R.A.F

Eliot

Eliot

Eliot

Soldato
Joined
29 Mar 2005
Posts
5,792
hey im 15 so this is gonna sound stupid but here goes,
i would love to join the raf as a pilot, i should get all my gcses (except welsh)
and probly end up with 3 a levels. my questions are:
Anyone know if theres a height restriction?
Is anyone here in the raf and whats it like being tied down to it for 12 years?
What do you actually do day to day, i mean, say theres no war on or use for the raf, do u just sit around in a airbase or what?
thanks in advance :)
EDIT: Oh one last thing, basically i would want to fly a eurofighter, so how are you 'chosen' to fly certain vehicles, do they ask what you would perfer or is it a skill thing? such as, good= lesser jet, elite=eurofighter
 
Have you tried here :
http://www.raf4u.com/aboutus/faqs.cfm

Detailed question and answers covering the essentials eg :
Q Do you have to have a moustache to join the RAF?

A You might think so from watching old films, but no, we have never insisted on moustaches.

Also try here:
http://www.rafcareers.com/

If you are genuinely serious then join the Air Cadets. Not only will you have a right laugh but it will help you on your career path.
 
They ask you on your first day what you want to fight in, and you go learn how from there.
 
oh ok thats pretty cool, only thing im really worried about is height restrictions and being stuck in it for 12 years,
 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/holyhead/pages/careers.shtml

Are there height restrictions in fast jet combat planes?

Yes and no! There are a number of physiological factors that determine overall suitability as a combat pilot in fast-jet aircraft. Height is not the full story, rather there are certain key measurements that will determine whether it is safe to fly in a certain type of aircraft.

In particular, the length of the upper leg (from buttock to knee) is critical in ejection seat equipped aircraft as it would sting like crazy if you had to eject in an emergency and shaved off the lower parts of your legs!

Seriously though, it is not just height that is important, body weight is also a factor which is taken into consideration.
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inferno said:
you don't have to fly in the small fighter jets, what about the transport planes?
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well, i wouldnt say no to it but for me the attraction is flying a eurofighter, awesome jet.
 
Eliot said:
EDIT: Oh one last thing, basically i would want to fly a eurofighter, so how are you 'chosen' to fly certain vehicles, do they ask what you would perfer or is it a skill thing? such as, good= lesser jet, elite=eurofighter
Click to expand...

Competition for Pilot places is extremely fierce, and people that would be chosen for Civilian pilot jobs, or may be a very good civilian pilots given training, will be overlooked for that 'perfect candidate'. If you manage to be chosen for Pilot, all 'Pilots' get trained with the same Elementary Flight Training (after the 30 week Initial Officer Training at RAF College Cranwell), however after that you will be streamed into either Fast jet, Multi-engined, or Rotary wing aircraft. Although I believe you have some say in this, they will inevitably desire certain people for certain roles depending on how they perform in EFT.
Eliot said:
well, i wouldnt say no to it but for me the attraction is flying a eurofighter, awesome jet.
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By the time you would get into service the JCA F35 will be just coming in. I don't know about you, but that is a much more exciting prospect :D (although not for me as I have ever-so-slightly less than perfect eyesight, which rules me out).

If you have any questions on the selection process email me, I'm going to RAF Cranwell for part 2 of selection in 2 weeks. I would've completed it already a month ago had it not been for the eyesight blip. I'm now going for Air Traffic Control or Fighter Controller.

I had an information pack for Pilot somewhere, but I ceremoniously put it in the bin when being a Pilot was ruled out.

edit: DOH! I even have the result of my medical, which details the range of body dimensions allowed! Will search for it.
 
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Stringy said:
By the time you would get into service the JCA F35 will be just coming in.
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Time will tell if that'll turn up on time. Joint Strike Fighter will certainly be a decent plane but so is the EFA.
 
I still don't know what the call that bloody plane, I've heard RAF personnel call it the JSF and JCA, I've heard other candidates call it JCA, JSF and F35. Even the material the RAF Careers guys provide is inconsistent :D

edit: I just discovered the letter I was given at Cranwell, while being told I could come back in 2 months with different branch choices

"I am sorry to have to confirm the outcome of your medical examination today. You have been told by one of our doctors why you are not medically acceptable for your chosen branches in the Royal Air Forces..........The medical standards required by the Royal Air Force are in many instances higher than those for civilian employment........."

heh, didn't care though, I can't change my eyesight, I was glad I passed the rest :)
 
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My brother wanted to join the RAF about 5 years ago. He's not very tall but was told that he was too light to operate the ejector seat. Think he was around 8 stone back then.
 
Elston said:
My brother wanted to join the RAF about 5 years ago. He's not very tall but was told that he was too light to operate the ejector seat. Think he was around 8 stone back then.
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The lowest weight is 54kg, which is about 8 1/2 stone, so yeah, he was outside the range. Never knew it was related to the ejector seat though :D
 
I was ruled out because of my eyesight aswell, so i had to take the commercial route. However my friend who is 6ft 4 fits inside the plane but failed the aircraft carrier landing phase (Navy), didnt have the depth perception. Which im very surprised they didnt find out earlier.
 
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