University of Birmingham Air Squadron

About

UBAS is one of the larger University Air Squadrons with approximately 75 students and 8 staff. Around 35 students are recruited each year from Aston, Birmingham, Birmingham Central, Coventry, Keele, Stafford, Warwick and Wolverhampton Universities. The Squadron's Headquarters is at RAF Cosford, near Wolverhampton in the West Midlands.

Weekly training

Weekly training nights take place during term time at the Squadron's Headquarters at RAF Cosford. The Squadron carries out numerous flying and ground camps over the holiday periods and flying from RAF Cosford during term time Saturday to Wednesday.

History

1942 - Formed in the Second World War, to provide pre-entry training for undergraduates joining the RAF, the Birmingham University Air Squadron started its first initial officer-training course in October 1942.

1950 - the Squadron re-equipped with DeHaviland Chipmunk T10s and was renamed the University of Birmingham Air Squadron (UBAS) on the 15th October 1951.

1958 - UBAS relocated to RAF Shawbury. In November 1971 UBAS came under the control of RAF College Cranwell and flew Chipmunks for 25 years until they were replaced with the BAE Bulldog T1 in June 1975.

1978 - UBAS “temporarily” relocated from RAF Shawbury to RAF Cosford, but has remained there ever since.

2001 - The long serving Bulldogs retired after 26 years service and were replaced by Grob 115E Tutor aircraft.