Learning to fly planes // RAF question.

Begbie said:
This aswell, I flew a few times with the cadets.

Brilliant, best experince of my life. This does all depend on your squadron though, mines was very small and the oppurtunties were very slim.

Definatly join up though, the cadets is great and you will meet so many people from all accross the country.
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Don't worry if you end up in a small squadron though, mine was tiny and I racked up over 20 hours of flying, and a short solo. It can be equally hard to get flying on a big squadron. As a new recruit you will get priority.
 
apeZ said:
Actually, I got both A in Maths and Physics at GCSE. I am currently doing the International Baccalaureate - this was just one of many career paths I was considering.

The reason I asked was simply because I do not know a lot about the RAF, it is something I am going to look into in more depth, hence why I asked the question :)
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I'm going to the airbase in York for my presentation to become a pilot on the 29th. I've been recommended to take Further Maths and Physics at college, which I have, and to join the air cadets which i've applied for and to basically get as many proofs of leadership as possible.
 
OP if you're going to pop into the AFCO(armed forces careers office) you better do some research, the amount of starry eyed idiots that go in and go sit straight down with the RAF and say "i want to be a pilot" is simply amazing, and they generally have a right laugh over it.
Join the air cadets, you learn to fly for free with them, it gets you mega brownie points with the RAF too, though be prepared to be surrounded by throbbers, but thats basically the same as in the forces, you get your bigtime psychos/sad acts.
 
apeZ said:
Hey OCUK.

Little question regarding flying - it's something I have always wanted to do, but I'm still young, so hopefully in the future :)

If you join the RAF, do they 'teach' you how to fly as part of your job, or do they expect you to already know - and what sort of requirements would you be looking at for a job in the RAF, specifically flying?
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You can only be a pilot if you bring your own plane.
 
If your 16 seriously look into joining you local Air Trianing Corps squadron. It will also help you decide if you want a milary life.

In my time, I got some 15h of air experiance flight in a grob tutor in which you can do basic aerobatics and 25+h of powered gliding (grob vigilent) including a scholarship which let me fly solo for ~30min (and nets you some fetching sliver wings for your uniform). Also although not at the helm, had flights in a chinook (like riding a washingmachine through a freezer as a friend put it lol), a squirrel, a gryphin and sat in a hawk, jaguar and apatche.

Even if you dont fly often its still a great organisation. I left a long time ago but if the rules are the same, if you make sargent before 18 you can stay till your 20.
 
Jonnycoupe said:
Air Cadets was awesome.

Dont forget the live firing of proper rifles :D Does that go as much now? I left 8 years ago :eek:
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Oh yes, air cadets fire the SA-80, albeit merely an L98-A1. But... soon to come, the L98-A2 will be an L85-A2 with the mode selector welded in the semi-auto position.
 
apeZ said:
If you join the RAF, do they 'teach' you how to fly as part of your job, or do they expect you to already know - and what sort of requirements would you be looking at for a job in the RAF, specifically flying?
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Definitely already need to know else they'll laugh at you at the careers office.

Seriously my dad only got me a harrier jump jet for my 16th birthday so they didn't take my application seriously (apparently all the top pilots started flying fast jets when they were 12). ;)

Edit - I should ought to add something useful too - as well as air cadets and the uni air squadrons you can also (or at least used to be able to) apply for a flying scholarship - tis purely a recruitment tool and AFAIK you have no obligation towards them afterwards but they basically give you 2 weeks of flying lessons at a civi flying school - IIRC you will get to fly solo by then end of it and can count the hours towards a civilian private pilots license.
 
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BigglesPiP said:
Oh yes, air cadets fire the SA-80, albeit merely an L98-A1. But... soon to come, the L98-A2 will be an L85-A2 with the mode selector welded in the semi-auto position.
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We were quite lucky and had a firing range, shared with the army cadets, and a couple of L98s great fun.
 
Just to put a spin on things, remember it is possible to be a civil pilot as well. You don't just HAVE to join the RAF to fly. As has been said it is extremely hard to get in as a pilot in the RAF, even those that DO make it only a few make it to fly fast jets.

Civil flying is obviously different, but can be just as rewarding in many ways. If you love flying then it is still very much a great job. Don't let anyone tell you that its not 'real' flying. Just because its different doesn't make it any less challenging.

I fly the A320 with Aer Lingus so if you have any questions about civil flying let me know.
 
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apeZ, if you're seriously interested in the RAF and have any questions add me to msn (in trust).
Sinque said:
As a pilot?
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You could easily become a pilot on those grades if you had the aptitude.

Where's this attitude of yours come from with these replies?
 
Funny how this thread should come up now just as I'm thinking of becoming a pilot...:p

Nah, it would be interesting to look into it as a career, but as with you, I'm not sure I'd be pilot material. I'm confident I'd pass the physicals and learning new stuff is no problem, but my reactions and physics knowledge is very limited.

I think the best thing you can do is get down to your local RAF office and ask them. Way better than asking on a PC forum.
 
Longbow said:
Well, unlike the Army, in the Air Force you join as an officer so you also need leadership potential as well.
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O how wrong you are. Only officers fly in the RAF but in the army you can be an officer of not. I plan on joining as an officer. You get the advantage of going through probably militray leadership school in the world, RMAS. Leadership potential is looked at considerably more when joining the army as an officer than the raf. Ive looked into both in a lot of detail.
 
Seriously, WTF are you on about.

Leadership or indeed potential leadership has and always will be a large part of the selection process for an RAF officer much like any other of HM forces. By default in the RAF any flying duties hold a commisioned rank hence leadership is a criteria.
 
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