RN(FAA) and RAF ... your opinions please

[Teenyweeny ATC Cdt Cpl]

Okay, before I start an apology if this has been done to death, but I coulnd't find anything approaching it using the search...so here goes.

(puts kevlar on and yells over large embankment) :)

I've been selected for both the Pre Uni 6th form scholarship aptitudes at OASC *and* a RN/Fleet Air Arm Potential Officer's Aquaintance course at RNAS Culdrose. (lucky me indeed!)

Firstly, do any of you dark blue suits out there know anything about the contents of that course/been on it and care to clue me in?

Secondly, on a much more long term note -- ladies and gentlemen, your views on which service offers the better flying/lifestyle/money/mess life/totty/whatever. Yes, alas, I do want to fly FJ but I'd love to fly anything they'd let me near long enough. I don't know *too* much about the FAA (come on, so far I've been concentrating somewhat on the RAF alone so my knowledge of floating things and the people in them is lacking a little) so any gen about that too would be helpful.

Cheers in advance

-7000

[Hot 'n' High]

TSS - The answer is quite simply the FAA! I know many people in the RAF (best use their polite name!) and did think about joining them when I left school. But, having seen both Services for in excess of 20 years, my selection of the FAA was definitely the better move.

Not sure how much of a logical discussion you hope to get as things could get out of hand - like some Tr-Service Mess Dinners! :)

Have a good time at Culdrose. Not sure what you will do down there as it is a while since I crossed the Tamar heading West.

Regards, H 'n' H <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[Gimme300]

Do both! If you cant sort that out, then you dont have officer potential <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[Teenyweeny ATC Cdt Cpl]

Cheers all. I don't particualrly want this thread to degenerate into an inter-service slanging match but hey. DD, I'm doing the whole nine yards (or four days) at OASC, and already visited that excellent site you mention.
Apart from that, anything else I need to know?

-7000

[Jump jump John]

Relax and get on with it. Did OASC about 6 months ago, and while Part 1 is damn stressfull, you should be well prepped for it by the time you go, and Part 2 is just good fun.
'Enjoy' it! (as much as you can at the Hotal Cranditz)

P.S. Only major point about the FAA I saw when applying to the RAF: do you really want to spend that much of your life at sea? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[Mickey Du]

I have seen a bit of both and as far as I can see
In the RAF you can get away with just wanting to fly and still have a chance of a decent length flying career whilst still being well thought of (if you are any good and a nice guy) also you can stay in as spec Aircrew - doesn’t mean you wont be stuck with a ground job you don’t like but complaining about it is a little more accepted.
However if you want to do a few years flying and then move about a bit either into interesting roles within the military or to something else out side with the option of coming back into some specialist jobs relating to flying or being the Aviation specialist working with other parts of the Navy (or any part of the Defense sector) and you find you like ships and going to sea then FAA is the way ahead. You can also get to work in much smaller units - you may be the only Aircrew on the ship in some roles.
So go and look at both, find out if you like ships and recon you would like going to sea, then think about whether it would bother you to spend all your time in the South West (Yeovilton or Culdrose is the option these days)
Good luck what ever you choose and keep both options open for as long as possible

[Dan Winterland]

With the FAA, you will have to be very very good to get a fixed wing slot. With the RAF, fixed wing is pretty certain.

So what's wrong with rotary? It's good fun (I gather, and I have done a little bit myself), but one day you will probably want to do something else - and rotary hours are only good for rotary licences under JARs. And I wouldn't chose civilian rotary flying over civilian fixed wing flying.

Plus, you will spend lots of time at sea in the Navy - I gather it loses its' novelty quickly&gt; And in the Navy, you are a second class citizen as a pilot as the main business of the Navy isn't flying. (These last two opinions are those of my best mate who spent 8 years flying FAA and reckoned I had it far better in the RAF).

