No. 1 School of Technical Training

No.1 School of Technical Training
Viscount Trenchard inspecting apprentices of No. 1 SofTT at RAF Halton
Active	1919 -
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Trade training establishment
Role	Technical trade training
Part of	Ministry of Defence,
Garrison/HQ	RAF Halton, RAF Cosford, DCAE Cosford
Colours	Royal colour awarded 1952

No. 1 School of Technical Training (No. 1 S of TT) is the Royal Air Force's aircraft engineering school, based at RAF Halton from 1919 to 1993, as the Home of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme. The Aircraft Apprentice scheme trained young men in the mechanical trades for aircraft maintenance, the graduates of which were the best trained technicians in the RAF and would usually progress to Senior NCO ranks. However, ninety one ex-apprentices went on to achieve Air Rank. Many more became commissioned officers, including Sir Frank Whittle "father of the jet engine", who completed his apprenticeship at RAF Cranwell, before the move to RAF Halton. Graduates of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme at RAF Halton are known as Old Haltonians.

As well as the three year apprentice scheme No.1 S of TT also carried out training of Craft Apprentices on a newly developed 2 year long apprenticeship, from 1964, commencing with 201 entry. Sgt Craft Apprentice Glenn Morton of 203 entry was the first craft apprentice to receive a direct entry commission after graduating from Halton. The immediate past senior serving member of the RAF Halton Apprentices Association (Old Haltonians) is Air Vice-Marshal Paul Colley OBE, who joined the RAF as an apprentice of 127th entry. The oldest living member of the Association is awarded the honorary title "King Brat" as a mark of respect.

The Patron of the "Old Haltonians" Association is Air Chief Marshal Mike Armitage (56th entry, Aircraft Apprentices) and the Vice-Patrons are Air Marshal Cliff Spink (104th entry, Aircraft Apprentices) and Air Marshal Sir Graham Miller (RAF officer) (210th entry, Craft Apprentices).