View source for Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron

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{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron 
| native_name =
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| dates = {{start date|1950}} – present
| disbanded =
| country = {{flagicon|UK}} United Kingdom
| allegiance =
| branch = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (operated by [[Qinetiq|QinetiQ]])
| type = Flying squadron
| role = Helicopter test and evaluation
| size =
| command_structure = [[Air and Space Warfare Centre]]
| garrison = [[MoD Boscombe Down|MOD Boscombe Down]]
| garrison_label = Home station
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| aircraft_helicopter =
| aircraft_helicopter_attack =
| aircraft_helicopter_cargo =
| aircraft_helicopter_multirole = *[[Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil|Airbus H125]]
*[[AgustaWestland AW109|AgustaWestland A109E Power]]
*[[Bell 412|Bell 412 HAR2]]

| aircraft_helicopter_observation =
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}}
The '''Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron (RWTES)''' is a tri-service UK military organisation based at [[MoD Boscombe Down]], Wiltshire. Primarily, the squadron is responsible for test and evaluation of rotary wing aircraft and equipment, or their associated modifications.

==Squadron Role==
To test and evaluate rotary wing aircraft and their associated equipment and weapon systems to generate evidence to support recommendations for Military Aircraft Release / Release To Service or advice for Service Deviation and assist in [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|MoD]] [[Research and development|R&D]] programmes.

==History==
RWTES (formerly D Sqn) was formed in September 1950 at Boscombe Down as part of the [[Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment]] (A&AEE).<ref>Collier Webb, Derek. UK Flight Testing Accidents 1940–1971. (UK 2002).</ref> The squadron came into existence as helicopters became ever more prevalent in the UK Armed Forces and consolidated test and evaluation was required. Over the years, the parent organisation has changed: A&AEE became part of the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation, absorbing the work of [[RAE Bedford]] and [[Royal Aircraft Establishment|RAE Farnborough]]; then part of the [[Defence Evaluation and Research Agency]] (DERA); and on 2 July 2001 a part of [[RAF Strike Command]] (now [[Air Command (United Kingdom)|Air Command]]) working in a public-private partnering arrangement with [[QinetiQ]].<ref name="aerospacetesting">"How a small but vital testing unit provides the UK’s Armed Forces with reliable rotorcraft," Aerospace Testing International, August 2, 2023. Retrieved from: https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com</ref>

==Personnel==
RWTES is a military tri-service squadron commanded, over alternative tours, by a [[Royal Navy]] Commander and [[British Army|Army]] Lieutenant Colonel/Colonel{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}. There are 14 other [[test pilot]]s from the Royal Navy, [[Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)|Army Air Corps]] and [[Royal Air Force]] plus 3 highly experienced aircrewman. These military (or ex-military) personnel provide recent operational role experience and ensure all testing is related to current or future military operations. As well as being very experienced and above-average pilots, all test pilots are graduates of the [[Empire Test Pilots' School]] (ETPS) also located at MOD Boscombe Down, or one of the other three internationally recognised military test pilot training academies in the USA or France.<ref name="aerospacetesting"/>

==Typical work==
Any new aircraft, new equipment or modification for use in British military aircraft needs to be safe to be flown in the intended role and effective at prosecuting that role. RWTES personnel are responsible for planning, executing and reporting flight test trials for the [[Royal Navy]], [[British Army]] and [[Royal Air Force]]. Typical trials include assessment of performance, flying qualities, airworthiness, systems and safety modifications. Recent examples are:

* Bringing new aircraft into service;
* Mid-life upgrades to in-service aircraft;
* Improved night vision devices;
* Improvements to aircraft performance;
* Updated Defensive Aids Suites;
* New radios and other communication devices.

Trials involving new aircraft major modifications to in-service aircraft are conducted in Combined Test Teams with representatives from the manufacturer (e.g. [[AgustaWestland]]), RWTES, QinetiQ, and the Operational Evaluation Unit (OEU) of the Arm or Service (e.g. the Royal Navy's [[Lynx (helicopter)|Lynx]] OEU).

==Aircraft==
RWTES have use of a number of aircraft, permanently based at Boscombe Down, including 2 [[Westland Sea King|Sea King]], and 4 [[Aérospatiale Gazelle|Gazelles]].<ref>[http://www.qinetiq.com/ix_etps/school/aircraft.html QinetiQ: Aircraft] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071207212833/http://www.qinetiq.com/ix_etps/school/aircraft.html |date=7 December 2007 }}</ref> The longest serving of which is Gazelle HT3 XZ936, commissioned in May 1978 and living its entire life at Boscombe Down. Two of the Gazelles are painted in the classic A&AEE colours of red, white and blue; they are used for continuation training and trials work as well for instruction use by ETPS. One Sea King is an "instrumented" HC4 Junglie and the other is an uninstrumented HU5. Flight test instrumentation (FTI) is fitted to some aircraft to accurately measure parameters including performance, sideslip, 'G' and control activity.

Additional military aircraft are allotted to Boscombe Down for specific trials; including the [[Boeing AH-64 Apache|AH-64 Apache]], [[Boeing Chinook (UK variants)|Chinook]], [[AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin|Merlin]], [[Aérospatiale Puma|Puma]], plus any other in-service military helicopter.<ref name="eglin">"46th rotary wing testing moves to Duke, adds missions," Eglin Air Force Base. Retrieved from: https://www.eglin.af.mil</ref>

==Training==
In 1914 the Experimental Flight was established at [[Upavon Aerodrome|Upavon]] to assess the new aeroplanes and their equipment for this revolutionary new means of warfare. The Experimental Flight expanded in the inter-war years and in 1943 a dedicated school was set up by Air Marshal Sir [[Ralph Sorley]], the controller of Research and Development, as he was concerned by the rising number of fatalities in test flying and a lack of standardisation of flying techniques. The Test Pilots' Training Flight at Boscombe Down was formed, now called the Empire Test Pilots School, one of a succession of schools with the Empire prefix.<ref>[http://www.qinetiq.com/home_etps/Who_we_are/Origins_of_Flight_Test.html QinetiQ: History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307181632/http://www.qinetiq.com/home_etps/Who_we_are/Origins_of_Flight_Test.html |date=7 March 2010 }}</ref> It served the Air Forces of the [[British Empire]] and has been attended by experienced pilots from around the world.

==Working alongside QinetiQ==
The MOD conducts its flight test and military evaluation activities in a public-private partnering arrangement with QinetiQ. The Armed Forces provide specialist personnel to work in partnership with QinetiQ. For regulatory purposes the QinetiQ-MOD partnering arrangement that is approved to conduct flight testing is referred to as the Air Test and Evaluation Centre (ATEC).<ref name="aerospacetesting"/>

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

[[Category:British aircraft squadrons]]
[[Category:Air force test units and formations]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Wiltshire]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in the United Kingdom]]