HMS Sultan Gosport UK is the home to The Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival School (RNAESS) and is part of the Tri service Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering (DCAE), The schools primary task is the training of all Engineering Officers, Ratings and Aircrew in the Mechanical, Avionics and Survival Equipment trades.
Westland Lynx HMA8 XZ692/764 HMS Sultan Gate Guard
The Airframes used for instruction are held within three hangars each with their own purpose.
Cockerell Hangar:
This is the home of the Air Engineering Craft Work shops. It is from within this complex that Air Engineering, All Trade Technicians are instructed in Workshop Processes and Practices. These include Fleet Air Arm (FAA) 'Tool Control' procedures, Aircraft Sheet metal work and aircraft related Practical Wiring techniques. Air Engineering Technicians from both trade groups are instructed in Health & Safety at Work. Technicians of the Mechanical [M] trade are instructed in Aircraft Sheet metal Work, Airframe Repair and Battle Damage Repair techniques.
Technicians of the Avionics Trade groups are instructed in Basic Sheet metal work, Aircraft Practical Wiring and Printed Circuit Board Modification and Repair Techniques. Air Engineering Officers are also given short acquaint courses in all of the subjects taught within the complex.
Houses the helicopter airframes maintained by the Aircraft Maintenance Section (AMS) and used by the Initial Training Group to instruct Phase 2 professional training for Air Engineering Technicians, covering practical aircraft maintenance and trade training.
At this stage all professional qualifications gained are generic, all specific aircraft type ratings are gained back at the students Squadron.
A purpose built Hangar that houses 760 Engineering Training Squadron, which is used to train Air Engineering personnel in the supervision and administration of aircraft maintenance and line procedures.
Several airframes are stored outside many used for display and basic deck handling.
Finally with the retirement of the UK Westland Sea King fleet HMS Sultan houses a Storage hangar facility where airframes undergo parts reclamation prior to disposal.
A full set of photos from HMS Sultan can be found here: Photos from RNAESS HMS Sultan
Cliff Ibell Images would like to thank HMS Sultan’s Commanding Officer Captain Trevor Gulley for allowing this visit, Stephen Dugan our guide and finally Chris Bosworth MKAS and Aaron Paxton HAS for making this visit possible.