RAF Avionics
Just another erk
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RAF Avionics
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.
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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).
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
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
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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. 
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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.
Slight correction, the AV started in 1989, the last single trade Mech course finished in the October.
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.
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.
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.
Last edited by insty66; 23rd Jul 2011 at 23:22. Reason: pour spellin
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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
Regards
Howie
Happy to be corrected on that though
Regards
Howie
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I know very well one of the last people to become L Tech FS (the sucessor trade to Nav Inst for our "experienced readers"
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Insty66 - the last single trade Mech course, MFS 51, L Mech FS, course finished Oct 89. AV 1 started before MFS 51 left.
Is it true that Avionics Hobby courses had to be extended in order to embrace the new 'Senseo' coffee machines? 
HB
HB
