HC Deb 25 April 1951 vol 487 c373
42. Squadron Leader Kinghorn

asked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent Royal Air Force pilots are trained on Tiger Moth aircraft.

Mr. Crawley

Tiger Moths are not used for the training of regular Royal Air Force pilots in the United Kingdom or in Canada. They are still used for initial training in Rhodesia but are being replaced by Chipmunks. A few are still used by university air squadrons and a larger number by Reserve flying schools.

Squadron Leader Kinghorn

In view of that reply, would my hon. Friend make it emphatically clear that pilots training for the Royal Air Force are not trained on Tiger Moth aircraft—a fact which was given publicity in a report in a Sunday newspaper a fortnight ago—and that the only use for Tiger Moths is for people getting their hand in after having had long experience as operational flyers?

Mr. Crawley

I hope that this answer will make it clear.