7 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps

7 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps
Activec. 1969 – present[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeAviation
RoleTraining
SizeRegiment
Part ofJoint Aviation Command
BaseMiddle Wallop Flying Station

7 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps is a regiment of the British Army under Joint Aviation Command.[2] The regiment is responsible for providing all of the flight training of Army Air Corps (AAC) pilots.[3] The regiment is based at the Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop.[3]

Structure

The regiment consists of three squadrons and one flight:[3]

  • No. 671 Squadron AAC conducts Conversion to Type training for graduates of the Operational Training Phase and students on the Aviation Crewman course.[3][4]
  • No. 673 Squadron AAC conducts Conversion to Type training on the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter for both newly qualified and experienced Army pilots.[3][5]

Former

History

7 Army Aviation Regiment was formed c. 1969 at Airfield Camp, Netheravon.[1] In 1971, the regiment was renamed to 7 Regiment Army Aviation Corps.[1] During its time as a regular unit, the following squadrons and flights were part of the regiment: 651 Squadron, 658 Squadron, 2 Flight and 8 Flight.[1] 658 Squadron had reformed c. 1982.[7] The Agusta A109A helicopter had entered service with 8 Flight in 1984.[8] 666 (V) Squadron had become part of the regiment in 1986.[1][9]

In April 1995, the regiment re-roled as a volunteer unit 7 Regiment AAC (V).[1][10][7] The regiment consisted of 666 Squadron (V), 658 Squadron (V), 3 Flight (V) at RAF Turnhouse (later RAF Leuchars) and 6 Flight (V) based at Shawbury.[1][11][12]

On 1 April 2009, the regiment re-roled as a regular training unit 7 (Training) Regiment AAC based at Middle Wallop as part of the School of Army Aviation.[3] On 1 August 2009, the school was renamed as the Army Aviation Centre.[3] The regiment consisted of 670 Squadron, 671 Squadron and 673 Squadron.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g 'LZ' (Spring 2012). "Airfield Camp, Netheravon 1912 – 2012" (PDF). Army Air Corps Journal. No. 52. pp. 40–42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Joint Helicopter Command". British Army. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Army Aviation Centre". British Army. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  4. ^ "671 Squadron Army Air Corps". British Army. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  5. ^ "673 Squadron Army Air Corps". British Army. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  6. ^ "25 Flight Army Air Corps". British Army. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  7. ^ a b "658 Sqn Army Air Corps History". British Army. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007.
  8. ^ "Helicopters - Secretary of State for Defence - Column 1835W". www.parliament.uk. 22 June 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  9. ^ "History of 666 Squadron". British Army. Archived from the original on 9 January 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Major Units 5 to 9". British Army units from 1945 on. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  11. ^ "7 Regiment (V) of the Army Air Corps". British Army. Archived from the original on 23 October 2006. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  12. ^ "3 Flight History". British Army. Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2020.