RN aircrew entry has lots of hurdles, but previous flying experience is not required. You either pass the aptitude or not, and 1000s of hours in a Cessna won't make any difference.
RN has both pilots and observers, and many of the obs make it a long way up the RN, as they are mission commanders from an early age, while pilots in many cases are just stick monkeys. RN Warfare guys are the mainstream, so I'd aim high and go from there (Pilot and Obs are in the warfare branch, of course, but so are the guy that drive/fight the ships and submarines).
Your degree will be fine anywhere in the RN outside engineering and the medical and chaplains' depts.
The RN will work hard to show you what it has to offer. My 16 y/o daughter has three visits lined up: 4 days at sea, a potential officers' course at Yeovilton (aircrew) and a week at Dartmouth. If you ask they'll do much the same for you.
The RN guy in the Province to talk to is:
Lt Cdr Steve Carroll RN
Regional Recruiting Officer (RRO) N. Ireland
AFCO Belfast
Palace Barracks, Holywood
BFPO 806
Tel. 028 9042 7040
[email protected]