Hi Speedbird,
Sorry that this reply is about 3 weeks later than the last post on this topic, still I hope that it will remain helpful.
Just a small point that if you were to join the Fleet Air Arm you would be in for a lot longer than 5-6 years. This is the period for your return of service ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED your wings. Before this you have at least 2 and a half years of training which will actually probably take nearer 4 years to complete because you will not graduate from Dartmouth straight to JEFTS, straight to rotary/ jets, straight onto OFTS etc. Also, if you join when you are younger rather than nearer the upper age limit for aircrew you are more likely to be kept waiting whilst elder officers are put through the training pipeline ahead of you.
Result: You will be in for nearer 10 years, if not more, and whilst if you want to be military aircrew (as has been previously said) it would be a worthwhile 10 years, if this is a way to become a commercial pilot maybe you should take the more direct route.
I definitely agree that going on a POC course would give you a better idea of what to expect of a life where you Fly Navy.
Good luck mate