[Junglie]

There are good and bad points of both services. Good in the RN and bad in the RAF hee hee!! Seriously though take the advice and leave it as late as possible to make your final decision.
The POAC course involves visiting the Squadrons, lectures on the Fleet Air Arm and you should get flying too in at least one type down there. More importantly you will get to talk to the guys and girls doing the job and not someone paid to recruit you, if you like what you hear well than that's your answer. As for going to sea, yes the shine can wear off it after a while but waking up in a different place every day can be good fun and if you are young and single then it's a great life. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Fly Navy, Dig Army, Eat Crab

[Al Titude]

If you want to mince around in a rust ridden floating can and spend your whole day pinging a few feet off the sea and never see your family or friends, then join the Navy.
If you want to do the best flying with the best kit and have a life out of the service aswell then join the RAF. My advice - gaff off the 'senior service' and fly jets in the RAF. It's f##king amazing.
Your choice!!
<img src="cool.gif" border="0"> <img src="cool.gif" border="0"> <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[Bervie]

FAA- Flared flying suits, 'special' friends on the boat and flying outdated fag chariots. No thanks

RAF- Awesome flying, good lifestyle (no boat!), great mates.

Life outside the wardroom is the biz. Bring on the banter!!

[KD]

Maybe this little story will help

Navy Pilot turns up at the gates of heaven. Still carrying the emotional scars of being rejected by the RAF , he voices some concern at the Pearly Gates as to the RAF Pilot population.

" No need to worry about that lot . With the amount of drinking , smoking , gambling and , shall we say , playing around that those lot do , we don`t have any of them in here "

" Thank goodness for that ! " replies the Navy Pilot . " I had just about enough of them all turning up in rag order at dinner in the mess ! "

In walks the Navy pilot to see a cloud float pass with a man on it , in a FJ flying suit , woman in one arm , pint in the other .

Instantly the Navy dude turns round and says to St Peter

" I thought you said there were no RAF Pilots in heaven "

To which St Peter replies "That`s not an RAF Pilot. That`s God pretending to be one !!! "

Go RAF . Simple.

[CAVU]

My advice is not flirt with flying for the RN unless you have a strong interest in the sea. You would be kidding yourself if you thought that flying could negate the experience of spending many months of deployment onboard a carrier, let alone a smaller warship, away from loved ones. Even for those that love it, it certainly has it's emotionally moments. However, if you do have a strong interest in the sea, I believe that naval flying offers the most challenges and rewards for an aviator, primarily stemming from the critical nature of naval flight ops. Although all the forces continue to be stretched, the future seems brighter for the RN with the arrival of new carriers and the JSF. Your tenure with would certainly see these into service.

I can also tell you that, for the most part, the RN has a cracking bunch of chaps. Sharp, practical and witty; they are a real pleasure to be around, and I certainly lament loosing their company as a civvie.

Notwithstanding, if all you want to do is fly, you have a much better chance of achieving this in the RAF, certainly of flying fast jets, and you'll probably do more of it. Although I only met a few OCs from Cranwell, I'm sure they're a generally a great bunch of guys too.

Whatever your decision, have a very serious think before you commit to the the military and don't be duped into believing you’ll be flying FJs all day and boozing all night in between bouts of copious coitus with the intInational talent. It seems like it was like that about 10 years ago +, but I had quite a shock, and frankly, disappointment at Dartmouth where, even immersed in this last bastion of Britishness, I had the feeling that PC and government dictat now preclude many of the outrageous legends from ever reoccurring.

Also, you might be lucky to get 250 flying hours a year; the rest of your time being spent applying your unsurpassed officer training to fill out pointless and repetitive paperwork. To put this into perspective, as a civvie, I fly over 800 hours a year, and when I’m not flying, I can loaf in some other pastime, like flying an Extra. You will lose a shed load of seniority at a major airline, which equates to hundreds and hundreds of thousands of pounds over a career.

What ever your decision- Good luck in your endeavours.

[ 15 January 2002: Message edited by: CAVU ]</p>

[Tourist]

The post above from CAVU pretty much sums it up I would say, however he does omit to mention the crabs god-awful uniform. :)

[Dissi Loo Shunned]

Let's face it - I don't know anyone FJ RAF who was refused by the Navy, but I know plenty of Shar mates who wanted to go light blue first - nuff said. If you want a direct comparison of life in both then RAF harrier mates see both sides of the coin, and believe me life aboard with the Golden Rivet is not the way to go. As for civvie flying - I've done both and would not recommend anyone to go the civvie route until they're sure they've got all the flying out of their system. It's a great job but let's not kid ourselves, taking the autopilot out at 10,000ft on the approach cos you want a bit of flying doesn't compare with low level through the glens.
In summary : go RAF, go fast jet and pull the f*%*King wings off it!