Plan your visit, see when the RAF Museum Cosford is open. Contact us on 01902 376 200 or cosford@rafmuseum.org
How to find us and travel to the RAF Museum Cosford by car, train, bus or bike.
Enjoy lunch in Refuel with views overlooking the airfield. The Cold War Cafe in the National Cold War Exhibition is ideal for morning coffee and a cake.
The Royal Air Force Museum Shop has a gift for everyone from pocket money toys to specialist aviation gifts.
A car parking charge Is payable
See what events are scheduled at Cosford
Find out the latest news and updates for our Cosford site
Summer Time Advanced Aerospace Residency
Plan a day, see the opening hours & closure dates for RAF Museum London. Contact us on 020 8205 2266 or london@rafmuseum.org
How to find us and travel to the RAF Museum London by car, train, bus or bike.
Discover our brand new green space in which to picnic and relax
Explore our brand new outdoor playground
We now have six charging points for electric vehicles
When you need to refuel during your visit why not visit Claude's between Hangars 2 and 6? At this eatery you will find a variety of delicious home-made offerings to suit all tastes and pockets
Step back into time and onto Lancaster Bomber 'G for George' to witness this iconic campaign
Sit in our Mk16 Spitfire and receive a tour of its cockpit or try out our new virtual reality experience and pilot your own Spitfire. Charges apply.
Specially created for visitors 3 - 8 by our Access and Learning Team
See what events are planned at our London site
Read the latest news from our London Museum
Want to know more about how to leave a Legacy to the RAF Museum?
Interested in sponsorship opportunities?
Want to become a Patron?
Find out more about our American Foundation?
Get more from the Museum and be part of the RAF Story
Join the RAF Museum as a volunteer and create a unique experience for yourself and our visitors. Bring your enthusiasm, knowledge and skills or try something new.
A little information about what you can expect from us and what we ask of our volunteers.
Find out about our recruitment process, what you gain and who our volunteering is for (everyone!)
If you have any questions about supporting the RAF Museum, here you can find out how to contact our Fundraising Department.
air transport auxiliary,women,ATA,
The end of the Second World War ushered in a period of contraction and reorganisation of the Royal Air Force (RAF). Training courses were streamlined as many wartime specialist schools were no longer necessary. Flying Training Schools (FTS) were reintroduced to train full-time aircrew personnel. The RAF Volunteer Reserve was rebuilt on a voluntary part-time basis, allowing those recently demobilised to keep their flying skills in practice as well as the training up new recruits. The University Air Squadrons were also re-established to encourage undergraduates to seek a career in the RAF.
The commissioning of aircrew was also modified during this period. Initially, officer training was provided to suitable candidates once they received their Pilot's Wings but in 1949 it was decided that the opportunity should be given to all entrants. By 1950, all pilot cadets were granted probationary commissions and received officer training with their flying training. Full commissions were granted once a pilot received his Wings.
The practice up to this time was to train pilots in the Flying Training Schools and then send them to Operational Conversion Units for type training. However, it soon became clear that the step up from basic trainers, such as the Hunting Percival Prentice to a jet like the Gloster Meteor or the large, multi-engine Avro Shackleton was too large for safety. As a result Advanced Flying Schools were introduced to provide an intermediate training stage.
The Korean War (1950-1953) created a temporary expansion of the RAF, with new units set up for advanced and refresher training. These units disappeared again soon after the war ended. At this time jets were considered to be the future of RAF aircraft so jet flying was introduced at an earlier stage in training. In 1959 this developed into all-through jet training - the first such course in the world. As jet aircraft moved into the realm of supersonic flight, it was clear that a "fast jet" stage was needed to introduce pupils to high speed flight. This was provided by the Central Flying School and 4 Flying Training School.
The early Sixties also saw the expansion of rotary wing, or helicopter flying. Consequently, a separate branch of the Central Flying School was established at RAF Tern Hill, providing elementary and advanced helicopter training.
HRH Prince Charles did his flying training in the RAF Museum's Jet Provost.
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