D.H.F.S Shawbury Sep 07

Defence Helicopter Flying School

R.A.F Shawbury

The Defence Helicopter Flying School (D.H.F.S) is located at R.A.F Shawbury in Shropshire. It was formed on 1st April 1997 to train pilots for the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army Air Corps. Its role is basic helicopter training, but also provides multi-engine training for the R.A.F and special courses for all three services. The first course commenced May 27th of the same year and the school trains approximately 400 students per year. They train on both Eurocopter AS.350BB Squirrel HT.1's and Bell 412EP Griffin HT.1's. The school is maintained at Shawbury by a civilian contractor (FB Heliservices Ltd), who also provide 40% of the instructors. 660 Squadron (Army Air Corps) provides single engine basic training and 705 Naval Air Squadron provides advanced training. Students also spend a period at RAF Valley in Anglesey to train with the Search & Rescue Training Unit (SARTU). The Griffin HT.1's are operated by 60(R) Squadron (Royal Air Force).

There are also a large amount of stored aircraft at RAF Shawbury, however they have no relevance to the DHFS. Jetwash Aviation Photos visited Shawbury on September 27th 2007 to see what happens on a day to day basis at the hub of British military aircraft flying training.

Griffin HT.1 ZJ234 on the far side of the airfield conducting load training

The Bell-Textron Griffin HT.1 is used by 60(R) Squadron at Shawbury and the Search and Rescue Training Unit (SARTU) at RAF Valley in Anglesey. Eight are based at Shawbury and three at Valley. The Griffin is a military version of the Bell 412EP and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6T-3D turboshafts giving a cruising speed of 120 knots and a three hour endurance.

The 34 week Multi Engine Advance Rotary Wing course syllabus includes general handling flying, underslung load carrying, NVG training, procedural instrument flying, formation flying, low flying navigation and an introduction to tactical employment. A short SAR procedures course is conducted at RAF Valley. However pilots streamed for SAR duties then return to Valley to complete an extended SAR course prior to joining the Sea King OCU at RAF St. Mawgan in Cornwall.

A lot of the basic flying takes place within the confines of RAF Shawbury

and there are aways a lot of helicopters operating within the area of the base.

Squirrel HT.1 ZJ262 hovers above the apron at RAF Shawbury 27-9-07

660 (AAC)Squadron utilises the Squirrel HT.1 for Single Engine Basic Rotary Wing training, whilst advanced training is conducted by 705 (RN) Squadron. The Squirrel replaced the Aerospatiale Gazelle when the school became operational in 1997. The Squirrel is powered by a single Ariel 1D1 gas-turbine engine, driving a conventional 3-bladed main rotor and twin blade tail rotor. It has a three hour endurance capability and a 115 knot cruising speed.

Squirrel HT.1's sitting on the ramp at Shawbury awaiting their next mission

ZJ275 lifts off for another sortie.

Although assigned to 84 squadron in Cyprus, Griffin HAR.2 ( HT.1's are used by the DHFS) ZJ703 was present at Shawbury during our visit and was obviously being used by the Defence Helicopter Flying School as it was conducting training flights within the confines of the base. It has been present at RAF Shawbury for some weeks now.

ZJ257 is pushed to the flightline. Note the powered trolley that enables one man to move the airframe with little effort.

A log of the aircraft seen 27-9-07 together with the stored airframes can be seen here:-

Jetwash

Aviation Photo's.com