RAF Avionics

[ArthurR]

Just a quick question, when did the RAF start the avionics courses, just an interest, I started as Elect Mech Air in 1963 (48th entry BE), then had to change to E & I, left in 1976, then later in civvy street did avionic courses, sitting here just wondering when the RAF changed.

[kiwibrit]

Not sure. I can remember looking at what my flight was doing about 1970, and suggesting the name 'Avionics Flight' to be passed up the food chain for approval. OC Eng nearly had kittens at the thought of the word 'avionics'. OTOH he was an old school guy (with a lot of very admirable characteristics, I must add).

[insty66]

I think the RAF moved to training single trade Avionics in 87, that was certainly when the last L Tech FS courses finished, although I accept that the AV courses might have started earlier to ensure a continous supply of fresh technicians and mechanics.

I was one of the last to be "converted" spending a whole 3 days to learn aircraft comms and I think 2 1/2 weeks mastering radar including waveguide theory and that was in February 93.

Of course since then the Electrician and Avionics trade have been merged, in line with something or other, although I thought the electrician training was a lot like my insty training for the most part and couldn't work out what the dog was for:E

[alisoncc]

Happy to have ben considered an Air Radio Fitter - ex-Locking appy, three years training Sept 1960-Aug 1963. I suppose with all this fly-by-wire the go, we now get to rule the world. Power, power power. :ok:

[Rustler]

I'm confused. We have instruments powered by electrickery now? Shemhamphorash, gab gaba agaba, shine, tiny sun, shine.

[sevendwarfs]

The Avionics trade hit an all time low when the adminers and suppliers jump onto the same pay band.

Slight correction, the AV started in 1989, the last single trade Mech course finished in the October.

[ZH875]

I was one of the last to be "converted" spending a whole 3 days to learn aircraft comms and I think 2 1/2 weeks mastering radar including waveguide theory and that was in February 93.

I think I was the last, I spent 3 days at Sunny Cosford in 1997, it took them until 1999 to update my trade record at PMA.

[insty66]

7 dwarfs, the last Flight Systems DE course ended in 87 and I believe the last Radar & Comms courses ended around the same time, there are photos doing the rounds of courses with names. I know very well one of the last people to become L Tech FS (the sucessor trade to Nav Inst for our "experienced readers"

ZH785 3 days? from what to what? Hell it took a month to learn basic hack n bash never mind acol, weak 1 no trump and a sacrifice pre-empt.

[howiehowie93]

I was on Trebble One at Leuchars in 1983/6- A Sooty I might add, the Fairy Types were told then they were amalgamating into one trade as I remember as they were all Radio Blokes or Radar Blokes then.

Happy to be corrected on that though :rolleyes:

Regards
Howie

[Shack37]

I know very well one of the last people to become L Tech FS (the sucessor trade to Nav Inst for our "experienced readers"


Insty66
The successor to Inst Fitter Nav was L. Fitt NI, the FS designation must have come after I left in 1971. At that time the Mech level covered Inst Nav and Gen.

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

I joined in 74 as a Nav Inst Mech and did my fitters course, 77 to 79 passing out as L Tech FS. Went off to become Aircrew in 89 and I am pretty certain nothing had changed at that stage.

[sevendwarfs]

Insty66 - the last single trade Mech course, MFS 51, L Mech FS, course finished Oct 89. AV 1 started before MFS 51 left.

[spannermonkey]

I was on AVM 12 - in early 1990, so would say given they were chucking them through at a rate of around 1 every week or so the end of 89 was the time the first AVM course began.

[ArthurR]

Thanks for the Info, thought it might be around 89 - 90 time. I was working at Stanstead when we were told the trades where being merged, never made any difference to the radio/radar guys, they still sat around doing F.A.

[peppermint_jam]

Spannermonkey, I've got a disc with most of the AVM course entry photos on it, want me to upload AVM12 for you??

[Halton Brat]

Is it true that Avionics Hobby courses had to be extended in order to embrace the new 'Senseo' coffee machines? :E

HB

[insty66]

Insty66 - the last single trade Mech course, MFS 51, L Mech FS, course finished Oct 89. AV 1 started before MFS 51 left.

I was on about the "technicians" courses, Fitters & DE. It was a mystery to me why the single trade mech courses lasted so long once the decision was taken.

Is it true that Avionics Hobby courses had to be extended in order to embrace the new 'Senseo' coffee machines? http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/evil.gif
HB

We wouldn't know, you could never get in a crew room because it was always full of riggers telling everyone how busy they were and plumbers playing uckers:ok:

[goudie]

plumbers playing uckers


I always thought ' snap' was the plumber's game of choice:ok:

[Fitter2]

Come on Goudie, surely it was 52 card pickup;)

F2, ARF(F) Yatesbury 1961. Direct entry fitter, spotty civilian youth to JT in 10 months flat.