50 years on

[olddog]

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g380/onethousand2go/southcerney001copy.jpg

16 Feb marks 50 years since this bunch of youngsters graduated from AOTS South Cerney. How many flying hours did they generate for the RAF and Civil Aviation?

A course this size graduated each month. How does this compare with todays entries into RAF Flying Training?

Old Dog is back row, far left. 11000 hrs RAF 1000hrs Civil

[MPN11]

On current form, that looks like a whole year's through-put into BFT :D

... or about 4 Courses of ATCOs in 1965 :)

[Shackman]

Greetings Old dog -

3000 fixed wing, 11000 rotary - All military.
Shackman - just above Sqn Ldr Patrick!

[ShyTorque]

During a period of holding at Linton-on-Ouse in the late 1970s, prior to my posting to AFTS, I worked in the line office, allocating Jet Provosts to flight crews. The number of aircraft used to almost fill the apron. There were three training squadrons (or was it four?), each with a senior and junior course, probably with about twenty students on each course (before the 'chop' took quite a few).

I visited Linton-on-Ouse today and I saw a total of two Tucanos.

[olddog]

Hi Shackman - glad you're still about and paying attention. Happy Days!

[Basil]

Poor old instructional staff; had to do it again and again and . . .

[Fareastdriver]

In the middle of 154 course in 1960 the government abolished National Service. There was a flurry of Officer Cadets chopping themselves from training as there was no longer the threat of being a NS airman for two years.

I haven't got a photo of our Passing Out of ITS. I don't think there was enough of us to make a picture; eight, I think.

1,000 hrs planks, 3,000 rotary RAF--13,500 rotary civvy.

[Shackman]

O-D,

Obviously not many of us left then.

[olddog]

Either that, or they're so blind they cant read small print anymore. We must try to meet for a beer!