Never before in the history of aviation has the test pilot been so important as he is today. Now that military aircraft are travelling faster than the speed of sound and climbing to over 50,000 ft. in a matter of seconds, with powered controls, pressurised cabins, ejector seats, special oxygen equipment and such like being the order of the day, it is little wonder that the human being whose job it is to fly in these modern high-speed missiles requires more than ordinary Service flying experience if he is to take his place successfully in the team with today's technicians and designers. The day has long since passed when any good pilot could set himself up as a test pilot. The term “test pilot” covers a large field of work, testing aircraft and the complicated equipment fitted in the new revolutionary designs being produced.