Life after the RAF
What a brilliant thread.
I've read and agreed to most of it (up to the drift into the predictable "Get another Forum" moaning).
The bit I liked best was Seldomfitforpurpose's ill-judged opinion of what he'd be like when he's left the service; something which, even after getting to a point 4 years before his 31 (+1/2) years - he has yet to experience.
Well matey, you'll only do it once - and I really do hope your not one of those 'drop-dead after serving too long' types.
I reached my "24 + 9" earlier this year. I am about to start my 4th job having spent all that time improving my way up to managership in a large Part 145 organisation. Something I have seen very many ex-RAF officers and SNCO's fail to do.
I've read and agreed to most of it (up to the drift into the predictable "Get another Forum" moaning).
The bit I liked best was Seldomfitforpurpose's ill-judged opinion of what he'd be like when he's left the service; something which, even after getting to a point 4 years before his 31 (+1/2) years - he has yet to experience.
Well matey, you'll only do it once - and I really do hope your not one of those 'drop-dead after serving too long' types.
I reached my "24 + 9" earlier this year. I am about to start my 4th job having spent all that time improving my way up to managership in a large Part 145 organisation. Something I have seen very many ex-RAF officers and SNCO's fail to do.
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Technical Question
Is a C64 a bit like a C47 but bigger?
How many people flew the 286? Was that a Hastings, Beverley, Britannia or Belslow?
Gan wasn't all it was cracked up to be - except in the 'cinema' where cries of 'Good Old Fred (Quimby)' were ubiquitous.
We never 'flagged' Gan, we stopped for fuel instead . . .
The platters of sausage and chips were pretty good though. Heard my first Billy Connolly tape there - ah, nostalgia.
How many people flew the 286? Was that a Hastings, Beverley, Britannia or Belslow?
Gan wasn't all it was cracked up to be - except in the 'cinema' where cries of 'Good Old Fred (Quimby)' were ubiquitous.
We never 'flagged' Gan, we stopped for fuel instead . . .
The platters of sausage and chips were pretty good though. Heard my first Billy Connolly tape there - ah, nostalgia.
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Flt Lt Mac
Physic Degree ok, but Computing ? Seems like an easy option 
For what it is worth, towards the end of my RAF career, i was going through Gan on average four times a month, both directions 
And yes, after all these years i still miss the camaraderie of the service, but that has long gone
For what it is worth, towards the end of my RAF career, i was going through Gan on average four times a month, both directions And yes, after all these years i still miss the camaraderie of the service, but that has long gone
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sled dog you must be mad...it's only that team spirit that holds us together these days.To everybody else...I wish I could like you look back fondly on the interwar (1945 onwards) years when you were members of a fantastic flying club with all those perks... however, some of us are serving in smaller, busier, more efficient Services these days, and still getting plenty of satisfaction out of it.
It is never going to be like your day again.
CS
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I did 12 years in the RAF from 1951 to 1963...Then after a year out in the cold I decided to get back into flying so I then did 1964 to 1986 with BEA/BA...I have to say that I look back with great fondness and nostalgia on my RAF period.
A serious mistake was not to decide on civil flying while I was still serving in the RAF...All the benefits lost. When I handed in my logbooks to the CAA it was a year and four days since my last RAF flight and all the concessions last for 1 year only...Those fours days cost me dearly
However, I have now been retired for longer than I served in Civil Aviation and early retirement at age 52 and a half was the best thing I ever did
A serious mistake was not to decide on civil flying while I was still serving in the RAF...All the benefits lost. When I handed in my logbooks to the CAA it was a year and four days since my last RAF flight and all the concessions last for 1 year only...Those fours days cost me dearly
However, I have now been retired for longer than I served in Civil Aviation and early retirement at age 52 and a half was the best thing I ever did
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No indeedy, it'll never be the same again.
Pontious was a pilot.
Didn't need 1250's because we knew each other.
Ah, the old ones are still best.
FWIW I'm still in touch with four guys I worked with in the mob but in real life, not via PpruNe.
Pontious was a pilot.
Didn't need 1250's because we knew each other.
Ah, the old ones are still best.
FWIW I'm still in touch with four guys I worked with in the mob but in real life, not via PpruNe.
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I think most of us would agree that whatever the motivation for leaving, the fact that it was probably our first real job and we went into it at a very tender age (16, in my case) it is always going to leave us indelibly marked, for better or worse and for the most part I'd venture to suggest better. I still find that a lot of my attitude and approach to work, rest and play are influenced inordinately by my time in the service, even though I've now been out considerably longer than I was in (21 years versus 13 years). Like everyone there were aspects of service life that really got on my t*ts, but I think I can safely say that deployments to Finningly and living in dirty, cold, disused MQs don't really hold much of a candle to what the boys and girls nowadays have to contend with (and at least the MQs were more comfy that the aircrew caravans, eh BEagle? 
).
For those of you currently serving, you deserve, and have my deepest respect. Just cut us old gits a bit of slack to reminisce occasionally - you'll be old one day too
MSJ
).For those of you currently serving, you deserve, and have my deepest respect. Just cut us old gits a bit of slack to reminisce occasionally - you'll be old one day too
MSJ
.....and at least the MQs were more comfy than the aircrew caravans, eh BEagle
Only used an aircrew rabbit hutch a couple of times, but actually they were fine. Only a short stumble to the bog and shower block and close to Ops. Whereas the MQs were not far from areas infested with Untermensch such as baby navs and plastic sergeant wireless operators....and one was at the mercy of the slowest bugger to shower, shave and dump before catching the transport (back of a 3-tonner wasn't uncommon) back to the Ops site.
Although none this could possibly be as bad as the privations of today out in the East, I certainly agree.
