There are two different pension rates, depending on whether you are on AFPS75 or AFPS05. The old system is the Spec Aircrew pension rate, but the new system is somewhat better - an extra 6 grand at 55 on your pension and 18 grand on the gratuity. As I alluded to on a previous post, if you've not changed to the new pension system, you'll lose out. There's a very good pensions calculator on the RAF web site:
http://adastra.rafweb.raf.r.mil.uk/l...payandpers.htm
Because your pension will still be less than the maximum allowed by the current government, we can still use AVCs to top it up.