CFS - Central Flying School

Aussie Flying Instructor, No 6, Gloucestershire > .   

Central Flying School

● CFS enlarged. Became a unit within Flying Training Command and moved back to RAF Upavon in 1935.
● One machine of each new type sent to RAF Upavon. Characteristics were assessed and written up in the form of Pilots Notes for squadron use.
● 1938 Examining Wing was formed.
● Qualified Flying Instructors (QFIs) trained (9-wk course)

(In the 12 months before September 1939 the fighter defences of Britain improved from about 600 aircraft (all but about 90 obsolescent bi-planes) to 35 squadrons, of which 22 were equipped with the Hurricane and Spitfire. These were to increase to 38 within another 6 months.)

WAR declared 3 September 1939

● 18 September 1939 first QFI course of the war, reduced from 9 weeks to 4 weeks.
● To overcome lack of uniformity and inefficiency flying the new machines, the Air Ministry introduced the 'Examining Officers Scheme'. It established a flight of 8 experienced officers to maintain liaison between CFS and the operational squadrons, in order to instruct the latter in up-to-the minute techniques.
● Pupil intake increased twice in 1940. By December 1940 90 pupils were accepted in each 5 week period.
● 1940 - The examining officers had been absorbed into the Refresher Squadron.
Many examining officers were dispersed to command squadrons and operational training units.
● 1942 - Empire Central Flying School (ECFS) established at RAF Hullavington in Wiltshire under the command of Group Captain Down.
● ECFS drew on the wide experience of the course members to provide a common pool for all the training schools.
● ECFS took many of the staff from RAF Upavon, but left sufficient to form the nucleus of No 7 Flying Instructors' School.

● Refresher Squadron comprised 8 experienced officers to maintain liaison between CFS and the operational squadrons and to instruct the latter in up-to-the minute techniques.
● Examining Flight inspected the Flying Instructors' School in the United Kingdom and re-categorizing instructors.
● Research Flight investigated the practical and psychological problems of flying instruction.
● Eventually the Day/Night Development Unit was added to advance the all-weather flying aspects.

http://www.centralflyingschool.org.uk/history/History1.htm
http://www.centralflyingschool.org.uk/history/History2.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Upavon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Flying_School
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Flying_School#1920_to_1944
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Robb_(RAF_officer)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Commonwealth_Air_Training_Plan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Commonwealth_Air_Training_Plan#Canada
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_uniform .