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30-874: ITPS first offered flight test training in 1986, when established by a previous senior staff member of the Empire Test Pilots School in the United Kingdom . The school was first located in Cranfield in England, working alongside the prestigious College of Aeronautics at Cranfield University . In 2001, the school moved its operations to the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment located at CFB Cold Lake before moving to its current location at London International Airport , Ontario in 2005. The school

60-520: Is "Learn to test; test to learn". ETPS is run by the MoD and defence contractor QinetiQ under a long-term agreement. In 1943, Air Marshal Sir Ralph Sorley , Controller, Research and Development, MAP, formed the "Test Pilots' Training Flight" at RAF Boscombe Down after many pilots died testing the many new aircraft introduced during the Second World War . On 21 June 1943, the unit became

90-654: Is a British training school for test pilots and flight test engineers of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, England. It was established in 1943, the first of its type. The school moved to RAF Cranfield in October 1945, then to the Royal Aircraft Establishment , Farnborough in July 1947, before returning to Boscombe Down on 29 January 1968. Its motto

120-625: Is a third-level military decoration awarded for gallantry during active operations against the enemy at sea to officers; and, since 1993, ratings and other ranks of the British Armed Forces , Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the British Merchant Navy have been eligible. The award was formerly also awarded to members of armed forces of other Commonwealth countries. The DSC is "awarded in recognition of an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against

150-732: Is awarded by the Edwards Air Force Base in California to the student who makes the greatest progress on the course. To expand the collapsed table, click on "show" in the Year column header; to collapse the expanded table, click on "hide". This trophy, a model of the Hawker Hunter , was first awarded in 1960 by the Hawker Aircraft Company to the student who wrote the best Preview Handling report on

180-413: Is awarded to the fixed wing student who demonstrates the highest standard of flying during the course. The trophy is a silver model of a Short Singapore II flying-boat, which was originally awarded to Sir Alan and his wife in 1928 "in commemoration of their epic circuit of Africa flight in 1927 in such a flying-boat". To expand the collapsed table, click on "show" in the Year column header; to collapse

210-665: The Bristol Aeroplane Company ). Five students found the standard of maths required on the course to be too high and left within the first week; the 13 students who completed the first course comprised 11 from the RAF (including one American, Sqn Ldr JC Nelson, who was serving with one of the Eagle Squadrons ) and two from the FAA. Of those who attended No. 1 Course, five eventually died testing aircraft. Due to

240-583: The Test Pilots' School within the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down. The school was "to provide suitably trained pilots for testing duties in aeronautical research and development establishments within the service and the industry". It graduated one group of students, the Number 1 Course, which began in mid-1943 and formally ended on 29 February 1944, before

270-439: The 1990s, most of these—including Canada , Australia , and New Zealand —were establishing their own honours systems and no longer recommended British honours. Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal "DSC". The DSC is a plain silver cross with rounded ends, with a width of 43 millimetres (1.7 in) and with the following design: Since 1901 at least 6,658 Crosses and 603 bars have been awarded. The dates below reflect

300-695: The 1993 review of the honours system , as part of the drive to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery, the Distinguished Service Medal , formerly the third-level decoration for ratings, has been discontinued. The DSC now serves as the third-level award for gallantry at sea for all ranks, not to the standard required to receive the Victoria Cross or the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross . The DSC had also been awarded by Commonwealth countries; however, by

330-673: The DSC, and their eligibility was legally clarified by an order in council in 1931. World War II saw a number of changes. In December 1939, eligibility was extended to Naval Officers of the rank of Commander and Lieutenant-Commander . In April 1940, equivalent ranks in the Royal Air Force serving with the Fleet could receive the DSC, and, from November 1942, so could those in the Army aboard defensively equipped merchant ships . Since

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360-617: The McKenna Trophy. To expand the collapsed table, click on "show" in the Year column header; to collapse again, click on "hide". The Westland Trophy, originally presented by Westland Aircraft Limited in 1963, is awarded to the best all-round student on the Rotary Wing Course. To expand the collapsed table, click on "show" in the Year column header; to collapse again, click on "hide". Presented to ETPS in 1974 by Michael Cobham, son of Sir Alan Cobham , this trophy

390-472: The course. Since 1966 syndicates of two or three students have carried out the Preview Exercise; the trophy is awarded to the best team. To expand the collapsed table, click on "show" in the Year column header; to collapse again, click on "hide". Flt Lt G J McClymont RAF This trophy, instituted in 1961, is awarded by the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School , Patuxent River , to the runner-up for

420-652: The enemy at sea." Since 1979, it can be awarded posthumously. The award was originally created in 1901 as the Conspicuous Service Cross , for award to warrant and subordinate officers, including midshipmen , ineligible for the Distinguished Service Order . It was renamed the Distinguished Service Cross in October 1914, eligibility being extended to all naval officers (commissioned and warrant) below

450-475: The expanded table, click on "hide". The Dunlop Trophy, initially awarded by the Dunlop Rubber company in 1974, is awarded to the best student on each Flight Test Engineers' course. To expand the collapsed table, click on "show" in the Year column header; to collapse the expanded table, click on "hide". Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Service Cross ( DSC )

480-557: The expanded table, click on "hide"; to expand the collapsed table, click on "show" in the Name column header. Recipients' names prior to 1968 are taken from the ETPS 25th anniversary brochure. Others up to and including 1983, unless otherwise stated, from Rawlings & Sedgwick 1991 , pp. 124–36. In the tables of trophy winners the following abbreviation are used in the course names: Legend       The individual

