Author Seeking Accurate Information Regarding RAF Terminology

[TScar001]

I am a medically retired US Marine that is working on a book, that has 2 important characters who are former F-35B pilots in the RAF.

Obviously, I am trying to portray these professionals in the most accurate light possible, and have some small questions that are honestly probably too unimportant to post here regarding basic terminology.

So, if anyone out there has experience with the model, and wouldn't mind talking shop with someone that knows absolutely nothing about the subject... please message me!

[Bob Viking]

I honestly mean no offence but I would be amazed if any current F35B pilot will answer any questions via an internet forum.

BV

[MPN11]

What level are you talking about?
”Three Greens*”, “Happy Hour” or detailed operating stuff?

* “Four Greens” for Harrier, IIRC ;)

[Martin the Martian]

Just remember 'good show', 'wizard prang' and 'tally ho!' and you won't go wrong.

Happy to help.:ok:

[ORAC]

https://youtu.be/_CwfCBa6PSM

[meleagertoo]

Writing a book on "former F35 pilots in the RAF".

Hard to imagine how one could write accurate shop talk and terminology on something that hasn't even happened yet...

[charliegolf]

It's fiction. He/she can write whatever he wants.

[woptb]

Give the guy a break! If it’s anything with Opsec implications, I’m sure our Jarhead friend would understand!

[TScar001]

No offense taken brother, just 'casting the lines' so to speak. :ok:

[TScar001]

I was looking more for basic verbiage for terms like 'mission'. Obviously American pilots refer to them as 'SORTIE's". I wasn't sure if it's different in the UK. Likewise for the term 'wingman'. And I was even curious if there is a nickname (derogatory or otherwise) for RAF Military Policemen?

Thanks! :ok:

[ShyTorque]

Have they taken on the term “Bona mates”, or did that get scrapped with the last of the Harriers?

[Minnie Burner]

https://youtu.be/_CwfCBa6PSM
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3v9z74

[TScar001]

meleagertoo does make a good point, but I'm trying to keep my eyes on the horizon in the realms of technology throughout the series, as I don't know how long it might take to be published.

[T28B]

Pro Tip for our new / Leatherneck friend: if you click on the 'Quote' button at the bottom right of the post you are replying to, it will allow you to reply to that particular post.

[Tashengurt]

Many, many derogatory terms for RAF Police but 'Snowdrop' is a fairly safe one.

[Tankertrashnav]

Obviously American pilots refer to them as 'SORTIE's". I wasn't sure if it's different in the UK.

Unfortunately it is becoming more and more common to see exactly the same word used here in the UK. A decreasing number of us still use the correct word, which is "Sorties" ;) We call that the "grocer's apostrophe" here in the UK by the way- is there an American equivalent?

[MaxR]

We call that the "grocer's apostrophe" here in the UK by the way- is there an American equivalent?

In a similar vein, do Americans differentiate between that, which and who when linking clauses?

[Sloppy Link]

I was looking more for basic verbiage for terms like 'mission'. Obviously American pilots refer to them as 'SORTIE's". I wasn't sure if it's different in the UK. Likewise for the term 'wingman'. And I was even curious if there is a nickname (derogatory or otherwise) for RAF Military Policemen?

Thanks! :ok:
To be clear, RAF Police are always just that and are referred to as Snowdrops and others. Military Police are the Royal Military Police from the Army, known politely as MPs or less so as Monkeys.

[MPN11]

To be clear, RAF Police are always just that and are referred to as Snowdrops and others. Military Police are the Royal Military Police from the Army, known politely as MPs or less so as Monkeys.
And RedCaps, of course. Due to the colour of their hats, IIRC. ;)

[oldpax]

Snowdrops??? Always Snoops!!!!

[Capt Kremmen]

TScar001

Mission means raid. Sortie the same, albeit of a more temporary nature. Still, I believe, in current use tho' others will no doubt correct me, are; 'bandits' and 'angels' equivalent to your 'bogy' and 'altitude'.

[Tankertrashnav]

A few more general equivalents may be of help. I wouldn't venture to offer slang terms, because these go out of date very quickly and my info is well out of date. But here are a few more random general terms (US first)

Flight suit - flying suit
Base commander - station commander
Visor cap - SD cap
214th squadron - 214 squadron
Afterburner - reheat (but that may have changed since "my day")
Enlisted men - other ranks (or more commonly airmen in the case of the RAF)

There will be lots more which others can suggest, without having the specialised F35 experience you mention

[superplum]

;) We call that the "grocer's apostrophe" here in the UK by the way- is there an American equivalent?

