I'm not criticising them. A few years back I spent a while chatting to some of the cadets there, and the impression I got was that - at least for that class - they were trying to get them all to go solo within a very limited space of time. They weren't trying to get them through their PPL.
In that context, the idea of training 17 and 18 year olds to ditch if needed seems a very good one - something the average low-hours pilot is much more likely to pull off successfully than a forced landing pattern. If they carry on in aviation, there's time for fanstops later. If they don't, they've achieved a solo flight which is something to remain proud of.
My impressions of the place were generally positive, and the cadets seemed nice, well balanced kids. The RAF certainly seems to recruit well.
Last edited by abgd; 14th Sep 2014 at 21:40.