NC Aircrew Crewman
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PTC, I am going to call Cranwell and 55(R)Sqn and the NCALT to get on an open day. Thanks for the top tips and handy hints, buddy!
Going to TA tonight, so better get off and iron my kit.
Going to TA tonight, so better get off and iron my kit.
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Tommy, If you want to be NCA, go for it. I was raised in Jersey , ran away at 18 to join the RAF and I've been NCA ever since (27 years). As a current Instructor I can tell you that almost every student here wants to go rotary, and half of them get something else. However, since we are all now in the one trade (WSOp), they may all have opportunities to cross train further down the line.
Good luck with your application
CS
Good luck with your application
CS
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cs, thanks for those words of encouragement! I'm going for it. In fact, I am flying tonight, then hitting the gym. All good prep. You grew up in Jersey...then you'll be aware it's Liberation Day tomorrow, so most have the day off, I'll be on parade with the TA. Going flying on Saturday as well - taking 2 officers and a WO2 to Alderney for an exercise recce. Haha, my first experience of 'military' flying.
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Tommy,
Good luck with the parade, and good on yer. Enjoy the flight too.
PS: If you still 'iron' kit, then the RAF is just the baby for you (environmentally astute too - RAF irons are hardly ever cursed with the demands of leccy).
Real men of course, 'press'.
Bon chance.
Good luck with the parade, and good on yer. Enjoy the flight too.
PS: If you still 'iron' kit, then the RAF is just the baby for you (environmentally astute too - RAF irons are hardly ever cursed with the demands of leccy).
Real men of course, 'press'.
Bon chance.
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It's my birthday 4 weeks today and my girlfriend and I are thinking about going over to the Biggin Hill airshow (7 - 8 June). Are there any helicopter crews going to be there for a chat about about a career as NCA?
By the way, just for your information and entertainment, chaps...I was taxiing at Jersey Airport for a flight to keep my hours up on Saturday, at holding point Delta for runway 09 doing my pre take off checks, and a twin private aircraft came into land and it's starboard lading gear buckled on touchdown. The aeroplane went over the runway with it's right wing scraping on the deck. I watched in amazement with my jaw almost on the pedals! Needless to say I cancelled my flight plan. Luckily there was no injuries! Has anyone else witnessed or been in a crash that up-close-and-personal before? Anyway, the day was not totally lost as I took my dad up in a 1944 Dakota DC-3 in the afternoon when the runway re-opened (as a passenger, not crew)...awesome machine.
By the way, just for your information and entertainment, chaps...I was taxiing at Jersey Airport for a flight to keep my hours up on Saturday, at holding point Delta for runway 09 doing my pre take off checks, and a twin private aircraft came into land and it's starboard lading gear buckled on touchdown. The aeroplane went over the runway with it's right wing scraping on the deck. I watched in amazement with my jaw almost on the pedals! Needless to say I cancelled my flight plan. Luckily there was no injuries! Has anyone else witnessed or been in a crash that up-close-and-personal before? Anyway, the day was not totally lost as I took my dad up in a 1944 Dakota DC-3 in the afternoon when the runway re-opened (as a passenger, not crew)...awesome machine.
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nca liason team phone number
any chance anybody knows the military number for the NCA liason team at cranwell?
and it it for all NCA , as im interested in WSO crewman.
thanks.
and it it for all NCA , as im interested in WSO crewman.
thanks.
Last edited by articbear; 14th May 2008 at 14:17.
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55(R) sqn open day
Any idea how i might get myself on one of those open days at 55(R) sqn, as im currently already employed by the Marines and seriously considering transfering to the RAF, for a new career as a WSO crewman.
cheers guys!
cheers guys!
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Shameless plug: http://www.teammerlin.airshows.co.uk/calendar.html
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Thanks Wizard...I'll pop in and ask a few questions.
Incidently, was the Merlin named after a 'Pidgeon Hawk' rather than 'The Wizard'?
Thanks for the advice...I'm going to check out the 'shameless' link now.
Incidently, was the Merlin named after a 'Pidgeon Hawk' rather than 'The Wizard'?
Thanks for the advice...I'm going to check out the 'shameless' link now.
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NCA Aircrew
Further to all of the above, dont be afraid to go and visit the Sqns themselves even though it is not always encouraged by the AFCO. Quite a few blokes visited 60 Sqn at Shawbury to have a look at the rotary crewman training and some also come to Odiham to have a look at the mighty wokka and speak to the crewman fresh off the OCF. Good luck
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TommyGun, I've been meaning to post basically the exact same thread for a few weeks now.
I too would have like to go for pilot, but with my lack of Alevels as I briefly(stupidly) joined the RAF straight out of school means that now at the age of 21, by the time it would take me to do my Alevels and applied the chances of me starting flight training before my 24th birthday nevermind getting selected are slim to none .. So WSOp is my next choice.
I've already been down to 55(R) for the NCA Brief/FAM Visit and would highly recommend it, although the week I attended we didnt get a visiting crew and it was merely death by powerpoint for most of the day. But what can I say, it was still worth the trip and was a eye opener indeed.
My only advice would be, you need to prepare yourself for disappointment as PTC REMF and camelspyyder said, alot of people dont get what they intially wanted. But later on we got talking to some trainee's who didnt get streamed into their first choice. Most of them said that once they got over the intial disappointment they were happy in their new roles. And in all honesty, I went to Cranwell with my heart set on RW Crewman but to be honest, after seeing more about what the rest of the WSOp's (ex- Linguist) do, I dont think I'd mind not getting my first choice. The rest all are all very interesting equally as challenging.
But my own problem is I've been indecisive ever since and I would really like have a chat with some serving WSOp's in the hope it might help me settle my self and stick to a decision.
I too would have like to go for pilot, but with my lack of Alevels as I briefly(stupidly) joined the RAF straight out of school means that now at the age of 21, by the time it would take me to do my Alevels and applied the chances of me starting flight training before my 24th birthday nevermind getting selected are slim to none .. So WSOp is my next choice.
I've already been down to 55(R) for the NCA Brief/FAM Visit and would highly recommend it, although the week I attended we didnt get a visiting crew and it was merely death by powerpoint for most of the day. But what can I say, it was still worth the trip and was a eye opener indeed.
My only advice would be, you need to prepare yourself for disappointment as PTC REMF and camelspyyder said, alot of people dont get what they intially wanted. But later on we got talking to some trainee's who didnt get streamed into their first choice. Most of them said that once they got over the intial disappointment they were happy in their new roles. And in all honesty, I went to Cranwell with my heart set on RW Crewman but to be honest, after seeing more about what the rest of the WSOp's (ex- Linguist) do, I dont think I'd mind not getting my first choice. The rest all are all very interesting equally as challenging.
But my own problem is I've been indecisive ever since and I would really like have a chat with some serving WSOp's in the hope it might help me settle my self and stick to a decision.