| After
Church Fenton's change of role in July 1959, it became a much more sedate
place. For the next three years the only flying taking place would be the
far quieter Chipmunks of Leeds University Air Squadron. Various other non-flying
units were also on the station at this time. |
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DHC Chipmunk WG348 of 2FTS. © Keith
McKenzie
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SA Bulldog XX519, the first example in
British service, shortly after being delivered to Church Fenton. © Keith
McKenzie
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In March 1962, the station became
number 7 Flying Training School (7FTS). It operated the Jet Provost T3 in
the basic fast jet training role. During the mid-1960s the unit received
the improved Jet Provost T4. 7FTS was disbanded in November 1966, and the
station became home to 2FTS, with its' Chipmunks. For a few years from 1973
the base was home to the Royal Navy Elementary Flying Training School (RNEFTS).
This provided basic training for RN pilots, either destined for 705 Sqn
and the helicopter world at Culdrose, or for the lucky few, the Sea Harrier.
The school operated the (then brand-new) S.A. Bulldog (and had the pleasure
of introducing it into service, the first aircraft in the fleet being delivered
to Church Fenton straight from the factory at Prestwick), much to the envy
of RAF students on the base, who were stuck with their trusty old DH Chipmunks.
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Jet Provost T3a XM352 of 7FTS. © John
Smith
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| This was only a relatively
short-lived arrangement, however, and the base soon went back into 'care
and maintenance' with the associated peace and quiet. |
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| In 1979, realising that with the
impending introduction into service of the Panavia Tornado, the RAF would
have a pilot shortage, the decision was taken to re-activate Church Fenton,
and with it re-activate 7FTS. The new unit was equipped with the Jet Provost
T3 as before, as well as the much improved Jet Provost T5 for more advanced
training. In 1984, the Refresher Flying School also moved to Church Fenton,
with the objective of giving refresher courses to aircrew whose most recent
posting had been ground-based. |
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The saviour of Church Fenton? - a visiting
Tornado on the pan in 7FTS days. © Ralph
Bayley
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Church Fenton carried on in this
role until 1992, by which time it had become the first station in the RAF
to operate the Shorts Tucano T1 turboprop trainer, which is the current
basic fast jet trainer for the RAF. As a result of the government's "options
for change" policy that came about with the ending of the Cold War,
it was decided that there was overcapacity in the system, so the decision
was taken to close Church Fenton, but retain the operational side of the
airfield for use as a relief landing ground for nearby 1FTS at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
The airfield once again fell almost silent, until with the closure of
RAF Finningley in 1995, a new home was needed for Yorkshire UAS / 9AEF
and their Chipmunk / Bulldog fleet. Yorkshire UAS therefore moved back
in to Church Fenton, the base the squadron had been formed at some 26
years previously. The squadron now has use of arguably the best facilities
of any UAS in the country.
At the time Yorkshire UAS were moving home to Church Fenton, it was also
being discussed whether to move the Jetstream element of 6FTS in as well,
although it was eventually decided to re-locate these aircraft to RAF
Cranwell.
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Shorts Tucano T1 ZF145 of 7FTS stands on
the line. © Chris
Chambers
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On the line with the Bulldogs of Yorkshire
UAS in the late nineties. © Richard Shires
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JEFTS Firefly G-BWXR taxies past the viewing
area. © Chris Chambers
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| Yorkshire UAS have remained at
the airfield ever since (re-equipping with Grob Tutors in 2000), and being
joined in 1998 by a detachment of Slingsby Firefly T67M260 aircraft of the
Joint Elementary Flying Training School. This move was made permanent in
1999 (see JEFTS page), which meant that Church Fenton became the RAF's main
Elementary Flying Training airfield. The Fireflies added some welcome life
to the airfield (in aircraft movements, at least!) with many hours being
flown.
So for 5 years, the airfield was a fairly settled place, with both Yorkshire
UAS and JEFTS going about their training task very successfully.
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A line-up of Grob Tutors of Yorkshire UAS
outside the hangar. © Jamie
Steele
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| In mid-2002, the
news was released that as from July 2003, the RAF element of JEFTS was to
be absorbed into UASs around the country, hence we no longer see Fireflies
buzzing around the circuit. Hopefully some other unit will move in to take
their place and keep ATC awake! |