Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

  • Surface Fleet

  • Submarines

  • Royal Marines

  • Fleet Air Arm

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

1900: Fleet Air Arm

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• Airships

• Naval officers learn to fly

• Seaplane trials

• Royal Flying Corps

• The run up to war

Royal Flying Corps

On 13 April 1912, the military established the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was by Royal Warrant. The RFC divided into a military wing, a naval wing and a central flying school for training aviators. The RFC based the central flying school in Upavon but the Eastchurch School still continued. Captain Murray Sueter now became head of the Air Department of the Admiralty. The Naval wing of the RFC quickly began calling itself the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) as they trained their own people and acquired equipment independently. The RNAS was part of the RFC until 1915, although those involved and on lookers have seen it as a naval appendage from nearly its inception.

Related External Links

• Fleet Air Arm Museum