Flying Training circa a long time ago
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Flying Training circa a long time ago
I found this while perusing Service records from the Australian Archives Service Records.
As I believe there is a no names policy, I have left it out (not that there is anything derogatory in it). The individual has a surname very famous in the Light Horse.
If you wanted to be a pilot in 1918, this is what you had to do....(I am unsure of the name of the first acft named "Avro Leabone??"
And this man was off to the Western Front after graduation with 34 hours in the logbook.
TO GRADUATE “A” A PUPIL MUST HAVE :-
1. Undergone instruction at a school of Aeronautics.
2. Completed twenty five hours solo and dual.
3. Attained Flying Standard “V” on an elementary machine.
4. Flown a Graduation Aeroplane satisfactorily.
5. Climbed to 10,000 feet, remained there for at least 15 minutes, after which he will land with his engine stopped, the aeroplane first touching the ground and coming to a halt within a marked circle 150 yards in diameter.
6. Passed following tests :-
(a) Formation Flying Satisfactorily maintained his position in formation flights for a total of Four (4) hours in formation (to include a minimum of three (3) separate flights).
(b) Forced Landings Four forced landings in fields not forming part of Aerodrome.
(c) Cloud Flying While taking full control of machine remained Three (3) minutes in clouds with instructor
(d) Aerial Gunnery While diving at a ground target taken two successful photographs of the target from 1,500 foot or under.
(e) Prop swinging (this was handwritten)
(X) FLYING STANDARD “ V “
Can fly his machine accurately and can land consistently well at slow speeds, tail down,
Can, in addition, carry out the following manoeuvres with absolute confidence and accuracy on an elementary machine :-
1. Three sustained turns in each direction, with and without engine – bank to be 45 degs. or over.
2. Sharp figures of eight, Climbing turns to left and right,
3. Stall the machine with and without engine,
4. Sideslip in either direction and land off a sideslip,
5. Spin, half roll and loop (Avro’s and A, V’s only),
6. Confident and reliable in clouds, in rough weather or on a forced landing. Understands the theory ot landing across wind.
Certified that ( Cadet Named ) has passed
Category “A” and is fit to graduate
Date: 21.6.18 Instructor
REPORT ON AN OFFICER WHO HAS UNDERGONE A COURSE OF INSTRUCTION
No 8 T’ing Squadron Royal Air Force
YEAR: 1918
PERIOD OF COURSE: 4th May 1918 - 21st June 1918
DATE OF GRADUATION: 21.6.18
NAME AND RANK: Cadet (named)
REGIMENT: Headquarters 1st Australian Division
TYPES OF MACHINES FLOWN) Avro Leabone (?) )
AND ABILITY IN THEM ) Avro Mono )
Sop. Scout ) Good.
CROSS COUNTRY FLYING:- Good
MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE:- Fair
DATE OF PASSING EXAMINATION “A”:- Oxford 7.2.18
Reading...........
Date joined squadron
For higher instruction:- 21.6.18
TIME IN AIR Hrs Mins
(i) During higher instruction. 34 10
(ii) Total solo since commencing tuition. 20 0
(iii) Total dual since commencement of tuition 14 10
Total 34 10
Qualities as an Officer
will make a good officer
Shows considerable promise. Will make a good scout pilot
Place Leighterton(*?) Gloster Commanding......Squadron
Date 25.6.18 Australian Flying Corps
Headquarters
No 7 Group
Royal Air Force
- Forwarded –
Place.....................
Date...................... Commanding 1st Wing
Australian Flying Corps
As I believe there is a no names policy, I have left it out (not that there is anything derogatory in it). The individual has a surname very famous in the Light Horse.
If you wanted to be a pilot in 1918, this is what you had to do....(I am unsure of the name of the first acft named "Avro Leabone??"
And this man was off to the Western Front after graduation with 34 hours in the logbook.
