de Havilland School of Flying

By Abi Wilson

The de Havilland School of Flying
photo from Hertford Archives and Local Studies

Aerobatics, advanced navigation, instrument flying and photography

The de Havilland School of Flying was set up after the First World War in April 1923 and was predominantly used by Royal Air Force Reservists. By 1926 training was primarily done using the Moth (an aircraft developed by the de Havilland Aircraft Company). It was in 1930 that the school moved to Hatfield.

In 1935 after moving to Hatfield the school became No 1 Elementary Flying Training School which provided training to Royal Air Force Pilot entrants. The training syllabus included aerobatics, advanced navigation, instrument flying and also photography.

The school carried on its vital role during the Second World War as it trained thousands of RAF and Army pilots. The war ended in 1945 and the school returned to reserve flying. On March 31, 1953 the school was closed down after being in operation for 30 years.

This page was added on 01/03/2011.

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  • Can anyone tell me if Hatlfied was training purey civilian pilots in 1936? I am researching for a novel and need to know is a woman couldpay to train there in the spring of ’36.

    By Rob Thomasson (20/11/2023)