School Celebrates A Happy Birthday
TEST pilots from the world-famous Empire Test Pilots’ School at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire touched down at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Tuesday, helping at the launch of this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo.
The world’s biggest airshow, the Royal International Air Tattoo will take place on July 20 and 21 at RAF Fairford, and the EPTS will be marking its 70th anniversary at the event. Pilots past and present flew in aboard an ETPS A109 helicopter to talk about how the school continues to play a role in shaping aviation history.
Flight Test Engineer Tutor Dave Widgington said: “This year will be our biggest presence yet at the Air Tattoo, and it’s a great opportunity to spread the word about what we do while celebrating our 70th anniversary. The aircraft we’re bringing to the show will include an RJ-100, a four-engined mini airliner, and we’re unique amongst the world’s training shows in operating one of these.”
Sarah Padley, from ETPS Sales and Marketing, added: “Our 70th year is something to celebrate, especially tieing in with the recent announcement that one of our graduates, Maj Tim Peake, will be going to the International Space Station as a European Space Agency astronaut. We hope members of the public will come to see us at the Air Tattoo and finds out what test pilots do, as they are the people that test every aircraft, from the airliner that takes you away on holiday to the fighters that protect our country.”
The school was established at Boscombe Down in 1943 and has trained military test pilots,
astronauts and flight test engineers to lead and deliver complex, collaborative experimental trials on all types of fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
The world’s biggest airshow, the Royal International Air Tattoo will take place on July 20 and 21 at RAF Fairford when, alongside seven-and-a-half hours of display flying each day, the emphasis will be on entertainment for all the family plus an enhanced visitor experience.
Three new zones – the Techno Zone, the Adrenalin Zone and the Vintage Village – will offer attractions and activities; Service Stations will provide everything the customer wants, including shelter, catering, information, merchandise, free Wi-Fi, toilets, seating and cash points; and our Air Tattoo CREW will be on hand to provide information and ensure visitors have a great time.
Held in support of the RAF Charitable Trust, the Air Tattoo has raised over £2 million for the charity since it was formed in 2005: the money is used to give grants to promote the RAF, support its people past and present, and to encourage air-mindedness in young people.
Tags: 2013, June, News, Royal International Air Tattoo