NCO Pilot recruitment.
Danny,
The final batch of NCO pilots were recruited in 1961. All recruitment was limited to serving personnel and I believe not more than 100 were taken. Training was conducted from 61 to 64.
The success/failure rate was similar to commissioned students with the exception that a significant proportion were ex-NCO aircrew who, with the advantage of experience, mostly succeeded.
Again, most of the successful graduates from pilot training were either commissioned immediately or within a few years.
I recall that all NCO pilots were destined for multi-crew aircraft and underwent AFTS on the Varsity at Oakington. Many found their way into the rotary force. A few became first tour QFIs after which they entered the fast jet world.
Hopefully, my memory of those days has not failed too badly. I was one of them.