BRITAIN TRAINING FRENCH PILOTS ON JET FIGHTERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 October 1948, Page 6

BRITAIN TRAINING FRENCH PILOTS ON JET FIGHTERS

LONDON, October 6. French fighter pilots have arrived in England to undergo a course of training on British jet-engined fighters. This is part of the scheme for equipping the French Air Force with turbo-jet fighters built in England. French missions have been studying British aircraft and a French company has already purchased a licence to build the Rolls-Royce Nene turbo-jet engine in France. The training of the French pilots will be mainly on de Havilland Vampire jet fighters, but the French authorities are known to be favourably disposed towards the purchase of another jet fighter which has swept-back wings. The training methods in the two countries will be standardised as much as possible, apd so will be some of the tactical exercises which will be conducted by the squadrons. The French Air Secretary (M. Moreau), who saw the British Secretary of State for Air (Mr Arthur Henderson) and Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder at the Air Ministry, is believed to have discussed measures for joint training and for the exchange of pilots between the French and British Air Forces. It is expected that not only French crews, but also French aircraft will come to Britain as part of the general plans for Western. Union defence. ,