FJ / MJ / ROTARY - Which would you choose?

[Nath]

If you are already flying and could start it all again, which would you go for and why? If you don't fly - what would you do if you had the option? Begin the friendly banter!

[Tourist]

All of the above would be the best option.

Helicopter for fun and lifestyle.
Zoomie for thrills.
ME for your licenses.

[batfink2]

As tourist - with the addition that ME sets you up with a job to continue with when the RAF start leasing off the rest of it's aircraft ;) Possibly flying the aforementioned MEs!

[Nath]

ME for your licenses... I'm sure there has to be better reasons than that!

[batfink2]

OK. ME - for the galley, beats the MoD brown bags everyday of the week. "Ping" "Your meals ready Boss" - gotta love it!

[threepointonefour]

FJ.

Aim for the top ( :eek: ), and then maybe join BA when you're 38.


Don't compromise yet - you are FAR less likely to switch to from ME/rotary to FJ later in your career, but it's almost a given that the majority of FJ pilots end up flying bigger aircraft later in life.

(Caveat: Do enjoy whatever you end up flying!)

[Tourist]

Having hap a pop at all three (though only FJ for a tiny while. They chopped me once they realised that my pen1s was too big), I would say that they all seem to have their plus sides.
A change is as good as a rest!

[sonicstomp]

Always aim for FJ - I think most of those of us that didn't end up FJ still harbor a desire to do it (I know I do)...

Nevertheless both Rotary and ME are challenging, fulfilling jobs - the whole crew management and responsibility side of Rotary/ME adds another dimension which in itself can be very rewarding!

[Talking Radalt]

Helicopter for fun and lifestyle.
Helicopters.........lifestyle.........helicopters.........li festyle.
Nope, don't get it. :confused:

[Tourist]

I admit that SH is different, but I was refering to Grey Navy Big Sqns traipsing around the world whilst taking their own bar.
Brilliant

[southside]

It would have to be FJ first....But only if I can have a F4 with folding wings.

Then it would have to be the RN's bestest ever RW - Wessex V, awesome aircraft.

and finally if I were forced to fly ME...it would have to be a Lanc.

[stillin1]

Having done all 3,
FJ has got to be the aim unless you are sure you do not want to whizz to work:eek:
The other 2 offer a lot of fun and will keep you smiling for a career.:cool:
all of em have the best of military life - the guys you work with:ok:
You are still gonna need the mandatory sense of humour and a liking for sandy places though :\

[6foottanker]

Anything civvy. I've had enough.

[L J R]

Fly your FJ. Get the Multis to bring the Beer and the rotary's to take you to the best fishing spots on your day off. (Shark Bay Det Apr 1999).

[threepointonefour]

and finally if I were forced to fly ME...it would have to be a Lanc.

... picky!!

[Zoom]

FJ, because if you're not good enough and get chopped you could still end up on ME or choppers. But if you go for one of the last 2 and get chopped - well, you're running out of options.

Oh, I nearly forgot: flying FJs is a damned sight more fun anyway!

[MrBernoulli]

"Oh, I nearly forgot: flying FJs is a damned sight more fun anyway!"

Yeah, perhaps, but not for the actual 'flying' time, because, comparatively, there is very little of it. I suspect you enjoy it more for the Mon-Fri lifestyle that isn't available in ME or rotary.

Some of you may notice that Zoom lists his occupation as "Hotelier - but I'd rather still be flying!" In the ME world you almost certainly would have continued flying. Or were you the victim of unfortunate health? If so, then I am sorry.

ME for experience and licenses, ANYDAY!

[Twinact]

"But if you go for one of the last 2 and get chopped - well, you're running out of options."

Not true, if you go RW and get chopped you might get ME!!!!!!!!!

[Aynayda Pizaqvick]

FJ, because if you're not good enough and get chopped you could still end up on ME or choppers. But if you go for one of the last 2 and get chopped - well, you're running out of options.

Not necessarily true. If you go FJ and get chopped you may end up with nothing. Alternatively if you go FJ and don't get chopped there is a still a good chance you will end up on multis or RW.
And of course it is all hypothetical because you don’t get a choice either way.
Sorry to sound bitter but in the current environment, thems the facts:\

[CSRO]

:) Go for Apache.:)

That way you get best of FJ and RW combined.

Decent low flying and more toys than you could dream of and a weapons payload to make you smile all day long.:)

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[BEagle]

I would question the ambition and motives of any youngster joining the RAF as a pilot who didn't aspire to flying fast jets. That should be every real red-blooded student pilot's goal!

[Flik Roll]

I would question the ambition and motives of any youngster joining the RAF as a pilot who didn't aspire to flying fast jets. That should be every real red-blooded student pilot's goal!


Why?

