No. 1 Flying Training Wing currently based at SLAF China Bay, carries out basic pilot training of the

Sri Lanka Air Force The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) ( si, ශ්‍රි ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව, Śrī Laṃkā guwan hamudāva; ta, இலங்கை விமானப்படை, Ilaṅkai vimāṉappaṭai) is the air arm and the yo ...

. It is the oldest flying formation in the SLAF.

History

The roots of the Wing goes back to the formation of the

Royal Ceylon Air Force The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) ( si, ශ්‍රි ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව, Śrī Laṃkā guwan hamudāva; ta, இலங்கை விமானப்படை, Ilaṅkai vimāṉappaṭai) is the air arm and the yo ...

when pilot training began with de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunks in 1950. However the No 1 Squadron was formally established with the creation of it for pilot training and No 2 Squadron for transport in 1955. Both were base at RAF Negambo. In the 1963 the squadron became the No. 1 Flying Training School and moved to RCyAF China Bay in 1963 and in 1971 took up advanced training and later was upgraded to an

Air Wing In military aviation, a wing is a unit of command. In most military aviation services, a wing is a relatively large formation of planes. In Commonwealth countries a wing usually comprises three squadrons, with several wings forming a group ( ...

. In August 1988 the unit was moved to SLAF Anuradhapura due to the Civil War, however it has been shifted back to SLAF China Bay in 2009. In March 2001, on the 50th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force the unit was presented the President’s Colours. In 2018 May, brand new six PT-6 training aircraft accepted from AVIC Hongdu in Nanchang,

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. These aircraft will replace the old air frames.

Role

* Basic flying training for SLAF flight cadets * Advanced and Fighter Conversion training course * Basic Air Traffic Control course * Limited Air Defence through

karakorum-8 The Hongdu JL-8 (Nanchang JL-8), also known as the Karakorum-8 or K-8 for short, is a two-seat intermediate jet trainer and a light attack aircraft designed in the People's Republic of China by China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporatio ...

in interceptor role

Aircraft operated

Year of introduction * Cessna 150 * Nanchang CJ-6 *

SIAI Marchetti SF.260 The SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 (now Leonardo SF-260) is an Italian light aircraft which has been commonly marketed as a military trainer and aerobatics aircraft. The SF.260 was designed by Italian aircraft designer Stelio Frati, while production wo ...

W - Retired *

Boulton Paul Balliol The Boulton Paul Balliol and Sea Balliol are monoplane advanced trainer aircraft designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Boulton Paul Aircraft. On 17 May 1948, it became the world's first single-engined turboprop aircraft to ...

- Retired * de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk - Retired

Notable members

Air Vice Marshal Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes u ...

E. R. Amarasekara, DFC & BAR, RCyAF - former Commander of the Air Force (1962–1970) *

Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...

Deshamanya

Paddy Mendis Air Chief Marshal Deshamanya Pathman Hariprasadha Mendis, FBIM (24 January 1933 – 18 January 2022) was a Sri Lankan aviator. He was the fourth Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force from 1971 to 1976. Early life and education The son of a d ...

, MBIM, IDC, psc, SLAF - former Commander of the Air Force (1971–1976) *

Harry Goonatilake, USP, ndc, psc, SLAF - former Commander of the Air Force (1976–1981) * Air Commodore Shirantha Goonatilake, RWP, RSP, SLAF - Commanding Officer Flying Training Wing

Gallery

File:SriLanka-Independence - 4 Feb 2019 (40).jpg, A Cessna 150 over Colombo in a training flight. File:SriLanka-Independence - 4 Feb 2019 (48).jpg, SLAF K8 jets during military parade File:PT-6 aircraft.jpg, PT-6 aircraft with the Sri Lankan flag. File:SriLanka-Independence - 4 Feb 2019 (52).jpg, PT-6 aircraft fly pass in the Independence celebrations of the air force.

References

Sri Lanka Air Force Base Anuradhapura

Award of Colours to SLAF Base Anuradhapura
{{DEFAULTSORT:No. 1 Wing Slaf Sri Lanka Air Force Wings Military units and formations established in 1955 1955 establishments in Ceylon