@SheepJumpFish The firefly has a control column, rather than a yoke (and you are quite correct, a cyclic is broadly speaking the same thing). It was a pleasure to fly, as anyone who has flown one will tell you. However, the days of the mighty Firefly at Barkston Heath have since gone, replaced now with the Grob 115E Tutor.
@SheepJumpFish 703NAS (Defence Elementary Flying Training School) that train the the RN at RAF Barkston Heath have been using the Grob now since around the start of the year. 727NAS (RN Pilot Grading) have been grading pilots (ie. selection) using the Grob for years. Not sure whether the Army still use the 180 version of the Firefly for their grading.
Hi Podaliny, the Bulldog was in use both for EFT and with the University Air Squadrons up until the introduction of the Firefly for EFT. The Bulldogs ran on for a while in a few places including the Navigation Trainining Unit at Cranwell until they were replaced by the Grobs, so for a short while all three types were in use. The Bulldog airframes were very high hour and I believe some had to have the main spar replaced before they were disposed of.
Podaliny, the RAF have only been conducting EFT in the Grob since about 2002. Before that, the course was done with the Firefly 260. The instructors are mostly former RAF, Army and RN pilots who worked at that time for Huntings, a massive defence contractor who also owned the Firefly fleet. Instructors you see here include ex RAF Tornado, Lightning, Canberra, and VC10 pilots. All the Firefly maintenance at Church Fenton was also carried out by Huntings at the time.
Folks, this video shows the Firefly in use at RAF Church Fenton by the Royal Air Force, not the RN. I was on JEFTS 38 (Long Course) in 2000 and had a great time. Lots of my old instructors and cronies feature here. The RN flew the same aircraft at RAF Barkston Heath at that time and still do.
Maybe they're civilians but you should have more respect for people with so many hours, of any type. If you really were a Fleet Air Arm pilot you'd know exactly what I am talking about because you'd have been trained by them.
is this the only fixed wing phase of training in the royal navy? looks more like our advanced training (in australia) with formation flying, low level flying etc. does ur navy operate fixed wing or only choppers?
Before this they do a 2 week course at the start of officer training to make sure theyre up to standard. And After they get streamed into fast jet or rotary. Fast jet go on to fly the tucano (another prop) then the hawk then harrier. Where as rotary do the squirrel then their specific aircraft.I hope thats right.Please correct me if not because I have my final AIB interview for the RN soon.
sounds very similar to australia except we have two phases of fixed wing training (CT4 then PC-9). i should start officer training in jan (*gulp). bring it!
Good stuff. It is cool to see what our counterparts across the pond are doing in flight school. From what it looks like, you all get a little more freedom with your flying in basic flight school than we do than we do here in the US.
were is this? that they traine?
jakem1900 1 year ago
hurry up f-35!!!
longlivestalin1 1 year ago
Its a shame my eye sight is rubish or I'd do it.
VanTonks 1 year ago
Vactican69, thanks for posting, great video!!! looks like the ladds, were having a bit of fun, during their training course.
MrJeffreydunson 2 years ago
Does the Firefly have a yoke or cyclic, sorry if cyclic isn't correct it's the equivalent in a helicopter, like a joystick?
SheepJumpFish 2 years ago
@SheepJumpFish The firefly has a control column, rather than a yoke (and you are quite correct, a cyclic is broadly speaking the same thing). It was a pleasure to fly, as anyone who has flown one will tell you. However, the days of the mighty Firefly at Barkston Heath have since gone, replaced now with the Grob 115E Tutor.
slamjamphil 1 year ago
@slamjamphil do they not use it at all in the navy anymore? not for any stage of training or even selection?
SheepJumpFish 1 year ago
@SheepJumpFish 703NAS (Defence Elementary Flying Training School) that train the the RN at RAF Barkston Heath have been using the Grob now since around the start of the year. 727NAS (RN Pilot Grading) have been grading pilots (ie. selection) using the Grob for years. Not sure whether the Army still use the 180 version of the Firefly for their grading.
slamjamphil 1 year ago
@slamjamphil Did you spot that idiot signing the sheets in the background at 0:38? What a DICK!!! Oh wait...!
