No. 2 Flying Training School

Role

Air Force and Navy pilots are trained at No. 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) in an intensive 34-week advanced pilot training program. Many demands are placed on students during their course and the standards of flying and airmanship that a trainee must develop while at 2FTS are very high.

2FTS flies the Pilatus PC-9/A turbo-prop aircraft.

The unit motto, 'Seek the Heights', reflects the dedication of students and instructors at 2FTS.

Flying Training School Commanding Officers

The ranks listed are those held by the respective officers while in command of the Flying Training School. Officers temporarily holding the command appointment have been omitted from the list.

The names of officers who served in World War II are linked to the Department of Veterans' Affairs World War II service records database. Biographical notes of relevance to Pearce-based units are included.

Wing Commander D.C. Penton
(Graduate of No. 104 Pilots' Course, No. 2 Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce 7 May - 15 December 1978)

Wing Commander G.B.S. Neilsen
(Graduate of No. 148 Pilots' Course, No. 2 Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce 3 October 1988 - 3 July 1989)

Wing Commander C.J. Sawade
(Graduate of No. 95 Pilots' Course, No. 2 Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce 6 October 1975 - 8 July 1976)

Wing Commander P.F. Norford
(Later served at Group Captain P.F. Norford, Commander Training - Air Force 2005, Graduate of No. 102 Pilots' Course, No. 2 Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce 29 August 1977 - 26 May 1978)

Wing Commander P.S. Sapwell
(Later served at Pearce as Commanding Officer Combat Support Unit Pearce, and as Group Captain P.S. Sapwell, CSC ADC, Officer Commanding Combat Support Unit Pearce 13 August 1993 - 3 January 1999 and 6 May 2002 - 16 January 2005, Graduate of No. 93 Pilots' Course, No. 2 Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce 17 March - 1 December 1975)

Wing Commander J.R. Woodman
(Graduate of No. 81 Pilots' Course, No. 2 Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce 4 April 1971 - 30 June 1972)

Wing Commander G.S. Rowe
(Later served at Pearce as Commanding Officer, No. 25 Squadron2 February 1997 30 June 1998 and Commanding Officer No. 79 Squadron 1 July 1998 - 28 February 2000, Graduate of No. 84 Pilots' Course, No. 2 Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce September 1972 - 29 March 1973)

Wing Commander R.J. Wood
(Graduate of No. 69 Pilots' Course, No. 2 Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce 13 January - 20 June 1969)

Wing Commander P.F. Hay
(Graduate of No. 52 Pilots' Course, No. 1 Applied Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce 21 September 1964 - 4 March 1965)

Wing Commander R.J. Connor
(Graduate of No. 63 Pilots' Course, No. 1 Applied Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce 17 July - 15 December 1967)

Wing Commander A.A. Page, AFC
(Graduate of No. 47 Pilots' Course, No. 1 Applied Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce 27 May - 25 October 1963)

Wing Commander M.J. Cavenagh
(Graduate of No 16 Course, RAAF College, RAAF Base Point Cook, January 1963 to December 1966) Wing Commander K.N. Pyke, AFC ADC
(Graduate of No. 32 Pilots' Course, No. 1 Applied Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce 29 September 1958 - 15 April 1959)

Wing Commander I.H. Whisker, ADC
(Graduate of No. 11 Cadet Pilots' Course, No. 1 Applied Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce 26 June - 24 November 1961)

Wing Commander R.M. Greenwood, AFC
(Graduate of No. 19 Pilots' Course, No. 1 Applied Flying Training School, RAAF Base Point Cook 26 April - 25 August 1955)

Nov 1970

Wing Commander K.H. Foster, DFM ADC

Jan 1969 No. 2 Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce Jan 1968

Wing Commander B.H. Collings, AFC ADC
(Graduate of No. 7 Pilots' Course, No. 1 Applied Flying Training School, RAAF Base Point Cook 23 February 1951 - 30 July 1952)

Dec 1965

Wing Commander W. Stickley

Sep 1962

Wing Commander T.W. Murphy

Feb 1960

Wing Commander K.G. Brinsley

Oct 1958 No. 1 Applied Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce Feb 1957

Wing Commander W.M. Coombes

Jan 1955

Wing Commander H.C. Plenty, DFC & Bar

Oct 1953

Wing Commander W.J. Guthrie

Feb 1952

Wing Commander R.H. Thompson

Aug 1950

Wing Commander P.M.G. Metzler

Jan 1952 No. 1 Applied Flying Training School, RAAF Station, Point Cook Sep 1949

Wing Commander G.A. Cooper, DFC

Nov 1947

Wing Commander C.F. Read, DFC

Nov 1947 No. 1 Flying Training School, RAAF Station, Point Cook

This list has been complied with the assistance of Air Commodore (Retired) Norman Ashworth, Officer Commanding RAAF Base Pearce, 6 January 1981 - 6 January 1983.