The Navigator in Military Aviation
Yes it's Give An Old Joke A Home time:
The difference between a Nav and an INS? You only need to punch information into the INS once.
[Tsk Tsk....and this from a man who's Nav well and truly saved his life]
The difference between a Nav and an INS? You only need to punch information into the INS once.
[Tsk Tsk....and this from a man who's Nav well and truly saved his life]
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Can computers provide a good auto-pilot? yes
Can computers fly low level more accurately than pilot? yes
Can computers evade a threat more quickly than a pilot? yes
Might need a mission specialist, but I would think the pilot is more likely to be the redundant one, especially with AAVs/UAVs.
But don't worry, engineers recognise the need for military pilots.
YouTube - Beyond the Fringe - from the 'Aftermyth of War' sketch.
Can computers fly low level more accurately than pilot? yes
Can computers evade a threat more quickly than a pilot? yes
Might need a mission specialist, but I would think the pilot is more likely to be the redundant one, especially with AAVs/UAVs.
But don't worry, engineers recognise the need for military pilots.
YouTube - Beyond the Fringe - from the 'Aftermyth of War' sketch.
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GPMG..... a Pilot would never say that.... he's start with: 'This bloke told me.......'
If he ever refered to the navigational consultant, he would start with: 'That tw*t.........'
Hope this clears up the confusion.
Advo
If he ever refered to the navigational consultant, he would start with: 'That tw*t.........'
Hope this clears up the confusion.
Advo
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
"Where are we nav?"
"Over my girl friend's house."
"Where's that then?"
"Not going to tell you, you sad git."
"Over my girl friend's house."
"Where's that then?"
"Not going to tell you, you sad git."
Thread Starter
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Leon. Many thanks for perhaps the only serious post. The link you suggested gives a good account of the operational role of navigators. Regarding career prospects, some Air Forces do recognize the worth of navigators. Till recently the CAS of the Canadian Air force was Lt Gen JS Lucas - a navigator. The RAF has a number of Air Marshals in positions of higher command: Air Marshal Peach, Air Marshal Simon Bryant. The New Zealand Air Force has AVM DA Bamfield and AVM Peter Stockwell.
Strange that a hundred-odd kg of ballast should rise to the top!
Strange that a hundred-odd kg of ballast should rise to the top!
As a navigator myself I think pilots are great, so much so that each aircraft should have at least 2......
but engines are better, each aircraft should have at least 4 of those...!!
but engines are better, each aircraft should have at least 4 of those...!!
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I think navigators are generally good value. However we (and they) should acknowledge that they are just that - good value. It would be far safer to have a fully trained pilot doing the job, but it costs far more to train a pilot. Nav's are good enough to do the job they are employed to do, and most do it well.
A schoolboy walks into the RAF CIO and asks about becoming a navigator....... has this ever happened?
Not wanting to pi$$ on anyone's chips. One happy family.
A schoolboy walks into the RAF CIO and asks about becoming a navigator....... has this ever happened?
Not wanting to pi$$ on anyone's chips. One happy family.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Because we had rather more navigators than pilots in the family and the one pilot disappeared on night fighters.
I thought in the late 70s (maybe early 80s) the RAF advertised in national newspapers for navigators. I seem to remember an advert which had a picture of a phantom and the phrase "young men wanted for supersonic battle of wits" or something like that.
In which case young men almost certainly walked into RAF careers offices saying..."I want to be a navigator"....
In which case young men almost certainly walked into RAF careers offices saying..."I want to be a navigator"....
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Biggus, you're spot on, there, it was the early 70s, just after I passed out of Finningley! The advert I remember was of a Nav climbing into the back of an F4 in Germany, with the strap-line, "Executive openings for navigators - Transport and Driver provided!"
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All of this nostalgia is brilliant, and I'm a huge fan of military history. However, like bomb aimers, tail gunners, and air observers - the flight of the navigator is coming to a natural end . It's not the job people should be aspiring to when they join the RAF.
Before you bed wetting librarians start bleating on about Navs on the reaper/pred - they only took them onto it because (at the time) there were no pilots who would touch it.
There are some jobs Navs can still do, but no one respects (or trusts/listens to) a flight safety officer without wings. B&Q needs you guys - so leave with a little bit of self respect.
Maybe realise your dreams and get a PPL or something. If not there's always Microsoft Train Simulator.
Before you bed wetting librarians start bleating on about Navs on the reaper/pred - they only took them onto it because (at the time) there were no pilots who would touch it.
There are some jobs Navs can still do, but no one respects (or trusts/listens to) a flight safety officer without wings. B&Q needs you guys - so leave with a little bit of self respect.
Maybe realise your dreams and get a PPL or something. If not there's always Microsoft Train Simulator.