THE 28th Fighter Combat Instructors’ (FCI) Course coincided with
the 50th anniversary of FCI training in the Air Force.
Wing Commander Dick Cresswell (ret’d), who commanded No. 77 Squadron
in 1942, 1944 and 1950, developed the course in 1954.
WGCDR Cresswell designed it as a postgraduate course to provide
specialist training in air-to-air combat tactics, to address a
perceived post-war decline in combat experience.
Originally a 12-week course, it has grown to a 23-week course
covering flying instruction, air-to-air and air-to-ground combat
training to develop high-level skills necessary for the air defence
and fighter operations of modern fighters.
The dynamic nature of aerial combat, with its never-ending lessons
from operations, exercises and training, ensures the future of
the FCI course looks bright for another 50 years.
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