PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Gaining An R.A.F Pilots Brevet In WW II
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Old 4th Jan 2016, 01:42
  #8040 (permalink)  
Danny42C
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harrym (your #8043),

You are right. I think the thing was/is: we have so much invested in this number, its name and traditions, all the Mess Silver, its Crest approved and initialled by the Sovereign, its colours (if any) and all the two, three and four (?) stars in post and retired who ever served on it rooting for it, that they will pin it on anything rather than scrap it. Even then it will be put in mothballs until reincarnation in the next WW.
...From the account of your first solo in a VV, it seems we share the same experience of nil previous dual on type - but that is another topic!...
In our far-off times the idea was, once you got your wings, you were now a Pilot, ergo you could fly anything which came along (much as, once you get your licence, you can drive any car). This was true in respect of single-engine things, no one wanted a dual Hurricane or a Mustang or a Spitfire, you just jumped in and took it away (the Mk.IX(T) Spit is an aberration, nobody would want it as a trainer in WWII - or ever).

When it came to twos and fours, they had to concede that it might be a good idea for the new lad to have someone with him on his first few trips (and they mostly had two seats, which was handy).

Danny.