Author Seeking Accurate Information Regarding RAF Terminology

[John Eacott]

Originally Posted by 767-300ER

my favourite....

landing gear.........undercarriage

oh...the RAF don't like the way North Americans use the word momentarily
eg "we will be starting engines momentarily...."

more correctly "we will be starting engines in a moment"

after several years of being berated over this, I tend to agree

We haven't even touched on reheat/afterburner

Originally Posted by ve3id

Must have been back in the sixties when Paul McCartney was quoted as saying, in reference to a police raid in London, "then the metropolitan scuffers were all over us"

I hope not: Dad was a Met Inspector in charge of looking after the Beatles during one of their London sessions

Unfortunately the autographs he got for my sister have long been lost ​​​​​​​

[oldmansquipper]

Turning trousers? ...speed jeans, surely? 😂

[BEagle]

Originally Posted by oldmansquipper

Turning trousers? ...speed jeans, surely? 😂

Nope. 'Turning trousers' was the earlier term and actually describes their purpose, whereas 'speed jeans' came from a later generation and doesn't really describe their function.

As if it matters anyway....

[Lonewolf_50]

Originally Posted by John Eacott

We haven't even touched on reheat/afterburner

If you touch the afterburner, I am pretty sure you won't do it twice.

[TScar001]

Random Question...

Hey gents! Please excuse my ignorance as I'm an American Infantry Marine, so my familiarity with the Air Wing isn't the most extensive.


I was curious if RAF pilots use a specific term for the "runway" (i.e. 'tarmac')?


Thanks in advance!

[TScar001]

Sorry for not responding sooner! It's taken this long to complete the manuscript and find a publisher!!!

Is there a specific term for the "Runway" (i.e. 'tarmac' in the US)?

[WB627]

Originally Posted by TScar001

Hey gents! Please excuse my ignorance as I'm an American Infantry Marine, so my familiarity with the Air Wing isn't the most extensive.

I was curious if RAF pilots use a specific term for the "runway" (i.e. 'tarmac')?

Thanks in advance!

Oorah Marine! Much respect.

My late Dad, RAF Qualified Flying Instructor, always referred to it as "the runway" when I was flying with him, as did the other RAF pilots I was privileged to fly with.

[Bill Macgillivray]

As I remember (not always accurately at my age!) in my 30 odd RAF years, "Runway" if paved and "Landing strip or Strip" if natural surface eg. grass or sand. Open to correction.

Bill

[TScar001]

Awesome!!! Thank you so much!!!

The respect is mutual!!!

[TScar001]

Much appreciated Bill!!! That's great to know!!!

[BEagle]

'Runway' indeed - but sometimes 'The Tarmac'.

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by ZH875

RAFP were always Snowdrops in my time. 1976-2007

Ambulance Drivers = 'Godfreys'. (refer to 'Dad's Army')

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by Bill Macgillivray

As I remember (not always accurately at my age!) in my 30 odd RAF years, "Runway" if paved and "Landing strip or Strip" if natural surface eg. grass or sand. Open to correction.

Bill

On multiple runway airfields either 'the main' or 'the short'.

[NutLoose]

Originally Posted by ZH875 View Post
RAFP were always Snowdrops in my time. 1976-2007

Or Plods

[NutLoose]

Originally Posted by chevvron

On multiple runway airfields either 'the main' or 'the short'.

or standby or emergency runways in the description of the parallel taxyway

[Woodsy2417]

NZ Terminology

When converting my licence in New Zealand I came across a term for the first time. Flying at an airfield with grass strips and runways -on base leg- the instructor asked me to land on the seal? Couldn't see one anywhere so landed on the runway instead.

[Video Mixdown]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

Originally Posted by ZH875 View Post
RAFP were always Snowdrops in my time. 1976-2007
Or Plods

Snowdrops is far too twee. They were Scuffers.

[Avionker]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

Originally Posted by ZH875 View Post
RAFP were always Snowdrops in my time. 1976-2007

Or Plods

Never, ever called them Snowdrops. Scuffers, plods or feds (‘84 to’99).

[albatross]

Runway for Runway.
Tarmac = Paved parking apron. / Ramp
Or so I was told