So those that really want to fly helos should go AAC/RN

and those wanting multis should go and join the airlines and be a glorified bus driver?


Personally, I would just love a FJ and helo as a toy and fly multis for a living (But NOT of the holiday kind :ok: )

[BEagle]

"So those that really want to fly helos should go AAC/RN?"

After a visit to the trick cyclist first!

Anyone claiming that, as first choice, they'd sooner haul rubber dog$hit and grunts out of Basra, rather than at warp snot anywhere from the weedisphere to the stratosphere needs their head read!

[Zoom]

Mr B
My only regrets are that I didn't get that many flying hours and I didn't visit as many places as I would like to have done. Other than that I have no doubt that the flying that I enjoyed was the very best available to me. And yes, I'd certainly rather still be flying but I'm just too old - fit, healthy and handsome, but too old.

BEagle
I couldn't agree with you more on all counts. And I'd like to add that anyone who plans and probably compromises his first career (in the RAF) with his (possible) second career (with Easyjet!!) in mind is just not committed enough for me.

Tourist
As you know, 'which side you dress' (in your case, both sides at once) is important where bang seats are concerned; we wouldn't want you pulling the wrong - erm - handle.

[Flik Roll]

"So those that really want to fly helos should go AAC/RN?"
After a visit to the trick cyclist first!
Anyone claiming that, as first choice, they'd sooner haul rubber dog$hit and grunts out of Basra, rather than at warp snot anywhere from the weedisphere to the stratosphere needs their head read!

That's fair enough - but would you rather someone say they would rather fly multis than fly sleazyjet?!

[BEagle]

Neither!










.

[GipsyMagpie]

FJ. Spend hours and hours planning then it's all over quickly (like some dates!)

ME. Spend hours and hours planning then put on loads of weight and become a wok smuggler.

RW. Spend 5 mins planning, dash bravely into the air, fly round for hours at riduculously low level, sweating profusely (and hence looking thinner!) and home in time for tea and medals. OK, there are downsides. The remarkable affinity for tents; the frequent opportunities to fly in awful weather and finally the worst air conditioning since sitting next to a running engine in 50 degree heat! But remember, it's all worth it when you go and land your chopper in your birds work.

[SidHolding]

I'm only a few weeks away from finishing EFT (weather depending) and I'm really hoping on getting Multis.

It's not a lack of ambition or ability (I've scored well on EFT to date), but not all of us are that fussed about getting airborne for an hour to zoom around. I'd rather get my teeth stuck into something big and yet still challenging.

However, I'll take whatever I get streamed onto and give it 100% :ok:

[Werty]

Over the last few years things have changed a fair bit in the FJ world (my comments here are from the GR4 world). Two remarks that have been made are that 1. You don't get many hours, and 2. There is lots of planning involved.

1. I got nearly 120 hours over December and January - Ok most of that was at ML over the sandy place but it was still most interesting and enjoyable flying.

2. With CAS and TST becoming more and more part of what we do (crickey - even XV are finally teaching it), it is not uncommon to have a plan and brief all done in less than an hour rather than the 3 or so traditionally for a LL Attack mission.

For people at that early stage in their career when they are deciding between FJ/ME/RW, my advice - Go FJ - it's the most fun you can have with your pants on.:ok:

[PPRuNeUser0172]

Hands up all those who when they joined the mob, didnt want to fly fast (ish) pointy things??? Anyone...........anyone??? Good well thats sorted that.

Having hap a pop at all three (though only FJ for a tiny while. They chopped me once they realised that my pen1s was too big Are you sure you weren't just too big a pen!s Tourist old bean???;)

[Data-Lynx]

BEags may have been right on 25 Feb about the RN and head examinations for Helo aircrew. I do remember an EEG - and quite liking the experience - before heading off to be a jungly.

DS. Hand is in the air. Rotary was the only way to fly at sea post Ark and pre-WEBF, so no options and v content midshipman pilot.

[Tourist]

It's possible......pig!:ok:

[BEagle]

When I was going through Brawdy in 1976, our Flt Cdr (a very nice chap) came in one day just after we'd got to some fairly early part of the course (Simple Cine, I think) and jokingly said "Of course anyone who think this is a bit hard can always volunteer for choppers - you wait until we start the weapons phase!".

2 people (more suited to the Womens' Auxiliary Ballon Corps than the RAF) took him at his word and volunteered. Within 24 hours they'd vanished - and not to RW training either. No loss to FJ, RW or ME - a pair of 'lima deltas' who couldn't cut the mustard. Good riddance.

"You - pratt at the back with your hand up - are you volunteering for the WABC?"

Fair call if flying at sea floats your boat - no option nowadays in the RN except RW until Rafale FG1 comes along, I guess.

