No. 1 Flying Training Wingcurrently based atSLAF China Bay,carries out basic pilot training of theSri Lanka Air Force.It is the oldest flying formation in the SLAF.[1]
| No. 1 Flying Training Wing | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1955 - Present |
| Role | Training |
| Station | SLAF China Bay |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Air Chief MarshalPaddy Mendis, Air CommodoreShirantha Goonatilake |
History
editThe roots of the Wing goes back to the formation of theRoyal Ceylon Air Forcewhen pilot training began withde Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunksin 1950. However the No 1 Squadron was formally established with the creation of it for pilot training andNo 2 Squadronfor transport in 1955. Both were base atRAF Negambo.In the 1963 the squadron became the No. 1 Flying Training School and moved toRCyAF China Bayin 1963 and in 1971 took up advanced training and later was upgraded to anAir Wing.In August 1988 the unit was moved toSLAF Anuradhapuradue to theCivil War,however it has been shifted back toSLAF China Bayin 2009.[2]During the early years of the Civil War, the Wing engaged inClose Air Support.
In March 2001, on the 50th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force the unit was presented thePresident’s Colours.[3]
In 2018 May, brand new sixPT-6training aircraft accepted fromAVICHongdu in Nanchang,China.These aircraft will replace the old air frames.[4]
Role
edit- Basic flying training for SLAF flight cadets
- Advanced and Fighter Conversion training course
- Basic Air Traffic Control course
- Limited Air Defence throughkarakorum-8in interceptor role
Aircraft operated
edit- Cessna 150
- Nanchang CJ-6
- karakorum-8
- SIAI Marchetti SF.260W - Retired
- FMA IA 58 Pucará- Retired
- Boulton Paul Balliol- Retired
- de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk- Retired
Notable members
edit- Air Vice MarshalE. R. Amarasekara,DFC& BAR,RCyAF- formerCommander of the Air Force(1962–1970)
- Air Chief MarshalDeshamanyaPaddy Mendis,MBIM, IDC, psc,SLAF- formerCommander of the Air Force(1971–1976)
- Air Chief MarshalHarry Goonatilake,USP,ndc, psc,SLAF- formerCommander of the Air Force(1976–1981)
- Air CommodoreShirantha Goonatilake,RWP,RSP,SLAF- Commanding Officer Flying Training Wing
Gallery
edit- Sri lanka Air Force No 1 Training Wing
-
A Cessna 150 over Colombo in a training flight. -
SLAF K8 jets during military parade -
PT-6 aircraft with the Sri Lankan flag. -
PT-6 aircraft fly pass in the Independence celebrations of the air force.
References
edit- ^"THE" CRADLE OF MILITARY AVIATORS "IN SRI LANKA, THE NO 1 FLYING TRAINING WING COMPLETES 70 YEARS OF PROUD SERVICE TO THE NATION | Sri Lanka Air Force".www.airforce.lk.Retrieved2021-09-11.
- ^"Sri Lanka Air Force Flying Training Wing".www.airforce.lk.Retrieved2021-09-11.
- ^AWARD OF COLOURS TO SLAF FORMATIONSArchived2008-12-22 at theWayback Machine
- ^"The Commander Accepts Six (6) PT-6 Aircraft from CATIC".Retrieved2018-05-20.