps its most famous alumnus is Neil Armstrong, the Apollo 11 astronaut and first man on the Moon, who underwent exchange training at CFS in 1970. Other notable figures include Sir John Salmond, a former Chief of the Air Staff, and Amy Johnson, the celebrated aviator, who received training from CFS instructors.

Locations

The Central Flying School has been based at numerous Royal Air Force stations throughout its long history. It was first established at RAF Upavon on Salisbury Plain in 1912. After the First World War, it operated from RAF Wittering and RAF Digby before moving to its famous post-Second World War home at RAF Little Rissington in the Cotswolds in 1946. Subsequent bases have included RAF Leeming, RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire (known for its association with the Dambusters), RAF Syerston, and RAF Church Fenton. Since 1995, its headquarters and main operations have been consolidated at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire, which is also home to the RAF College Cranwell and forms the core of the UK's military aircrew training pipeline.

Category:Royal Air Force training establishments Category:Flying schools in the United Kingdom Category:Military units and formations established in 1912