RAF height requirements
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crew height and buttock/knee measurement
As an FTE i have been given the opportunity to fly in a Hawk T1 and i am concerned that i may be too tall at 6 foot 4 inches and potentially being in exceedance of the other measurement. This is likely to be a one off event as a passenger.
What are the rules and are passengers measured?
What are the rules and are passengers measured?
I'm six feet four inches, normally proportioned, and managed to fit into Chipmunks, JPs, Varsitys, Vulcans, Hunters, Hawks and F4's; the only things I was too big for were Gnats and Buccaneers.
Nothing matters very much, most things don't matter at all.
Nothing matters very much, most things don't matter at all.
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Go for it! I did one last year and it was epic.
the pre sortie medical didn't involve anthro measurements so that shouldn't be an issue - there's an upper lim on weight for the bang seat though.
Have fun!!
the pre sortie medical didn't involve anthro measurements so that shouldn't be an issue - there's an upper lim on weight for the bang seat though.
Have fun!!
Last edited by camelspyyder; 4th Mar 2014 at 15:36. Reason: spelling
FTE = "Full Time Extra"
(or if you will, "flight test engineer")
(or if you will, "flight test engineer")
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In the current climate I'd be very surprised if your pre-flight medical didn't include anthro measurements. The doc's know what fits and what doesn't, and if your proportions are right, being a bean pole won't stop you flying.
Hope you do fit and enjoy the trip!
Hope you do fit and enjoy the trip!
JTIDS,
"The docs know what fits".
After some additions to the Chinook cockpit the doc had to sign each if us off as being able to fit in amongst the new equipment. The conversation went something like
Doc. Can you reach all the switches?
Me. (After brief consideration of whether I still wanted to be in a job or not)
Yes
Doc signs off a piece of paper for my logbook and the next candidate steps forward.
"The docs know what fits".
After some additions to the Chinook cockpit the doc had to sign each if us off as being able to fit in amongst the new equipment. The conversation went something like
Doc. Can you reach all the switches?
Me. (After brief consideration of whether I still wanted to be in a job or not)
Yes
Doc signs off a piece of paper for my logbook and the next candidate steps forward.
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Good luck to you mate, I'm 6'4" (and a bit) and was chopped/re streamed out of fast jet training as I didn't fit in the hawk! It's all in the individual's proportions rather than a specific overall height. I fell short on the butt-knee length.
As previously said I'm sure the medical will include anthro so best of luck to you! Turns out going multis was the best thing that could have happened to me in hindsight!
As previously said I'm sure the medical will include anthro so best of luck to you! Turns out going multis was the best thing that could have happened to me in hindsight!
devonianflyer and camelspyyder are spot on about overall proportions and weight.
Overall butt to knee length (measured in the sitting position from the point where your back touches the seat to the tip of your kneecap) and weight are the show stoppers on the medical for a pax flight in a Hawk. Too long in length and you will smash you knees on the instrument panel if you have to eject and your weight in flying kit has to fall within the limits that can be set on the seat's Pitch Control Unit which adjusts the thrust line of the seat's rocket motor through the seat (and your) center of mass. Can't remember what the limits were but I was around 15 stone and 6 foot when I (very much just) passed the medical to do a trip out of Valley in late 93 (Having a 36 inch waist and a Wraf sized backside didn't help). The guy who set the ride up for me tried to get a ride himself only to be overweight for the seat and failed the medical.
Overall butt to knee length (measured in the sitting position from the point where your back touches the seat to the tip of your kneecap) and weight are the show stoppers on the medical for a pax flight in a Hawk. Too long in length and you will smash you knees on the instrument panel if you have to eject and your weight in flying kit has to fall within the limits that can be set on the seat's Pitch Control Unit which adjusts the thrust line of the seat's rocket motor through the seat (and your) center of mass. Can't remember what the limits were but I was around 15 stone and 6 foot when I (very much just) passed the medical to do a trip out of Valley in late 93 (Having a 36 inch waist and a Wraf sized backside didn't help). The guy who set the ride up for me tried to get a ride himself only to be overweight for the seat and failed the medical.
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Kintryd, they have become a tad stricter on enforcing the bang seat limits these days, there are quite a few people who used to fit in various cockpits who have now being told they don't...
Dial your weight?
IMHO: All Anthropometric limits are exactly that...limits. Any MO clearing (or not) the pax for flight has a clear duty of care to ensure the pax is within those limits.
Simples
Simples
Last edited by oldmansquipper; 12th Mar 2014 at 10:01. Reason: Duff Gen removed...Doh!
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I tried to get Stuart Broad (the England cricketer) a flight in a Hawk T1. In the event it did not happen because his ortho measurements were in excess of those laid down - he was 1mm over the buttock-knee length permitted. Whilst the RAF might (and I stress might) have been willing to take the risk, Broad's management were not. It was not his weight or his height that was the limfac.
Devonianflyer quote/Davita edited...I'm 6'4" (and a bit) and was chopped! It's all in the individual's proportions rather than a specific overall height. I fell short on the butt-knee length....Unqoute.
I can't imagine what your butt-knee length was before you got chopped.
I wish you had let me know as, at 5'5", I'm a bit short from the butt down and could sure have used that extension you chucked!!!
I can't imagine what your butt-knee length was before you got chopped.
I wish you had let me know as, at 5'5", I'm a bit short from the butt down and could sure have used that extension you chucked!!!
Whenever I visited Valley for backseat Hawk trips, I was anthro'd by the doctors every time (and had to provide urine tests as well). Ironically first wave sorties were never possible due to this delay, as well as the Doctor being required to check the helmet fit (which was just fitted by Safety Equipment specialists).
This was despite being current medical aircrew on other types. I still remained only 6ft tall.
This was despite being current medical aircrew on other types. I still remained only 6ft tall.
Coolrunning,
Sounds like you might be close to weight and height limits. If you are marginal on weight it will help if you go once they are out of immersion suits. I had to cancel a trip once with a chap who had been passed at the medical but after we started I couldn't get full deflection of the controls because his legs were in the way. Anyway, the best place to ask is not here but via however has arranged the trip.
God luck.
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Long in the tooth??
I am 6' 3"....I am a 33" leg......so I am long in the backbone. I was on F3s when we went through a phase of measuring us lanky back seat types after a recent BOI. The rigorous testing involved sitting in the back seat (where I had been flying for some time anyway) and the Doc using some high tech equipment ( a cardboard tube!!) to check the gap between knee and panel. Being long in the back I passed this test easily, 2 others failed (experienced F3 chaps). One went to multis and the other pulled rank and remained.
Eventually ended up on AWACS where a long backbone was handy when reaching into the freezer cabinets for a frozen curry!!
Its all in the dimensions
Eventually ended up on AWACS where a long backbone was handy when reaching into the freezer cabinets for a frozen curry!!
Its all in the dimensions
