Has anyone been in the RAF?

bill_hill@rocketmail.com

My grandad did 34 years,my dad did 6 years until he transfered to the army...my uncle did 22 years...my mum 3 years
Just asking my grandad here ........ he reckons that you start at the same level in the basic pilot training ....but if you meet the grade you can go for fighter pilot training...it depends on the person....

He say that they both needed transport or fighter.....

big owl

as a cilivian you will get the best advice and training you for what ever job that suites you

Joe

It will be a great experience for you. You will receive the discipline, structure and self reliance that you need. No, you can not choose what role you train to fly. It is based on competitiveness and the needs of the service. Drugs of alcohol can not, I repeat can not be a issue with you. The part of any ones life must be left at the doorsteps of these childish ways. Good luck and I hope this info helps.

regiment_gunner

Well it sounds like you have very little knowledge at the moment so first off go on www.raf.mod.uk and spend an hour or so reading and gathering information. Look through all the career paths because becoming a fighter pilot is very hard.

Personally I can't imagine any other life. The RAF is everything I've wanted and don't know what else I'd do for a living. You meet a huge variety of people and see a variety of places. Learn a variety of skills and try a variety of things. Love it!

Mac

First of all you have to remember becoming a pilot in the RAF in incredibly hard, there is something like 250 competitive people per pilot place.

The RAF is the least military like of the three services (with exception to the RAF reg), its much more civilianised (i am not discrediting it in anyway, its true).

You apply as a pilot then go to RAFC Cranwel for the Officer Aircrew Selection Centre where they give you a series of tests and medical examinations, such tests aren't easy and the medical requirement is incredibly tough (I have a friend who got rejected because he was 2mm too tall).

IF you're successful you go for Initial Officer training again at Cranwel where they teach you how to be an officer - this takes around 8 months.

Upon graduating as an officer your start your flying training at RAFC Cranwel once again. You will start on the Grob tutor, a small light aircraft. Upon graduation you're thstreamlinedned into the different sections. This depends on your ability and tests results. You have little choice as to whether your rotary or fixed wing. Only the best become fast yet.

Fast Jet - you move on to the Tucano turbo prop trainer and then to the Hawk T.1 fast Jet trainer
Helicopter- you go on the the Squirrel
Fixed wing: you go on to the Firefly and then the King Air
From each of these points you then go to an operational conversion unit training on the frontline aircraft youre assigned.

All along the way you can be chopped if you do not meet the standards. If this is during fast jet then they will put you in fixed wing, if its fixed wing then you'll be put in a different trade.

The Air Force is a good career choice, you get a lot out of it if you try and there are some great people in there too.

if you're under 17 i'd suggest you join your local Air Training corps as they give you a goopportunityity to see what the RAF do and how they operate through camps and flying in their aircraft with RAF pilots.

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