You get your 'Wings' when?

[Jackonicko]

Two official RAF websites:

A
"Basic Fast Jet Training is held at RAF Linton-on-Ouse on the Tucano aircraft. The course is 120 hours (approx 40 weeks) and by the end, the students have earned their RAF ‘Wings’. They are now recognised as pilots within the RAF, however, at this stage their training still stretches out before them....."

B
"Following Ground School, the students then move up to No 208 Squadron, to begin their flying. The flying course at RAF Valley is split into 2 parts. ........... On completion of both phases the students receive their wings, in front of families, friends and their flying instructors, they have every reason to be immensely proud. With the pinning-on of their fast jet wings, they are joining an elite 'club' that has a fine history and reputation."

My guess is that B used to be the case, but that it's now A?
Did it change when the streaming decision was pushed back from the end of Basic to the end of Elementary?
When was that? Why?

Is there still a survival/E&E phase at Linton?

[caspertheghost]

You're quite right, wings are awarded at the end of Linton these days. Some cynics might suggest that it's to stop pilots from trying to PVR when they reach Angletraz.....:E
There's still a week long survival course at Linton, but there's no E and E til the start of 208 at Valley, but it's just 4 nights in the hills around Betsy. The real E and E training is carried out on the Conduct after Capture course which is held in Cornwall before the pilots reach their front line Sqns.
Hope this helps, Casper.

[jpboy]

Wings at Linton began a couple of years ago to bring a chap into line with his truckie/helo mate in terms of hrs/time to achievement, although there were the usual mutterings about more devious reasons as shown above.

Seem to remember a certain Nav having been awarded his brevet, marching smartly out of the room and heading straight to the vomitorium as a result of the previous nights antics in Donny. Wonder what happened to him? Probably all grown up in a serious job now.

Finningley, happy days. If you wanted to meet Sharon you went to 7th Heaven if you wanted to meet her mum you went to Park Lane and the bus home for only 20p. You tell the youth of today and they don't believe you.......

[Jackonicko]

Thanks chaps! Really useful.

[DuckDodgers]

And the CAC course down at the 'SERE' school is now known as the A-Course...