[Data-Lynx]

True, and this time there are no 2" RP, forward-firing GPMG or AS12s which spurred on many an ancient jungly pilot. Lynx and Skua are a tidy package but the weapon release is a bit automatic, even though the manoeuving to launch is fun. Tis a shame the light blue never put weapons on non-specialist SH and that I am far too old for AH.

[basuto72]

WHAT THE +@~X IS WRONG WITH NOT WANTING TO FLY SOMETHING FAST AND POINTED?

I AM VERY COMMITTED TO MY CAREER THANK YOU - AND NO I DIDN'T GET CHOPPED, I CHOSE TO GO ROTARY.

ARE YOUR LITTLE CHAPS SOOOOOO SMALL THAT FLYING FAST JETS MAKES UP FOR IT?

PEOPLE SHOULD NOT FEEL FORCED TO PICK WHAT THEY THINK THE STAFF WANT THEM TO PICK, AND HAVE A SAY IN THEIR PREFERENCE AND FUTURE.

BEAGLE OLD BOY, THANK GOT THOSE DAYS ARE LONG GONE.

JESUS.


SIDHOLDING - GOOD LUCK MATE- TELL THEM WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE WELL BEFORE YOUR END OF COURSE REPORT.

[switch_on_lofty]

Although most people on this thread lean towards the light blue, on a similar vein, if you were starting your RN flying career and could choose which path to go down, what would you do? The problems with FJ for me:
1) Not chosen/built yet
2) Based in Scotland (i.e. cold and dark)
3) How is the training going to work?

But FJ does look pretty (extremely) cool.

Switch_on_lofty

[basuto72]

Deliverance,

I appreciate how my rant may have sounded, but no , in all honesty it ws not the case.

In fact quite a few of us were "re streamed" on JEFTS grounds school, and while the vast majority took the opportunity to fly fast jets, I chose to stay with rotary.

I dont think I am any less driven or loyal as a result.

My hats off to those who made it of course.

[High_Expect]

Not wanting FJ is the first sign of weakness bringing this airforce down from within.

LMF (lack of moral fibre) and/or an inherent doubt into ones own abilities are the only causes I can see.
Two words.... Low Average. :ok:
Get out there, do you job (in flying training aim for the top) and above all else MTFU!



hav it!

[BEagle]

Quite so!


.

[308Win]

Having seen very talented aviators scuppered by timing and lack of slots, you would be doing yourself a disservice not to aim for FJ. There is no doubt that all the disciplines have their up and down sides, but you will find very few people get chopped RW/ME and end up FJ. It is a simple case of maximising your chances of ending up as a military pilot.

Guys can argue until they are blue in the face what is the best, but sooner or later you will find out one way or the other. A lot of guys chopped FJ find it a relief as they have been working so hard just to keep their heads above water. Once they start their next training course ME/RW all they have learned up to that point stands them in good stead.

Aim for the top, but if you don't make it just enjoy where you end up without having a chip on your shoulder. The guys you end up working with will be some of the best aviators you could hope to work with. I was lucky and got a good, but ill handling and under powered jet, but I wanted to go there :}

[The English Passenger]

Having done two tours rotary and loved every minute of it, followed by a good few years on the Multis side of the fence (and not enjoyed it as much, but still nothing to whinge about), and having also turned down a FJ crossover that was offered to me (and my reasons have never included lack of self belief, Beagle or anyone else who wants to assume anything) I would say to you just go into the training system with the best of intentions to do as well as you can and be as happy as you can be with wherever you end up. Every flying job that there is in the RAF/RN/AAC is the envy of all of those who either failed to make it in or failed to make it through the system for some reason.

Beagle et al, the RAF needs dedicated Rotary and ME pilots just as much as it needs dedicated FJ pilots, and from my experience the guys who wanted to be Rotary or ME make far better people to work with (as they do not tend to carry around huge chips about being chopped from FJ or how the RAF has mis-treated them in their training), they just get on with the job and act like proffessionals, not like prima donnas.

:rolleyes:

[basuto72]

Quite So!

[Gericault]

Well,a few years ago I guess I would probably never dreamed of saying this but, if I had my chance again, I'd consider rotary. As a fast jet man through and through, until very recently I'd not had the privilege of meeting too many of you SH blokes. Now I have, and I've been lucky enough to break the tedium of yet another staff tour by flying with you, I can only say I'm thoroughly impressed. Don't get me wrong, there is a particular thrill and satisfaction to operating your single seat fast jet at low level and I'll never regret where I eventually ended up, but for constant participation in the most demanding ops, working with thoroughly professional crews and being the first force (usually) involved in a theatre, you SH blokes have it made. You only have to look at the lines of campaign medals on No5s at SH dinner nights to know exactly what I mean. You rarely seem to complain and your thirst for more ops does you proud.