ARMY PILOT TRAINING HELP
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
A-A, Mrs PN, driving over the Dromochter, looked up and watched two Buccaneers, inverted and flying slowly down the Glen.
Then she glanced at the speedo and saw that they were not going THAT slow
Then she glanced at the speedo and saw that they were not going THAT slow
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Back in the days when men were men (!) we trained on the Hiller 12B and 12C. Although the B & C looked rather different (one had several panes of perspex the other had a bubble) they had one thing in common - a 55 kt cruise speed. A nautical mile per minute meant a gentle chuff wind. Ah, those were the days!
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I remember the Hiller, (course 173), they were painted blue with Bristow down the tail boom - did they really only cruise at 55kts? No wonder we never went very far away from Wallop in them!
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Hi all,
Not military and not in the UK, but enjoy perusing the forums.
For the OP, I recently found and viewed the 1997 BBC Doco-series "Flying Soldiers". 15yrs old and prob out of date re: aircraft etc, but can't imagine it would've changed that much since then.
Episode 1:
Good Luck with your application.
S2K
Not military and not in the UK, but enjoy perusing the forums.
For the OP, I recently found and viewed the 1997 BBC Doco-series "Flying Soldiers". 15yrs old and prob out of date re: aircraft etc, but can't imagine it would've changed that much since then.
Episode 1:
Good Luck with your application.
S2K
Originally Posted by Sqwark2000
........but can't imagine it would've changed that much since then.
Last edited by diginagain; 18th Jun 2012 at 17:45.
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Reference the Hiller rotor brake (for the innocent among you I must explain that there was no such mechanical device installed) one of my course nonchalantly threw his flying scarf around the wet drive shaft, and was tossed into the air in a graceful arc between the turning blades and deposited less gracefully on the other side of the machine. Until then I had never heard him swear!
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Mate, i spent 14 years or so with the AAC. I left in 2010 so i cant imagine i'm that out of date. PM me for more info if you wish. What you need to ask yourself is how far are you going to go in your current regt, re pensions etc. AAC MCM Div dont like promoting people (thats not a bitter sentiment, just that aircrew in the AAC dont get their rank in a cereal box like the ground crew do!). If you stay as a sgt for the rest of your career in the AAC, that is obviously what you are pensioned on. If you think you're likely to be the next Academy SM at RMAS in your current unit then stay where you are.....
However, flying over SPTA / BATUS / Belize etc etc etc watching squaddies tabbing everywhere whilst i'm flying made me realise what a good decision i'd made! Plus i got paid a ****e load of money to fly on awesome days (and ****e days too i might add). In short, go for it, but weigh up all the pros and cons in advacne as your commitment will be sorely tested - a lot of RAF instructors hated NCO Pilots (I'm ex RTR).
Time off - yes. You're entitiled to a qtr at Wallop so bear that in mind when the commuting pain rears its head. Leave, should be between the various phases. Dont bother going to a flying club first, i never did. You need to show improvement in your 13 hr grading sessions and if you've already flown then the margin will be smaller. A pal of mine that i met on grading had a PPL - he failed and i passed! (Having never set foot in a light aircraft before!). The rodneys in yr unit are talking out of their arrse. There are only 2 selections (providing you're not in a protected trade like Int or similar) where you cannot be prevented from applying - Hereford and AAC. IIRC Annex J to Chapt 43 of AGAIs was the place that explained the process; not sure if that's still the case (I applied in 97 so things have changed somewhat). The flying soldiers programme is well out of date - one of the guys on there is now a grandad!!
Whatever paperwork you submit in duplicate, make a further 4 copies! They have a habit of disappearing - mine did and this sound advice was given to me by a QHI in BATUS once.
If you get on the course, dont heap self induced pressure on yourself. If you're still reading / planning etc at 10pm, stop it and go have a pint in the bar. If it isnt in by then, it wont go in, your brain is too tired. That pholisophy worked for me and i passed!
I used to work woth Lord Flasheart and i know how much of a sarky tw@t he is. Instead, get hold of the AAC RLO (if one still exists) at HQ AAC in Wallop. They primarily deal with rodney selection through RMAS etc, but can point you in the right direction. Failing that, pm me and i'll dig out a few names for you.
At the end of the day, do you want to be sat around at 60 thinking "i could've done it"?? Loads of squaddies i met once i'd passed said that they wished they'd done it. I'm just glad i did and remember, you don't know until you try!!
Best of luck
However, flying over SPTA / BATUS / Belize etc etc etc watching squaddies tabbing everywhere whilst i'm flying made me realise what a good decision i'd made! Plus i got paid a ****e load of money to fly on awesome days (and ****e days too i might add). In short, go for it, but weigh up all the pros and cons in advacne as your commitment will be sorely tested - a lot of RAF instructors hated NCO Pilots (I'm ex RTR).
Time off - yes. You're entitiled to a qtr at Wallop so bear that in mind when the commuting pain rears its head. Leave, should be between the various phases. Dont bother going to a flying club first, i never did. You need to show improvement in your 13 hr grading sessions and if you've already flown then the margin will be smaller. A pal of mine that i met on grading had a PPL - he failed and i passed! (Having never set foot in a light aircraft before!). The rodneys in yr unit are talking out of their arrse. There are only 2 selections (providing you're not in a protected trade like Int or similar) where you cannot be prevented from applying - Hereford and AAC. IIRC Annex J to Chapt 43 of AGAIs was the place that explained the process; not sure if that's still the case (I applied in 97 so things have changed somewhat). The flying soldiers programme is well out of date - one of the guys on there is now a grandad!!
Whatever paperwork you submit in duplicate, make a further 4 copies! They have a habit of disappearing - mine did and this sound advice was given to me by a QHI in BATUS once.
If you get on the course, dont heap self induced pressure on yourself. If you're still reading / planning etc at 10pm, stop it and go have a pint in the bar. If it isnt in by then, it wont go in, your brain is too tired. That pholisophy worked for me and i passed!
I used to work woth Lord Flasheart and i know how much of a sarky tw@t he is. Instead, get hold of the AAC RLO (if one still exists) at HQ AAC in Wallop. They primarily deal with rodney selection through RMAS etc, but can point you in the right direction. Failing that, pm me and i'll dig out a few names for you.
At the end of the day, do you want to be sat around at 60 thinking "i could've done it"?? Loads of squaddies i met once i'd passed said that they wished they'd done it. I'm just glad i did and remember, you don't know until you try!!
Best of luck