Just wondering if you meant "grocers' " ?
:cool:

[spitfirek5054]

Officer's and their Ladies

SNCO's and their Wives

Airmen and their women

[Compass Call]

Snowdrops??? Always Snoops!!!!
At Wyton in my day, we started calling them 'Spoons'.
They seemed very bemused at this and couldn't work out why.
One day one of the lads told them - and they were not happy when the realised that we had successfully taken the p1ss.

[XV490]

What about that fashionable new RAF term 'skillfade'?
:ugh:
And g-pants (US) are 'turning trousers'.

[Wycombe]

Haven't we all become so PC these days.....that the RAFP's more derogatory nickname (it's not that bad!) hasn't been mentioned yet!!

[Pontius Navigator]

Snowdrops??? Always Snoops!!!!
no longer Plods?

[ExAscoteer2]

What about that fashionable new RAF term 'skillfade'?
:ugh:

Fashionable new term my rear end!

'Skillfade' was an extant term as long ago as the 1980s!

[MPN11]

A few more general equivalents may be of help. I wouldn't venture to offer slang terms, because these go out of date very quickly and my info is well out of date. But here are a few more random general terms (US first)

Flight suit - flying suit
Base commander - station commander
Visor cap - SD cap
214th squadron - 214 squadron
Afterburner - reheat (but that may have changed since "my day")
Enlisted men - other ranks (or more commonly airmen in the case of the RAF)

There will be lots more which others can suggest, without having the specialised F35 experience you mentionTo which one instantly adds:

O Club = Officers Mess
Base Housing = Married Quarters (is it now called Families Accommodation?)

... oh, there are dozens like that. The OP needs to send a shopping list of terminology to obtain translations!

[Timelord]

From one post in another thread, never,never, never “kites” or “stood up”

[XV490]

From one post in another thread, never,never, never “kites” or “stood up”
If, when it formed, a squadron "stood up" (US style), can it be said to have "fallen over" (or "sat down again") on disbandment?

[ExAscoteer2]

can it be said to have fallen over on disbandment?

As opposed to 'stood down'?

[Timelord]

I’ve fallen over at a few disbandments!

Formed, disbanded, reformed.

[XV490]

Formed, disbanded, reformed.

Exactly. Though some might say re-formed. When I were a lad, there were things called 'reform schools' for wayward youths.

Meanwhile, whatever happened to ops/operations, once part of the RAF's standard lexicon? Mission(s) now seems to be the preferred term.

[Timelord]

Exactly. Though some might say re-formed.

Quite correct, although I have seen some squadrons that needed reforming.

[cynicalint]

Banned Phrases: The Aircrew Dictionary (of unacceptable cliche and overused phrases) (http://www.bannedphrases.co.uk/)
Try this,
I have just looked and the formatting was awful, but the info is still there.
It dates from 2001 and is VERY light hearted but may give you ideas

[Runaway Gun]

TScar, tried to message you, but your intray was stuffed full. Feel free to send me a message with your email address.

[Tankertrashnav]

Just wondering if you meant "grocers' " ?

No, I was only think about one grocer ;)

[Pontius Navigator]

To which one instantly adds:

O Club = Officers Mess
Base Housing = Married Quarters (is it now called Families Accommodation?)

... oh, there are dozens like that. The OP needs to send a shopping list of terminology to obtain translations!
Billetting -= does not exist
transportation = ​​​​MT
Commisary = nix
BX = nix
Touch and Go = Roller
Low and Go = Overshoot
Huge number of diffs name for same facilities really

[langleybaston]

Officer's and their Ladies

SNCO's and their Wives

Airmen and their women

Brilliant grocers' apostrophes. Deliberate I hope.

[The Oberon]

no longer Plods?

His dog is "the brain on a chain".

[MG]

The problem with asking here is that most replies are / will be from those who served in the 70s (at best) and their terminology is woefully out of date. I joined in 1985 (so I’m also out of date, having left 5 years ago) and never did my contemporaries call RAF policemen ‘Snowdrops’. The term we used was ‘Scuffers’ but that might not be correct now.

You'll also see that there are terms that the old’uns don’t like, such as ‘skill fade’ and ‘stood up’. It doesn’t matter if they like them or not, they’re still used, but you’ll have a hard time deciphering that on here.

I'm afraid you’re asking the wrong audience. Unless you want historic stories, as told by an old folks’ home, I’d go elsewhere.

[ZH875]

RAFP were always Snowdrops in my time. 1976-2007

[MG]

RAFP were always Snowdrops in my time. 1976-2007

Thank you for proving my point.