Dukeyboy 1 year ago
Hi Podaliny, the Bulldog was in use both for EFT and with the University Air Squadrons up until the introduction of the Firefly for EFT. The Bulldogs ran on for a while in a few places including the Navigation Trainining Unit at Cranwell until they were replaced by the Grobs, so for a short while all three types were in use. The Bulldog airframes were very high hour and I believe some had to have the main spar replaced before they were disposed of.
daveinglasgow 3 years ago
Plus the RAF train in the grob 115E (grob tutor)
Podaliny 3 years ago
Podaliny, the RAF have only been conducting EFT in the Grob since about 2002. Before that, the course was done with the Firefly 260. The instructors are mostly former RAF, Army and RN pilots who worked at that time for Huntings, a massive defence contractor who also owned the Firefly fleet. Instructors you see here include ex RAF Tornado, Lightning, Canberra, and VC10 pilots. All the Firefly maintenance at Church Fenton was also carried out by Huntings at the time.
daveinglasgow 3 years ago
ok, was it not done with the bulldog before the tutor?
Podaliny 3 years ago
Folks, this video shows the Firefly in use at RAF Church Fenton by the Royal Air Force, not the RN. I was on JEFTS 38 (Long Course) in 2000 and had a great time. Lots of my old instructors and cronies feature here. The RN flew the same aircraft at RAF Barkston Heath at that time and still do.
daveinglasgow 3 years ago
They why arnt they wearing RAF ranks slides??
Podaliny 3 years ago
Top Pilots! Top Video! Thank you!X
Mandy1empyrean 3 years ago
What the hell, what planes are they? Certainly not grobs.
Sentenashi 3 years ago
Slingsby T67M-260 Firefly
rwilliams184 3 years ago
Maybe they're civilians but you should have more respect for people with so many hours, of any type. If you really were a Fleet Air Arm pilot you'd know exactly what I am talking about because you'd have been trained by them.
Dukeyboy 3 years ago
lmao there not high ranks lmfao if u new anythin they are civilian pilots with the silver tapes lol
davidcain101yeah 4 years ago
dude, at least ther officers
cmcpherson03 4 years ago
there not lol...they are civilian need i say more lol
davidcain101yeah 4 years ago
piolot survival training is one of the hardest in the force, what do u do for a living?
cmcpherson03 4 years ago
i am a helicopter piot in the Fleet Air arm. and i was replying to the comment above saying there officers.
davidcain101yeah 4 years ago
you aid that they wernt, ur crazy lol
cmcpherson03 4 years ago
wow, so many high ranks
navyboy001 4 years ago
just remembered - royal navy has harriers.
doolla 4 years ago
no sea harriers anymore- decomissioned
cmcpherson03 4 years ago
yep, still using the gr.7s and .9s though =).
i love the harrier, such a breakthrough, and a nice plane as well.
preaacstal 3 years ago
is this the only fixed wing phase of training in the royal navy? looks more like our advanced training (in australia) with formation flying, low level flying etc. does ur navy operate fixed wing or only choppers?
doolla 4 years ago
Before this they do a 2 week course at the start of officer training to make sure theyre up to standard. And After they get streamed into fast jet or rotary. Fast jet go on to fly the tucano (another prop) then the hawk then harrier. Where as rotary do the squirrel then their specific aircraft.I hope thats right.Please correct me if not because I have my final AIB interview for the RN soon.
chrischewychew 4 years ago
sounds very similar to australia except we have two phases of fixed wing training (CT4 then PC-9). i should start officer training in jan (*gulp). bring it!
doolla 4 years ago
Good stuff. It is cool to see what our counterparts across the pond are doing in flight school. From what it looks like, you all get a little more freedom with your flying in basic flight school than we do than we do here in the US.
JonnyQP 5 years ago