Aircraft Acceptance Parks
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My Great-Great Grandfather served in the RFC during the Great War, largely in aircraft acceptance parks.
The relevant part of his service record is as follows
1.8.17 Appointed Temporary Lieutenant, Engineering Officer 2nd Class and posted to Coventry Aircraft Acceptance Park
22.9.17 Appointed Temporary Captain, Engineering Officer 1st Class and posted to Newcastle Aircraft Acceptance Park
1.10.17 Appointed Lieutenant
26.10.17 Watford Aircraft Acceptance Park
31.10.17 RFC School of Inspection (in Watford)
About this time he is appointed Temporary Major
21.11.17 RFC School of Inspection as park commander
15.5.18 14 Aircraft Acceptance Park, to complete (?)As part of research into my family tree, I‘m trying to find out more about what his duties would have been during this period, and I‘m hoping that someone can shed some light on what he was actually doing at this time.
Originally, all aircraft purchased by the War Office (RFC(MW)) or Admiralty (RFC(NW)/RNAS) had to go through acceptance trials. When production increased the system of sending aircraft to Farnborough etc for testing was not practical, so regional Acceptance Parks were set up to test newly manufactured aircraft prior to their ‘acceptance’ for service use.
The Acceptance Parks required both ‘test pilots’ and ferry pilots, as well as ground staff to erect & disassemble aircraft (which might arrive & leave by rail), re-rig them, introduce minor modifications etc.
Military ‘quality control’ officers were attached to manufacturers as AID inspectors, and so the Acceptance Parks staff would also have to confirm that all the appropriate documentaion was in place.
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