No. 2 Flying Training School RAF

No. 2 Flying Training School is now a Royal Air Force Air Cadets training school, though it has had various roles throughout it's history including being the first military flying school to use jet-powered aircraft throughout pilot training.

First formation
No 2 FTS was first formed in No 3 Group on 26 April 1920 from No 31 Training Squadron with a special flight attached to carry out research for the Professor of Aeronautical Services at Cambridge University. At the end of August 1921 it was transferred to No 1 Group but returned to No 3 Group on 1 July 1923. Initially equipped with Avro 504Ks and Ns for basic training it used Airco DH.9As, Bristol F2Bs and Sopwith Snipes for service training, the 504s were eventually replaced by the Avro Tutor and Armstrong Whitworth Siskins and Gloster Grebes replaced the Snipes. The school ceased operations on 29 July 1933 and disbanded on 15 December at RAF Digby, where it had moved on 30 Jun 1924.

The school reformed on 1 October 1934 in No 23 Group at its previous home of Digby, now equipped with Tutors for basic training and Hawker Harts and Furies for the service training phase. In 1936 Hawker Audaxes were added and in September 1937 the school moved to RAF Brize Norton to move it away from the likely area of operations in the event of a war. By August 1939, basic flying training was being carrying out at civilian run Elementary and Reserve Flying Training Schools and the FTSs were concentrating on the service flying phase of training and to the end it was equipped with Harvards and Airspeed Oxfords.

Second formation
With the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939 the school’s title was changed to No 2 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) and on 24 June 1940 it was reclassified as a Group II school concentrating on twin engined training with Oxfords. By 1942 the Commonwealth Air Training Plan was in full swing and most aircrew were being trained up to SFTS level in Canada, South Africa or Southern Rhodesia before arriving in or returning to Britain so it was decided to convert the SFTSs to (Pilot) or (Observer) Advanced Flying Units. These units would concentrate in training the personnel arriving from overseas in the techniques and conditions of flying in a blacked-out Northern Europe. As a result No 2 SFTS became No 2 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit on 14 March 1942.

Third formation
On 23 July 1947 No 20 FTS at RAF Church Lawford was redesignated No 2 FTS and on 6 April 1948 it moved to RAF South Cerney. It was equipped with de Havilland Tiger Moths and Harvards but in June 1949 the Tiger Moths were replaced by Percival Prentices. However, the school did not last long as it was redesignated Central Flying School (Basic) on 1 May 1952.

Fourth & Fifth formations
As a result of the Korean War there was an increase in demand for pilots and No 2 FTS reformed on 1 March 1953 at RAF Cluntoe in Northern Ireland with Prentices and Harvards. It moved to RAF Hullavington on 1 June 1954, now equipped with Percival Provosts and Chipmunks but in 1955 it became the first school in the world to offer ab-initio training on jet aircraft when it introduced the BAC Jet Provost T Mk 1 to a selected group of students. The experiment led the way to the introduction of the Jet Provost to all RAF FTSs. On 18 November 1957 the school moved to RAF Syerston and in December became No 2 (Basic) FTS until it disbanded on 16 January 1970. However, the same day the Primary Flying School at RAF Church Fenton was renamed No 2 FTS. Equipped with Chipmunks, a Bulldog section was added in 1973 which operated as the Royal Navy Elementary Flying Training School. No 2 FTS disbanded on 2 December 1974, although the RNEFTS transferred to the control of No 1 FTS at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

Sixth formation
On 31 March 1976 the school was reformed as No 2 (Advanced) FTS at RAF Ternhill to give advanced training to helicopter pilots. On 8 October 1976 it moved to RAF Shawbury to become No 2 FTS once again and where it took over control of the Central Air Traffic Control School as well as continuing to train helicopter pilots at both basic and advanced levels as well as helicopter crewmen. On 30 March 1997 No 2 FTS was disbanded and was replaced at Shawbury by the civilian operated Defence Helicopter Flying School which now trains helicopter pilots for all three British armed services.

Current use
It reformed at RAF Syerston on 31 January 2014 to take control of all Royal Air Force Air Cadets Volunteer Gliding Squadrons and the Central Gliding School. It is commanded by a reserve officer of Group captain rank, the first full-time flying appointment given to an officer of that rank.