Classic Lecture - Smith-Barry & the Gosport School of Special Flying 1917-18

Robert Smith-Barry and his Gosport System revolutionised how pilots were trained in the heat of World War I. In this two-handed lecture, Gp. Capt. Tredrey explores the life of Smith-Barry and how he became convinced that the way the Royal Flying Corp trained its pilots was ripe for change. The story is taken over by C. A. N. Bishop who, as a schoolboy, had a temporary pass for the School’s headquarters whilst Smith-Barry was in command. Bishop explains the key points of the Gosport System, describes the aircraft used including the Avro 504, reviews the work of Gosport’s Experimental Unit and gives a flavour of life at the School and of the characters who taught the new system. The lecture concludes with Gp. Capt. Tredrey telling us about Smith-Barry’s life after he left Gosport. As with many Royal Aeronautical Society Lectures, the audience contained many of those who had experience of the topic first hand and the lecture concludes with a selection of entertaining stories from those present. C.A.N. Bishop and Group Captain Tredrey addressed a meeting organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Historical Group on 29 November 1962. The lecture is introduced by J. L. Nayler FRAeS FAIAA, the recording was digitised thanks to a grant from the RAeS Foundation and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.