[FantomZorbin]

Barrier Technician
WO Stanley Norman O'drop

[Union Jack]

The problem with asking here is that most replies are / will be from those who served in the 70s (at best) and their terminology is woefully out of date. I joined in 1985 (so I’m also out of date, having left 5 years ago) and never did my contemporaries call RAF policemen ‘Snowdrops’. The term we used was ‘Scuffers’ but that might not be correct now.

You'll also see that there are terms that the old’uns don’t like, such as ‘skill fade’ and ‘stood up’. It doesn’t matter if they like them or not, they’re still used, but you’ll have a hard time deciphering that on here.

I'm afraid you’re asking the wrong audience. Unless you want historic stories, as told by an old folks’ home, I’d go elsewhere.

Interesting, since the expression "Scuffers", as well as "Bizzies", has long been used to describe policemen in Liverpool, even earlier than the 1970s, so your own suggestion seems pretty historic. Maybe you served with a lot of Scousers! If the OP wants to use this expression , he should also be aware that Liverpool policewomen are called "Judy Scuffers".

Oh, I almost forgot - the OP should also make frequent mention of "Crabs"......

Jack

[XV490]

The intensive international co-operation in developing the F-35 (particularly between the USMC and RAF/FAA on the B-model) inevitably called for consensus between the type's British and US operators in vital areas of the terminology they use.

Such common parlance (especially for SOPs) would have been essential during the testing and conversion training programmes at Beaufort - and it's quite likely that, in turn, the USMC's 'stand up/stood up/was stood up' etc terms then slipped into use among the new British F-35B pilots and their senior officers.

However (ref the OP's query), whether "former F-35B pilots in the RAF" would reminisce about themselves as 'stood up/down' in their flying careers is debatable, and could be influenced by their previous squadrons and types.

A pal of mine with experience editing stories for aviation periodicals tells me that MoD and RAF press releases have become increasingly mired in such contemporary US parlance. Standardisation (particularly with F-35B) may make this inevitable, but it flies in the face of heritage - an essential part of RAF and FAA esprit de corps.

It remains to be seen how the yet-to-be-formed RAF/FAA squadrons (for the PoW carrier) adopt or eschew American parlance other than what's essential for operational or safety reasons.

Any Fleet Air Arm folks care to comment?

[Timelord]

MG is quite right of course, slang / terminology changes very rapidly. What might have been cool banter last month seems dated today. That being the case, and the OP’s story apparently being set in the future ( talking of former F35 pilots), he can pretty much make up the terminology since no one knows what will be cool in the future.

[aloominumtoob]

Airplane := Aeroplane:), aircraft, airframe.
Enlisted men. We don't have any.
Mobile Aerial Port System (MAPS). United Kingdom Mobile Air Movements Squadron, as was. (UKMAMS)
alt

[767-300ER]

my favourite....

landing gear.........undercarriage

oh...the RAF don't like the way North Americans use the word momentarily
eg "we will be starting engines momentarily...."

more correctly "we will be starting engines in a moment"

after several years of being berated over this, I tend to agree

[MPN11]

“Cabbage crate over the briny”.

OK, being sensible, until the OP tells is what he’s actually seeking, it’s all a bit of waste of keyboard ... isn’t it?

[ve3id]

To be clear, RAF Police are always just that and are referred to as Snowdrops and others. Military Police are the Royal Military Police from the Army, known politely as MPs or less so as Monkeys.
Whatever happened to the term 'provo'?

[Video Mixdown]

Whatever happened to the term 'provo'?
That's what we called IRA terrorists.

[ve3id]

Interesting, since the expression "Scuffers", as well as "Bizzies", has long been used to describe policemen in Liverpool, even earlier than the 1970s, so your own suggestion seems pretty historic. Maybe you served with a lot of Scousers! If the OP wants to use this expression , he should also be aware that Liverpool policewomen are called "Judy Scuffers".

Oh, I almost forgot - the OP should also make frequent mention of "Crabs"......

Jack
Must have been back in the sixties when Paul McCartney was quoted as saying, in reference to a police raid in London, "then the metropolitan scuffers were all over us"

[sittingstress]

Pant wettingly handsome, jutting jawed, lotharios - refers to RAF Regiment gunners, in particular those serving on 37 Sqn RAF Regt at RAF Bruggen from 1986-1989. Gen!

[MPN11]

Pant wettingly handsome, jutting jawed, lotharios - refers to RAF Regiment gunners, in particular those serving on 37 Sqn RAF Regt at RAF Bruggen from 1986-1989. Gen!
Ah, drunken Rocks with DM to spare ... click-bait for the local overweight and ugly! :)

[sittingstress]

Ah, drunken Rocks with DM to spare ... click-bait for the local overweight and ugly! :)

How very dare you, I was 20 years old and whilst wearing my boots I had the profile of a 9 iron! As for the ugly comment, utter rubbish as this was negated by the well known Lover's Elixir known as Wobbly.

