Timescales
 

Let's remember while everyone talks about it that two years without gliding in the ATC means that an entire generation passing though has missed out on the opportunity. At 16 you can fly, at 18 you have probably left for work or University. Two years is a short time for grown ups and a major part of a lifetime for teenagers.
I agree with many of the posters here, having gone solo at 17 in a Mk3 at Syerston. It was an amazing feeling and the whole week on the course was one of the most immersive experiences - from getting a rail warrant, ferry, overnight train and bus to RAF Newton, daily bus to Syerston, learning, soloing and returning to school feelng on top of the world.

IIRC "Pippa" got an OBE about 10 years ago for inventing/developing BADER. He was an RO then - he's now FTRS - so technically he was a civil servant, and was NOT in the military list. He should, therefore wear the civilian ribbon (same as Gp Capt Vorders!) without the middle silver stripe.

I'm sure he does.......

Civil OBE

http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225..._ndJPu497w.jpg

Military OBE

https://cdn3.volusion.com/yrcrx.thzk...jpg?1475288618

TTH,

Post 3799 looks like a civilian OBE

O-D

PS When did Pippa stop being a 'Directional Consultant' and qualify as 'Drivers Airframe'? On Phantom Course 10GA he is the former as a plt off but on Phantom Course 26AD, he is the latter as a flt lt and wearing a 'tash'.

O-D,

He must have reverted to being a navigator at some point because he was a navigator when he was OC 25 Sqn as a Wg Cdr and then as a Gp Capt in the MoD.

Surely he would have had to have been CR as a pilot to retain the right to wear the flying badge?

He started training as a pilot and then changed to navigator. Having been a QWI on both ground attack and air defence F4 he restarted his pilot training eventually becoming combat ready on the Vulcan for more than the required 6 months to retain his pilot's brevet (not badge.) His subsequent fast jet cross over ended up in restreaming (medical I understand, but I could be wrong) as a navigator where he took up QWI duties again, this time on the Tornado, both ground attack and air defence.

Beady,

RAF pilots wings are properly called 'The Flying Badge'; or they were when I was awarded mine.

Fair enough. Although the RAF Museum interchanges the terms as does AP 1358, CHAP 7

It's beaRdy

I was 'retired' 10 years ago (well below the age limit) as I was only attending gliding schools in my role as co-opted Wing Staff Gliding Liaison Officer and the Wing Co used this as an excuse to get rid of me; I was unable to attend the Squadron very often due to my shiftwork but the situation then was:
Uniform was free; issued from the Supply Section at our 'parent' RAF Station (Naphill; we were at Marlow). This applies to re-issues due to growth.
Cadet's parents were from all walks of life; we had one whose father was an airline pilot, another whose mother was a widow.
Nearest club would be at Booker which is entirely aerotow thus would have been expensive.

The authority to wear the 'Flying Badge' is enshrined within QR (RAF) J727 where the term 'Flying Badge' and not brevet is clearly registered (I still have my copy pasted into my Logbook).

Specifically:

J727. Eligibility for Flying Badges. Sponsor: Gp Capt Flying Training (GCFT)

(1) The term "flying badge" is used to include all badges worn by personnel who have successfully completed a prescribed course of flying training. The initial award of a flying badge is on a provisional basis. It is not deemed to be fully earned until the holder has successfully completed an operational conversion or equivalent course and has joined an operational or non-operational unit in the capacity for which the provisional badge has been awarded. Joining is defined for each Service as follows:

(a) RN: on issue of the Certificate of Competence.

(b) Army and RM: on award of the badge.

(c) RAF: On initial award of either Combat Ready status or B1 flying instructional grade.


(2) When the badge has been earned, the holder may continue to wear it after they have ceased to carry out flying duties. Once earned, the badge may be withdrawn only on the directions of the Admiralty Board, the Army Board or the Air Force Board.


(3) The flying badge may be withdrawn at the discretion of the appropriate Service Board if the holder fails to complete the training specified in clause (1) above. The badge may also be withdrawn if at any time the holder is removed permanently from flying duties for disciplinary or other reasons.


(4) A member of aircrew who is qualified for more than one badge is not to wear a badge other than that appropriate to the particular flying duty in which they are currently categorised or mustered, except where MOD authority is granted. An individual who is entitled to wear a badge and is undergoing training for another aircrew category may continue to wear the badge of the former category until award of the flying badge of the new category.


