SCHOOL FOR TEST PILOTS

Chronicle (Levin), 6 December 1946, Page 6

SCHOOL FOR TEST PILOTS

fSuecial Correspondent.)

Received Thursday, 7.31) p.m. LONDON, i)on. 5. Britain is giving the world a iead in the development of aircraft design. lu an endeavour to produce new types of liigh quality in the shortest time aho is also training a new-type of airman. He is a test pilot with exceptional tiyin^ ability combined with thorough techiii-% cal knowledge and training. The objective is to reduce wasted time in tlio development of new aircraft by thc close cooperation of test pilots with tlio deSigners. in the past test pilots "just happeiied". Tliey were seiected uliieliy for their flyiug ability but ■ witli no special ' training and witli technical knowledge acquired niore or leas casually.' • During the war the easualty rate of test' pilots became alan^ingly liigh and tliree years ago it was decidcd to form an Empire test pilots' school. Now, at Orandield, near- Bedford, it is under the jurisdictioii' of the Ministry oi" fciupply under Air Alarshal Rir W. Alee Coryton, and commandcd by Uroup Captain 11. J. Wilson who, a year ago, establislied a world speod record- of GUli miles an hour. It has trainod 10U pilots to work'at experimenlal stations and factories. The school has an internationul flavour for in addition to incn from Ihe R.A.F. and Doininious, theru are ako Americans, Chinesc, Greeks, Freiicji and Norwegian pupils. Ro i'ar three New Zealauders, R. M. Trousdule, 11. N. Bweetman and J. B. Btarkcy have passed tlirougli thc school bul sincc m» testing is earried out in tlio Duminiou, only New Zcalanders serving in it.A.F. witli permanent eominisbions may be expected to takc thc coursc in futurc. Thc coursc lasls ,sc\ u» months at Cranlicld followcd by a pcriod at the ltoynl Aircruft eslablisti ment at Farnborough and anotlier period visiting aircraft pioduclio.i iirius. Therc is au . averagc of tUU'i applicants for eacli coprsc from whirh under 40 are seiected. The chicf qualities required, iir ad dition to the above-avonigo Hying ability, are patience, knowledge "i cngineering and adyanced mathematics. Thc pilots fly a wide variety of aircraft iiicluding Meteors," Yampires, Liucolns, Lancasters, Vikings, Mosquitoes, >Scafires, Fireflies, Bpittires, ilarvards and Oxfords, with thc objeotive of being able to go to anv country and give a comprehensive report on any typc of aircraft. This Empire school is thc only one in the world. In addition to : working in close cooperation witli 'tln? lindustry, there is firm liaison between the three services. The test pilot 's course is describcd as one of the best offered by the R.A.F. It is expciisive but it is l;elieved it will pay rapid dividends by aiding Britain to retaiu the leading place in aircraft design.