[Vortex Hoop]

For the RAF Police, Scuffer was still in use when I left a few years ago. As was Fed. (An Americanism I didn't tend to use, but hey ho).

[TScar001]

Pro Tip for our new / Leatherneck friend: if you click on the 'Quote' button at the bottom right of the post you are replying to, it will allow you to reply to that particular post.

Thank you!

[John Eacott]

my favourite....

landing gear.........undercarriage

oh...the RAF don't like the way North Americans use the word momentarily
eg "we will be starting engines momentarily...."

more correctly "we will be starting engines in a moment"

after several years of being berated over this, I tend to agree

We haven't even touched on reheat/afterburner :ok:

Must have been back in the sixties when Paul McCartney was quoted as saying, in reference to a police raid in London, "then the metropolitan scuffers were all over us"

I hope not: Dad was a Met Inspector in charge of looking after the Beatles during one of their London sessions ;)

Unfortunately the autographs he got for my sister have long been lost :sad:​​​​​​​

[oldmansquipper]

Turning trousers? ...speed jeans, surely? 😂

[BEagle]

Turning trousers? ...speed jeans, surely? 😂

Nope. 'Turning trousers' was the earlier term and actually describes their purpose, whereas 'speed jeans' came from a later generation and doesn't really describe their function.

As if it matters anyway....

[Lonewolf_50]

We haven't even touched on reheat/afterburner :ok:
If you touch the afterburner, I am pretty sure you won't do it twice.

[TScar001]

Hey gents! Please excuse my ignorance as I'm an American Infantry Marine, so my familiarity with the Air Wing isn't the most extensive.


I was curious if RAF pilots use a specific term for the "runway" (i.e. 'tarmac')?


Thanks in advance!

[TScar001]

Sorry for not responding sooner! It's taken this long to complete the manuscript and find a publisher!!!

Is there a specific term for the "Runway" (i.e. 'tarmac' in the US)?

[WB627]

Hey gents! Please excuse my ignorance as I'm an American Infantry Marine, so my familiarity with the Air Wing isn't the most extensive.

I was curious if RAF pilots use a specific term for the "runway" (i.e. 'tarmac')?

Thanks in advance!

Oorah Marine! Much respect.

My late Dad, RAF Qualified Flying Instructor, always referred to it as "the runway" when I was flying with him, as did the other RAF pilots I was privileged to fly with.

[Bill Macgillivray]

As I remember (not always accurately at my age!) in my 30 odd RAF years, "Runway" if paved and "Landing strip or Strip" if natural surface eg. grass or sand. Open to correction.

Bill

[TScar001]

Awesome!!! Thank you so much!!!

The respect is mutual!!!

[TScar001]

Much appreciated Bill!!! That's great to know!!!

[BEagle]

'Runway' indeed - but sometimes 'The Tarmac'.

[chevvron]

RAFP were always Snowdrops in my time. 1976-2007
Ambulance Drivers = 'Godfreys'. (refer to 'Dad's Army')

[chevvron]

As I remember (not always accurately at my age!) in my 30 odd RAF years, "Runway" if paved and "Landing strip or Strip" if natural surface eg. grass or sand. Open to correction.

Bill
On multiple runway airfields either 'the main' or 'the short'.

[NutLoose]

Originally Posted by ZH875 View Post (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/629654-author-seeking-accurate-information-regarding-raf-terminology-3.html#post10688006)
RAFP were always Snowdrops in my time. 1976-2007

Or Plods

[NutLoose]

On multiple runway airfields either 'the main' or 'the short'.

or standby or emergency runways in the description of the parallel taxyway

[Woodsy2417]

When converting my licence in New Zealand I came across a term for the first time. Flying at an airfield with grass strips and runways -on base leg- the instructor asked me to land on the seal? Couldn't see one anywhere so landed on the runway instead.

[Video Mixdown]

Originally Posted by ZH875 View Post (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/629654-author-seeking-accurate-information-regarding-raf-terminology-3.html#post10688006)
RAFP were always Snowdrops in my time. 1976-2007
Or Plods
Snowdrops is far too twee. They were Scuffers.

[Avionker]

Originally Posted by ZH875 View Post (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/629654-author-seeking-accurate-information-regarding-raf-terminology-3.html#post10688006)
RAFP were always Snowdrops in my time. 1976-2007

Or Plods

Never, ever called them Snowdrops. Scuffers, plods or feds (‘84 to’99).

[albatross]

Runway for Runway.
Tarmac = Paved parking apron. / Ramp
Or so I was told