Where do RAF pilots come from now?
I was very lucky to have a good instructor durng my Piston Provost course at Ternhill in the mid fifties. He had been on Spitfires during the war and he came from a family that owned a large farm near Wem, which was not far from Ternhill. He was also officer in charge of the station pig farm and often flew in his smelly wellies! On duel trips we regularly flew round the farm at low level, checking that the fences and hedges were OK and the cows were fine. I used to say we should have been living in Australia or Texas.
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Excuse a long long retired ex-Herc' Nav' poking his nose in, but I was horrified to read the suggestion that my much missed old mate George Brown could have been the Scottish poisoned dwarf. I'm probably the only poster here who flew with George when he was a co-pilot and I think he would have admitted he was not odds-on to move to the LHS, particularly given his reputation as a pisshead and for lateness. I can tell an amusing story of how close he came to missing his flight back to Blighty to marry the lovely Christine. Although I took my 8 year option in '73 GB and I remained good friends.
I attended his Memorial at Lyneham in 2004 and the number of folk there was an indicator of how popular he must have been. I think it is extremely unlikely that he would have been anything other than a good instructor/examiner.
I attended his Memorial at Lyneham in 2004 and the number of folk there was an indicator of how popular he must have been. I think it is extremely unlikely that he would have been anything other than a good instructor/examiner.
Don't worry, Brian, nobody is dissing George. Flipster at #69 quickly stifled that suggestion.
I recall the story told of a crew walking out to get wheels in the morning and tripping over GB who was comatose outside the hotel not having quite made it back from his night out! That would endorse your comment on his reputation, but I always got on well with him.
Fascinating to recall how many pickled high-functioning alcoholics there were on the truckie fleet in the '90s, GB, CB, WF to mention a few. But, as far as I know, there was never an incident or accident as a result, not that I am condoning such behaviour.
I recall the story told of a crew walking out to get wheels in the morning and tripping over GB who was comatose outside the hotel not having quite made it back from his night out! That would endorse your comment on his reputation, but I always got on well with him.
Fascinating to recall how many pickled high-functioning alcoholics there were on the truckie fleet in the '90s, GB, CB, WF to mention a few. But, as far as I know, there was never an incident or accident as a result, not that I am condoning such behaviour.
RAF GraduationsRAF Valley
Air Vice-Marshal Fin Monahan, Director of the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre, was the Reviewing Officer at No 4 Flying Training School, RAF Valley, on Dec 1 2023, when RAF flying badges were awarded to four officers of No 72 (Fighter) Squadron.
From today's Telegraph - not many new pilots anymore !
Air Vice-Marshal Fin Monahan, Director of the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre, was the Reviewing Officer at No 4 Flying Training School, RAF Valley, on Dec 1 2023, when RAF flying badges were awarded to four officers of No 72 (Fighter) Squadron.
From today's Telegraph - not many new pilots anymore !
Where do RAF pilots come from now ?
NRU74 : And where are they going now, from Valley ?
Not sure if the opening question has even been answered but I see the trend.
,Out of deep interest, if a schoolkid today looks out of the classroom and fancies becoming a RAF pilot, what is he facing ?
Age, Ed certs, Selection , Officer Training, Flying Training, options after wings (if any).
What if,like my generation, looking out of the window and wanting to be an Airline Pilot meant Army, Navy or RAF Short Service Commission with very clear requirements . Can he look at the RAF as an Avenue ?
I can probably answer the last myself. No more SSC. So the willing supply of wannabee RAF pilots dries up straight away.
Is it that with a dwindling military requirement, there is a dwindling requirement and no need for RAF pilots ?. Looks like a bigger question needs posting rather than the opener.
Not sure if the opening question has even been answered but I see the trend.
,Out of deep interest, if a schoolkid today looks out of the classroom and fancies becoming a RAF pilot, what is he facing ?
Age, Ed certs, Selection , Officer Training, Flying Training, options after wings (if any).
What if,like my generation, looking out of the window and wanting to be an Airline Pilot meant Army, Navy or RAF Short Service Commission with very clear requirements . Can he look at the RAF as an Avenue ?
I can probably answer the last myself. No more SSC. So the willing supply of wannabee RAF pilots dries up straight away.
Is it that with a dwindling military requirement, there is a dwindling requirement and no need for RAF pilots ?. Looks like a bigger question needs posting rather than the opener.
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Years later, I was in a museum in Atlantic Canada and a display had the log book of the helicopter wannabee, open to the page where he rescued 44 men from a burning oil rig, 2 at a time.
So much for 'macho'!
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
"charismatic"? Do keep up. The word of the year is apparently "rizz".. "He's got lots of rizz" is what the younger generation would understand
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Avoid imitations
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P.s. making some bread this morning. Must go and check if the the dough has rizz….
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