Parachute wings

[Grimweasel]

Give RTS(A) at RAF Hoington a call and ask the FSergeant there on his opinion of 'guins' not doing his beloved Pre-Para!!

There are a few RAF units that have a para role and have not done Pre-para/P Coy as they have argued that they would not jump in with the Airborne TF. Give TSW/TCW a call and find out how they managed to put the blue badge of courage up without doing a 'selectio' course!!

[charliegolf]

I jumped out of a ballon at WOTG during my LM course (and a Herc a week later), and all I seem to remember getting was a bollocking from a jumpin' bean about the landing!

CG

[3winged]

Thanks guys, some good advice and some good banter. In all seriousness, if that is possible on here, I have met a few chaps who served with 16 AA or their previous incarnations, as BALOs/BASOs etc they have done the jump cse and wear para wings. I appreciate they are posted in a para roled org - but working on what a few of you have said on here...........

That said, they do look good on a nice blue jumper along with a shiny set of pilots wings.

Does Prince Charles wear para wings? Bet he didn't do P Coy!

[rmac]

Would have thought that wearing a set of pilots wings and parachute wings at the same time doesn't quite send the right message

On the subject of arduous selection courses, I believe a number of other friendly forces don't quite see it the same way. A reserve Danish Marine who I do business with recently popped down to Holland and picked himself up a pair of Dutch ones on an exchange course....

Notwithstanding all of this, isn't this all about to get a bit irrelevant as there is a moratorium on Parachute training even for Paratroopers ?

[StopStart]

Bloody wish there was then at least I wouldn't have to spend tomorrow throwing them at Oxfordshire from a great height.........

[richatom]

Does Prince Charles wear para wings? Bet he didn't do P Coy!

He did do P Coy, though he was excused milling as it was a bit unfair on the other chap. He then did a jump and was awarded his wings. When on Parachute Regiment duty he wears one of the 1970s smocks which are still much cooler than the modern version.

[rmac]

Wonder what type of wings AQ gives its "Pilots"...........

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Wonder what type of wings AQ gives its "Pilots".......

Can you imagine the look of disgust when they get issued with a harp, a pair of wings and a free pass to the brewery? They'll be pretty urined off when they figure out the infidels had it right after all.....

[Grimweasel]

The 70's smock is the classic Dennison Smock a la WWII era. Ally as though!

[Airborne Aircrew]

Having now got 3 wings, I thought 5 would be fun! So, how does one go about getting a nice set of shiny para wings to wear on ones number ones? Clearly I have no interest in doing pre para so any advice would be appreciated.

Pull pin, 1 thousand 2 thousand - throw!

I'd suggest that the characteristics required of the wearer of parachute wings compared to the characteristics required of the wearer of aircrew wings transfer far more readily from the former to the latter. It's one thing to fly an aircraft but it's entirely a different thing to willingly depart from a healthy one and trust your life to a tangle of strings and some cloth with 100 pounds of kit strapped to your chest. Face it, a military parachutist has gone that "one step further"...

Now... that's a grenade...

[itsallhappeningagain]

I'd suggest that the characteristics required of the wearer of parachute wings compared to the characteristics required of the wearer of aircrew wings transfer far more readily from the former to the latter. It's one thing to fly an aircraft but it's entirely a different thing to willingly depart from a healthy one and trust your life to a tangle of strings and some cloth with 100 pounds of kit strapped to your chest. Face it, a military parachutist has gone that "one step further"...

Now... that's a grenade...

Having earned the former and shortly going to be attempting to earn the latter I'll give you my perspective in 4/5 years...

[Britace]

Originally Posted by itsallhappeningagain

Having earned the former and shortly going to be attempting to earn the latter I'll give you my perspective in 4/5 years...

Having completed a BPA (Freefall) course at an Army training establishment, then completing tens of Freefall jumps, I was told I was entitled to wear the Lightbulb. Having read this thread, it seems that may not be correct - I never did, and have been out for 30+ years, it doesn’t much matter to me, but I’d be interested in the Actual Facts please folks?