EMPIRE SCHOOL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 6 December 1946, Page 3

EMPIRE SCHOOL

TEST PILOTS' COURSE BRITAIN KEEPING LEAD AIRCRAFT DESIGN (Srecinl Correspondent,) (10 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 5. Britain is giving the world a lead in the development of aircraft design. In an endeavour to produce new types of high quality in the shortest time, she is also training a new type of airman. He is the test pilot with exceptional flying ability, combined with thorough technical knowledge and training. The objective is to reduce wasted time in. the development of new aircraft by the close co-operation of test pilots with designers. In the past test pilots “just happened.” They were selected chiefly for their fllying ability but with no special training and with technical knowledge acquired more or less casually. During tire war the casualty rate of test pilots became alarmingly high and three years ago it was decided to form an Empire Test Pilots' School. 100 Pilots Trained Now, at Cranfield, near Bedford, it is under the jurisdiction of tire Ministry of Supply under Air Marshal Sir W. Alec Coryton and commanded by Group Captain H. J. Wilson who. a year ago, established a world speed record of GOG miles an hour. It has trained 100 pilots to work at experimental stations and factories, The school has an international flavour for, in addition to men from the R.A.F. and Dominions, there are also Americans, Chinese, Greeks, French and Norwegian pupils. So far three New Zealanders, R. M. Trousdale. H. N. Sweetman and J. B. Starky, have passed through the school, but since no testing is carried out in the Dominion, only New Zealanders serving in the R.A.F. with permanent commissions may be expected to take the course in future. The course lasts seven months at Cranfield. followed by a period at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough and another period visiting aircraft production firms. 1000 Applicants for Course

There is an average of 1000 applicants for each course from which under 40 are selected. The chief qualities required, in . addition to above average flying ability, are patience, knowledge of engineering and advanced mathematics. The pilots fly a wide variety of aircraft, including Meteors, Vampires, Lincolns, Lancasters, Vikings, Mosquitoes, Seafires, Fireflies, Spitfires, Harvards and Oxfords, with the objective of being able to go to any country and give a comprehensive report on any type of aircraft. This Empire school is the only one in the world. In addition to working in close co-operation with industry, there is firm liaison between the three services. The test pilots' course is described as one of the best offered by the R.A.F. It is expensive, but it is believed that it will pay rapid dividends by aiding Britain to retain her leading place in aircraft design.