727 Naval Air Squadron was formed on 26 May 1943 at Gibraltar as a Fleet Requirements Unit covering the area from Bizerta to Algiers.

The squadron was equipped with target-towing[1] Boulton Paul Defiants, Fairey Swordfish and Hawker Hurricane IIc.

727 NAS was reformed on 23 April 1946 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent with gliders, Tiger Moths, Supermarine Seafires, North American Harvards and a Fairey Firefly, disbanding on the 17 January 1950.

The squadron currently operates five Grob Tutor trainer aircraft under a private finance initiative with Babcock International's aerospace division.

The aim of the IHT is to fly the aircraft unassisted whilst being assessed on a Departure, Climb, Level Off, Turns, Stall, Aerobatics, Recovery and 2 Circuits (Standard and Glide) sortie profile.

The aim of the subsequent FAT, which is similar but incorporates additional skills, is to confirm the assessment at IHT and allow possible selection to the fixed wing RN fast jet stream.

If the student performs satisfactory with limited prompting at IHT then he will pass at that stage however, FAT is designed to further assess the pilots continued rate of progress and temperament to ensure it matches the intense pace of military flying training.

This scheme is open to any member of the public who has expressed an interest in joining the Fleet Air Arm as aircrew and have been put forward by their Careers Office.