(5) The authority for the entitlement to a flying badge is:
RN - MOD(DNW)
Army - MOD(DAAvn)
RAF HQ PTC (Gp Capt Flying Training (GCFT))

Any questions on entitlement are to be forwarded through normal channels to the appropriate authority mentioned above.


(6) Flying badges are to be worn as laid down in the dress regulations for each Service (RAF regulations are published in AP 1358 Dress Regulations for the RAF). Any questions on the wearing of flying badges are to be forwarded through normal channels to HQ PTC (P1(Cer)(RAF)).


(7) (RAF only). The type of badge to be worn is described in Para 206.


I think you'll find that a QR trumps an AP.

(Admittedly that excerpt is taken from an older set of QRs (1999) but I would suggest that the only real change would be to replace HQ PTC with 22 Gp.)

Apologies Beardy; I fell victim to the curse of auto-correct, although I should have checked before hitting submit.

Best wishes for 2018 to you and all on the forum.

It seems I have fallen foul of slang. Badge it is.
Happy New Year

And may the cadets soar above us all.

Booker has had a reputation for being expensive for a long time, and not because of no winch - the membership etc. is expensive, currently more than Lasham without the facilities Lasham has. Lasham OTOH has a really good deal for young pilots:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/01...12889632883819

I really hope that the issues that must have existed to ground a fleet of gliders have been fixed, otherwise the ones that are being returned to service are likely to end up grounded again.

Baby out with bathwater
 

It amazes me how we managed to fly thousands of Cadets and send hundreds off solo WITHOUT 'WIGLO'S', e-mails, mobile phones, tablets, websites, BADGES, Twatter, instagrams, and not everyone on a land line t-phone.
Now we have higher ranks all round, massive comms, but no B..... Aircraft;has'nt the penny dropped somewhere. Happy new year to those left trying to pick up the shattered remains of a fine system. WE need an infusion of 'soapy hats' and leadership that FLY.

Santa's reply
 

Had a lovely e-mail from Santa re my Christmas list.
He apologised for not being able to comply with my request but said the paperwork to renew his 'night rating' 'multi deer licence' Sleigh exemption', 'freight w&b' not to mention the flight clearances made his normal job quite difficult, and he is considering changing to the N reg for next year.
He sends his regards to the chaps still at the 'coal face' and wondered why none of them appeared in the honours list.

HH,

As it happens there are figures available. All 3 services indulge in 'Engagement'.
This takes various forms, from school visits to week long courses at various locations. The RAF have been at the forefront of this. It is not to be confused with recruitment though. No attempt is made to recruit students as the age of some visits/ courses are too young. One of the main priorities of these is STEM.

Another side to this is the 'engagement' with larger youth organisations, Scouts, etc. Part of this year's celebration is an 'air minded' Scout badge.
Needless to say these teams spend and cost money. The military have decided it is money well spent. The large sums of money given to the ATC appear to show that maybe it is not value for money.

There are two RAvOs and 5 VGS personnel on the full RAF list for new years honours, awards and commendations.

Is this a "new" rule? When I was an air cadet in the 70s you could put down for flying (power or gliding) from the date you officially joined (at a minimum age of 13yrs, 9months IIRC). I've just checked my Form3822 and saw that my first gliding flight was in a T31 at Tangmere two weeks shy of my 14th birthday, and my first powered flight was in a Chipmunk at Abingdon about six weeks after that. I did my PPL via a flying scholarship at Biggen Hill three months after my 18th birthday, in the summer holiday between A-levels and Uni.

When did the 16yr age limit for flying come in?

PDR

PDR1

I think you are confusing the age at which flying lessons could begin with the age you had to be to go solo.

I did all my gliding in civilian clubs. I took my children flying from quite an early age -10 years onwards. They got used to gliding very quickly, and as soon as they could reach the rudder pedals I began to let them learn to fly. I don't recall any limitations on the age at which you could do this, The ATC probably picked 'nearly fourteen' as a good time to start introducing youngsters to flying. Did anyone ever go solo before sixteen?

When the civilian solo at was 16 my club used to discourage children starting learning to fly until they were over 15, otherwise they would reach the standard and then have a long wait.

Now they can go solo at 14 (obviously only if they reach the standard) they start younger and we more often have to put weights in the glider. Of course they have to be tall enough to reach the pedals whilst also being able to sit where they can get the stick all the way back.

In the '70s, it was the minimum age for commencing a Gliding Proficiency course. When this was re-named 'Basic Gliding Training' in the '80s, another course called 'Initial Gliding Training' for 15 year olds was introduced, the main difference being you couldn't fly solo until you were 16.
It's all changed again since then after I was 'retired'.