RAF Pilot Training Pipeline
A good result. Nice one J - and no, I don't miss the thing that became BMCS(Onshore), either 
I asked how long it took for pilots who were declared operational in the last 6 months to become operational from their commissioning/ab initio date as a FOI request.
I have received a reply in less than 2 months.
Reaper was less than 3 years. No other type was less than 5yrs 6 months and none longer than 7 years.
I have received a reply in less than 2 months.
Reaper was less than 3 years. No other type was less than 5yrs 6 months and none longer than 7 years.
Gentleman Aviator
No other type was less than 5yrs 6 months and none longer than 7 years.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
Age: 60
Posts: 2,051
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I finished IOT in July 87 and arrived on 33 Sqn in Dec 89. 2 years and 5 months. Not a single day of hold from graduating at Cranwell.
My turn 
. Left the Army as L/Cpl Jun 76, commissioned RAF Sep 76 (OCTU), joined first Sqn (via JP3a, Whirlwind HAR10 and Wessex HU5/HC2) as substantive Plt Off Jul 78 - and that included a 2-week hold on 18 Sqn at Güt while the new Wessex 5 course was brought on line.
. Left the Army as L/Cpl Jun 76, commissioned RAF Sep 76 (OCTU), joined first Sqn (via JP3a, Whirlwind HAR10 and Wessex HU5/HC2) as substantive Plt Off Jul 78 - and that included a 2-week hold on 18 Sqn at Güt while the new Wessex 5 course was brought on line.
My turn . Left the Army as L/Cpl Jun 76, commissioned RAF Sep 76 (OCTU), joined first Sqn (via JP3a, Whirlwind HAR10 and Wessex HU5/HC2) as substantive Plt Off Jul 78 - and that included a 2-week hold on 18 Sqn at Güt while the new Wessex 5 course was brought on line.
. Left the Army as L/Cpl Jun 76, commissioned RAF Sep 76 (OCTU), joined first Sqn (via JP3a, Whirlwind HAR10 and Wessex HU5/HC2) as substantive Plt Off Jul 78 - and that included a 2-week hold on 18 Sqn at Güt while the new Wessex 5 course was brought on line.
Anyone on here actually worn a uniform in the 21st century? I was at a guest evening (as a member of an association) and the last CR pilot had a 7 year time line from joining IOT to get to a Sqn. So many holding posts. It exists now for mates that have more actual combat experinced than people that post on here to convert. People that did more op missions than the heros of WWII. System broken? We all know the answer. Currency is everything (and I know that especially in my civvy career).
My Pilot training ended 2 hours after the Anthropometry tests! Legs 10 CM too short. Passed all the other aptitude tests, ended up flying as AEOp 18 months after joining Swinderby. Cranwell followed successfully, but still regretted not being an RAF pilot like my dad! Cat techie, retired in 2012 after 33 years and enjoyed almost every minute!
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
Age: 60
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes
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6 Posts
Cat Techie
just because my training was a long long time ago, doesn’t mean I haven’t worn a uniform recently. I wore one yesterday……. And it was a flying suit…..
just because my training was a long long time ago, doesn’t mean I haven’t worn a uniform recently. I wore one yesterday……. And it was a flying suit…..