TO GRADUATE “A” A PUPIL MUST HAVE :-
1. Undergone instruction at a school of Aeronautics.
2. Completed twenty five hours solo and dual.
3. Attained Flying Standard “V” on an elementary machine.
4. Flown a Graduation Aeroplane satisfactorily.
5. Climbed to 10,000 feet, remained there for at least 15 minutes, after which he will land with his engine stopped, the aeroplane first touching the ground and coming to a halt within a marked circle 150 yards in diameter.
6. Passed following tests :-
(a) Formation Flying Satisfactorily maintained his position in formation flights for a total of Four (4) hours in formation (to include a minimum of three (3) separate flights).
(b) Forced Landings Four forced landings in fields not forming part of Aerodrome.
(c) Cloud Flying While taking full control of machine remained Three (3) minutes in clouds with instructor
(d) Aerial Gunnery While diving at a ground target taken two successful photographs of the target from 1,500 foot or under.
(e) Prop swinging (this was handwritten)
(X) FLYING STANDARD “ V “
Can fly his machine accurately and can land consistently well at slow speeds, tail down,
Can, in addition, carry out the following manoeuvres with absolute confidence and accuracy on an elementary machine :-
1. Three sustained turns in each direction, with and without engine – bank to be 45 degs. or over.
2. Sharp figures of eight, Climbing turns to left and right,
3. Stall the machine with and without engine,
4. Sideslip in either direction and land off a sideslip,
5. Spin, half roll and loop (Avro’s and A, V’s only),
6. Confident and reliable in clouds, in rough weather or on a forced landing. Understands the theory ot landing across wind.
Certified that ( Cadet Named ) has passed
Category “A” and is fit to graduate
Date: 21.6.18 Instructor
CONFIDENTIAL
1st WING
No 8 T’ing Squadron Royal Air Force
YEAR: 1918
PERIOD OF COURSE: 4th May 1918 - 21st June 1918
DATE OF GRADUATION: 21.6.18
NAME AND RANK: Cadet (named)
REGIMENT: Headquarters 1st Australian Division
QUALIFICATIONS
AND ABILITY IN THEM ) Avro Mono )
Sop. Scout ) Good.
CROSS COUNTRY FLYING:- Good
MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE:- Fair
DATE OF PASSING EXAMINATION “A”:- Oxford 7.2.18
Reading...........
Date joined squadron
For higher instruction:- 21.6.18
TIME IN AIR Hrs Mins
(i) During higher instruction. 34 10
(ii) Total solo since commencing tuition. 20 0
(iii) Total dual since commencement of tuition 14 10
Total 34 10
Qualities as an Officer
will make a good officer
ANY FURTHER REMARKS
Shows considerable promise. Will make a good scout pilot
Place Leighterton(*?) Gloster Commanding......Squadron
Date 25.6.18 Australian Flying Corps
Headquarters
No 7 Group
Royal Air Force
- Forwarded –
Place.....................
Date...................... Commanding 1st Wing
Australian Flying Corps
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In cloud for 3 minutes after a minimum of 25 hours dual and solo!! And in those aircraft with what I would think very basic instrumentation.
Brave men, the life expectancy of these pilots wasn't real flash I believe?
Thanks for posting that, fascinating stuff
Brave men, the life expectancy of these pilots wasn't real flash I believe?
Thanks for posting that, fascinating stuff
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How did these guys handle IMC? I've seen some examples of early machines from circa 1914 in museums and there doesn't appear to be any AI or Turn Co-ord. What would they have used for attitude awareness in the absence of these!?
Hats off to these brave lads!
Hats off to these brave lads!
Grandpa Aerotart
You guys might be surprised how good the 'Blind Flying Panel' of that era was. The pic below is of the Tiger Moth I fly regularly but I believe nothing much changed in this class of aircraft between 1918 and 1928/30 when the Gypsy Moth was first designed and flown and the Tiger Moth evolved from the Gypsy Moth a couple of years later.
The vertical orange tube is the 'Attitude Indicator' (now you know the difference between an AI and an AH) and has a bubble in it that can be compared to numbers that run along the edge showing nose up or down. The bottom of the Turn Co-ordinator shows angle of bank and the top slip or skid. The compass is self evident as is the ASI and Altimeter.
