Aircraft Apprentice Scheme facts for kids

The Aircraft Apprentice Scheme was a special training program for young people in the Royal Air Force (RAF). It taught them how to work on airplanes on the ground. This program ran for many years, from 1920 all the way to 1966.

The scheme was for "ground crew." These are the skilled people who keep aircraft in top condition. They fix engines, check systems, and make sure planes are safe to fly. This is different from pilots, who fly the planes.

Learning to Work on Aircraft

The Royal Air Force decided it needed well-trained people to look after its aircraft. So, they decided to open special schools called Schools of Technical Training. These schools would teach young men and boys the skills they needed.

Where the Training Began

One of the main places chosen for this training was RAF Halton. This base became a very important home for the apprentice program. The School of Technical Training for boys officially started in 1919. It became a permanent school on January 1, 1920.

Soon after, in March 1920, RAF Halton's school was named No. 1 School of Technical Training. Because so many young people wanted to join, there wasn't enough space at Halton. So, another school, No. 2 School of Technical Training, was opened at RAF Cranwell. This made sure more young people could get the training they needed to help the RAF.

Images for kids

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  Lord Trenchard presenting a trophy to an RAF Halton apprentice