| 705 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 705 NAS Badge | |
| Active | Royal Air Force 1936–1939 Royal Navy
|
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron |
| Role | Basic helicopter flying training |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm andNo.1 Flying Training School |
| Home station | RAF Shawbury |
| Motto | Expertam docemus artem (Latin for 'We teach the art') |
| Aircraft |
|
| Decorations | Boyd Trophy 1983 |
| Website | Official website |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lieutenant Commander Dave Forest, RN |
705 Naval Air Squadron is aFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom'sRoyal Navy (RN). It currently forms part ofNo. 1 Flying Training School at RAF Shawbury and trains pilots and aircrew from all three services under 2 Maritime Air Wing, operating with theAirbus H135 Juno HT Mk1 utility helicopter.
It was first formed as a Flight in 1936 from No 447 Flight Royal Air Force and operated Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from battlecruisers. It achieved squadron status in 1939 before being disbanded in 1940. The squadron was re-formed briefly in 1945 and then again in 1947 as a fleet requirements unit to evaluate naval use of helicopters. Since the 1950s the squadron has been involved in the basic training of helicopter aircrew.
705 Squadron was formed from No 447 FlightRoyal Air Force, standing up in June 1936. Operational control of naval aviation was returned to theRoyal Navy on 30 July 1937, and during this period the squadron operated theFairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber from the battlecruisersRepulse andRenown. The aircraft were equipped with floats so that they could be launched from the ships by catapult and then recovered from the water by crane. 705 achieved squadron status in 1939. Early in World War II the squadron saw service protecting troop convoys and hunting raiders on theNorth America and West Indies Station. After disembarkation toRNAS Lee-on-Solent in 1939, the squadron was disbanded in 1940. 705 Naval Air Squadron was briefly reformed in 1945 and carried out the role of torpedo training.[1]
In May 1947,[2] 705 Squadron was re-commissioned at RNAS Gosport with theSikorsky Hoverfly element from771 NAS. At first the squadron operated as a fleet requirements unit, and was responsible for the evaluation of the helicopter for use at sea. On 1 February 1947 Lieutenant K Reed carried out the first helicopter deck landing on a Royal Navy ship when he landed onHMSVanguard offPortland.[1]
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The squadron gradually became responsible for the basic flying training of Royal Naval helicopter pilots and was re-equipped during the 1950s with theWestland Dragonfly, theHiller HT1 and theSikorsky S55. The squadron moved toRNAS Culdrose in 1957 where the later marks of Hiller and Whirlwind were introduced. These types were replaced in 1974 by theWestland Gazelle HT.2.[1] Between 1975 and 1992 the instructors of the squadron performed asthe 'Sharks' helicopter display team at up to 20 air displays every year both in the UK and abroad.[3]
In April 1997 705 NAS disbanded and reformed atRAF Shawbury in Shropshire as part of theDefence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS), flying theEurocopter Squirrel HT Mk 1 helicopter.[1][dead link][citation needed]
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Remaining as part of DHFS but now forming one of the elements of theUK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS), the Squadron began flying theH135 Juno HT Mk1 in April 2018.
WithinNo. 1 Flying Training School[4] (1 FTS) and under 2 Maritime Air Wing (2 MAW), 705 Squadron provides basic and advanced rotary wing flying training for all three services pilots and rear crew. As the busiest Squadron within 1 FTS, 705 Squadron teaches both pilots and crewman a vast number of different disciplines including advanced handling, instrument flying, medium and low level navigation, mountain flying and night flying including low level navigation withNVD.[5]
In addition to pure flying training, 705 Squadron also provides a naval focus for naval aircrew operating within an otherwise joint service and largely civilian-run organisation. The Squadron is commanded by a Royal NavyLieutenant Commander, and has a Royal Navy "Senior Pilot", while the Flight Commander billets are filled in by Qualified Helicopter Instructors from any of the three services. Naval graduates of DHFS are streamed towards Leonardo Merlin – MPH, Leonardo Merlin – Commando or Leonardo Wildcat AH / Wildcat HMA training Squadrons.[5]
The squadron has flown a number of aircraft types since its formation, including:[6]