With minimal practice it is perfectly possible to fly climbs/descents/turns onto specific headings reasonably accurately in IMC.
In fact they used to teach spin recovery 'under the hood' in Tiger Moths.
The vertical orange tube is the 'Attitude Indicator' (now you know the difference between an AI and an AH) and has a bubble in it that can be compared to numbers that run along the edge showing nose up or down. The bottom of the Turn Co-ordinator shows angle of bank and the top slip or skid. The compass is self evident as is the ASI and Altimeter.
With minimal practice it is perfectly possible to fly climbs/descents/turns onto specific headings reasonably accurately in IMC.
In fact they used to teach spin recovery 'under the hood' in Tiger Moths.
Grandpa Aerotart
For the life of me I can't remember - if I ever actually knew.
I'll ask Ron. Its one of those things I have noticed too off and on over the years but never really thought enough of it to ask.
I'll ask Ron. Its one of those things I have noticed too off and on over the years but never really thought enough of it to ask.
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Gidday Chuck. Could it be that the needles vertical in normal operation, so any scan would show an anomaly simply by seeing a needle out of the vertical?
Just a WAG......
Isn't there a 'slip' string on the windscreen as well?
Just a WAG......
Isn't there a 'slip' string on the windscreen as well?
Silly Old Git
Forty quid go to whoa for PPL.
I was offered 3 Tigers and numerous tea chests full spare for $500 in 1969
Did you know lamb has doubled in price in the past two years?
I was offered 3 Tigers and numerous tea chests full spare for $500 in 1969
Did you know lamb has doubled in price in the past two years?
Grandpa Aerotart
Do you always fly this from the rear seat.....and why..??
To ensure the CofG is in the range it needs to be for the tail skid to actually work as designed.
So you can see the fuel gauge.
So you can see period.
I think I read somewhere that in the 1950s some people used to race Tiger Moths from the front seat so the CofG would be forward and there would be less induced drag from the elevator.
Isn't there a 'slip' string on the windscreen as well?
...how would that work in the prop blast?
Silly Old Git
That would have bought you 4 houses in Frankston though
Don't like the wood panel Chuck, should be matt black
Unless I'm old and can't remembry dont all tacho needles tend to be in the ten past two at normal cruise?
Sundaun should know this he was instructing on Tigers and as I recall gave me my type rating about a 100 years ago
And you can do Rate 4 turns in Tigers, too. See the Turn needle graduations.
We used to spin on instruments on Tigers in the RAAF. During the spin the Turn needle showed hard over beyond Rate 4 while the skid needle showed hard over in opposite direction. You whacked on full opposite rudder to the spin direction and eased the stick forward. As soon as the Turn needle whipped across from Rate 4 to the other side rate 4 you centralised the rudder as the needle passed the central position and then pulled out of the dive. Quite disorientating under the canvas hood but a great confidence builder. Mind you it was also a great confidence builder to be sitting on the parachute, too. You never know..
We used to spin on instruments on Tigers in the RAAF. During the spin the Turn needle showed hard over beyond Rate 4 while the skid needle showed hard over in opposite direction. You whacked on full opposite rudder to the spin direction and eased the stick forward. As soon as the Turn needle whipped across from Rate 4 to the other side rate 4 you centralised the rudder as the needle passed the central position and then pulled out of the dive. Quite disorientating under the canvas hood but a great confidence builder. Mind you it was also a great confidence builder to be sitting on the parachute, too. You never know..
Silly Old Git
You whacked on full opposite rudder to the spin direction and eased the stick forward.
And if your Tiggy wasn't fitted with spin strakes you would be rewarded with nothing happening for half a turn or so
Better than bungy jumping and all for ₤3 an hour
And if your Tiggy wasn't fitted with spin strakes you would be rewarded with nothing happening for half a turn or so
Better than bungy jumping and all for ₤3 an hour