Test Pilot

[julian64]

Anyone know what the difference between a test pilot one and a test pilot two grading is on a flying license?

[frodo_monkey]

My missus did ETPS as a flight test engineer a while ago; as far as I know there are two lengths of course (A&B). I think these correspond to the EASA licence you’d get if you were civilian - we’re both military so I don’t know.

There’s a bit on the ETPS website:

http://www.etps.qinetiq.com/courses/Pages/default....

[hidetheelephants]

julian64 said:

Anyone know what the difference between a test pilot one and a test pilot two grading is on a flying license?

From their website the US NTPS course for class 1 is 50 weeks and class 2 is 26, so half the content. The class 1 is a snip at just under $1m.

[julian64]

The question was from the mid fifties in the UK. My father has a pilot license which seems to indicate he is/was a test pilot 2 in some of his old paperwork. He seems to think there was a 1-10 category of test pilots at that time. To him at the time it seems to have been a green light to fly any aircraft he wanted to.

Obviously its all changed now as time marched on.

[Eric Mc]

Where did he train to be a test pilot? Was it at the Empire Test Pilot's School (ETPS)? Back then it was based at Farnborough.

[julian64]

church Fenton and Boscombe down apparently

[Eric Mc]

Must have been after the ETPS moved to Boscombe - which was in 1968.

[julian64]

Eric Mc said:

Must have been after the ETPS moved to Boscombe - which was in 1968.

He thinks (after the second grilling) that it was 62 but now in his mid eighties so I wouldn't entirely trust his memory. I just found it interesting. I might go and have a look at his paperwork as he has all his flight licenses in a memento folder.

He keeps talking about throwing everything away.

[Eric Mc]

Don't let him do that. Even if he has no interest in keeping it there are lots of people who would love to see it - especially his log books and notes.

[dorset_clive]

I'd be pretty sure the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection would be interested in TP log books. They may well be able to help with the different 'classes' of TP.

[hidetheelephants]

dorset_clive said:

I'd be pretty sure the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection would be interested in TP log books.

Definitely this.

[DavieBNL]

This EASA doc (Part 21) has all the details at Appendix XII *Categories of flight tests and associated flight test
crew qualifications* - https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu...

Suggest you just turn to page 454 rather than start at the front!

[EddyBee]

Sorry I can’t help with the info in any way but thought you may like this (about test pilots in the RAF)
https://youtu.be/vFfWqd9p33k
Mind you it’s from the 80s so a completely different era.

Edit: reading my post back it’s a pretty pointless addition to the thread haha. Still a good watch though.

[Eric Mc]

Not at all. That series was about the work of the Empire Test Pilot's School, Boscombe Down.

[julian64]

Still trying to get the information off him. Will update eventually. Currently trying to fix a German aircraft clock.