510-1040: The formation of QinetiQ. It is now a partnership between QinetiQ and the UK MoD. The Empire Test Pilots' School was the first of its kind, and was soon followed by other similar schools, such as the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base , California in 1944, the United States Naval Test Pilot School in Maryland in 1945 and the EPNER in France (École du Personnel Navigant d'Essais et de Réception) in 1946. Other schools in India ( Indian Air Force Test Pilot School in Bangalore ) and Japan were established in later years. Some of these schools operate exchange programmes, which expand

540-570: The former typically for military students. Test planning, test flying, data analysis and report writing are all part of the training. Students from around the world are trained using various military fighters, training jets , light airplanes, helicopters and flight simulators . One of Australia's first RAAF female pilots, Robyn Clay-Williams , trained at ITPS ITPS Canada has staff members from multiple countries including academics, military veterans, maintenance personnel and test pilot graduates (test pilots and flight test engineers). Notable staff over

570-485: The latter specializing late in the course. In 1963, a separate rotary-wing course was established, followed in 1974 by a course for Flight test engineers . The school also offers a number of short courses "to meet specific Air Test and Evaluation (AT&E) training needs of the wider flight test community". In 2001, ETPS was included with those research departments sold off by the Government to Carlyle Group during

600-571: The rank of lieutenant commander . From March 1915, foreign officers of equivalent rank in allied navies could receive honorary awards; in August 1916, bars were introduced to reward further acts of gallantry meriting the Cross, with a silver rosette worn on the ribbon when worn alone, to denote the award of each bar. During World War I , officers of the Merchant and Fishing Fleets had been awarded

630-460: The rapid growth of the A&;AEE, at Boscombe Down, the school moved to RAF Cranfield in October 1945. On 12 July 1947, it was attached to the Royal Aircraft Establishment , Farnborough , where it remained for almost 21 years, flying a wide variety of aircraft types, before returning to Boscombe Down on 29 January 1968. Until 1963, the course catered to both fixed-wing and rotary-wing pilots, with

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660-631: The relevant London Gazette entries: A number of honorary awards were made to members of allied foreign forces, including 151 for World War I, and 228 (with 12 first bars and 2 second bars) for World War II. Eight honorary awards were made in 1955 to members of the US Navy for service in Korea . The above table includes awards to the Dominions : In all, 199 DSCs have gone to those serving with Canadian forces, with 34 first bars and five second bars. It

690-602: The school's name was changed to the "Empire Test Pilots' School" (ETPS) on 28 July 1944. The first training course, held by the Commandant, Wing Commander Samuel "Sammy" Wroath with G. Maclaren Humphreys, a civilian, as Technical Instructor, was initially attended by 18 pilots, drawn largely from the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy but included three civilian attendees (all from

720-471: The variety of aircraft the students have available to them for gaining flight test experience. In addition to such student exchanges, British, French and American schools share access to their aircraft, so that students can experience a wider range of aircraft types during their respective courses. Commandants' names prior to 1968 from the ETPS 25th anniversary brochure; 1968–88, from Wing Commander "Robby" Robinson's "Tester Zero One". The term "Commandant"

750-563: The years included retired Canadian Space Agency astronaut and pilot Bjarni Tryggvason who flew on Space Shuttle Discovery . As of November 2023, ITPS Canada has the following aircraft registered with Transport Canada and the FAA and operate as Nav Canada airline designator SA, and telephony STALLION. 43°01′52″N 81°09′20″W  /  43.03099°N 81.15552°W  / 43.03099; -81.15552 Empire Test Pilots%27 School The Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS)

780-521: Was awarded the DSC for the first time in 1919. He was awarded his second DSC in 1944. He was awarded the DSC a further two times in 1945. He gained an entry into the Guinness Book of Records as the most decorated reserve naval officer. In 1919, the Distinguished Service Cross was awarded to the City of Dunkirk for the gallant behaviour of its citizens during World War I, and the Cross appears in

810-550: Was killed in an aviation accident. In memory of the second Commandant of the School, Group Captain JFX McKenna, AFC, killed in a flying accident while serving in that post. Initially the school awarded the McKenna Trophy to the best fixed-wing student, but it is now open to the rotary-wing course as well. To expand the collapsed table, click on "show" in the Year column header; to collapse again, choose "hide". This trophy

840-506: Was recognized by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots in 2017 and by the Society of Flight Test Engineers in 2018. In 2022, ITPS Canada hosted the international 10th Annual Flight Test Seminar. Operations include a 10,000 square foot modern offices and classrooms and a 27,000 square foot hangar . The curriculum includes both long and short courses focusing on flight tests . Flight test graduate, diploma and certificate courses are offered,

870-542: Was replaced in 1993 by the Medal of Military Valour . 182 were awarded to Australians, in addition to 13 first bars and three second bars. Last awarded to an Australian in 1972, it was replaced in 1991 by the Medal for Gallantry . Only one person has ever been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross four times. Norman Eyre Morley served in the Royal Naval Reserve during World War I and World War II . He

900-602: Was succeeded in 1976 by "Chief Instructor" and in 1980 by "Officer Commanding". The Empire Test Pilots' School fleet consists of the following aircraft: In the past the school has operated: BAe Hawk T.1 XX343, Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet , Hawker Siddeley Andover XS606, Beagle Basset , Westland Gazelle , North American Harvard , SEPECAT Jaguar , Westland Lynx , Westland Sea King , Panavia Tornado , Short Tucano , Eurocopter Squirrel , Bell 412, Bell 205, Saab Gripen. ETPS graduates who have made significant contributions to aviation and/or space exploration. To collapse

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