RFI - Life in the Multi-Engine World
 

After more than 2 decades bluffing my way through the rotary and fast jet worlds I am now bound for multi-engines to complete the hat trick. Prior to a series of road trips early next year it would be great to get your views of life on your platforms - I'm afraid my experience extends to sleeping on the nearest flat surface and drinking radioactive-green "refreshing cordial", or trying to attach my aircraft to something very big via a probe and drogue!

If you have the time your thoughts on the whole package (professional stuff and work-life issues) would be gratefully appreciated. I'd be delighted to receive replies publicly or, cogniscent of who monitors this site, via PM.

Many thanks,

Allthegear

I suspect you'd rather enjoy the A400M Atlas, which should be coming into RAF service soon!

Beagle

At least allthegear won't have to do his METS course on the Jetstream!:E:E:E We, I think, both share a similar loathing for that ac. 57.40 total at METS in 1981 was enough for me!

MB

Madbob; you missed out on the classic. I did the ME refresher course in '73 at Oakington, on that grand old aeroplane the Varsity.

I suppose the first question is 'Do you like Oxfordshire?'

If you're a gregarious type of chap, then the sense of satisfaction and belonging, associated with being part of a high-functioning multi-crew aircraft is pretty hard to beat. Not all crews are high-functioning of course, but when it 'clicks' and you're on a good one, it's great.

Sun.

Allthegear, what fast jets did you fly?

The Mighty Fin was my frontline ac, with plenty of time wizzing around in Hawks also. Many moons ago I attempted to fly the Wessex for a couple of tours - luckily the 1950's design ethos of constructing ac out of iron girders enabled many of my crash landings to be categorized as "positive arrivals"!

I have nothing against Brize, however being used to the Fens Waddington would suit for the family situation.

Anyone out there got any opinions on living at Waddo/Brize/Northolt?

Thanks,

Allthegear

As a truckie here's a little info...

Voyager - slots filled until 2016, none for re-treads any time soon although as an "ab-initio" you may well have a stab at this. Obviously the type rating is a massive plus, the junior crews haven't been getting a lot of flying recently AFAIK and has a few issues but looks to be a good long-haul job sans face time in the next year or two.

A400 - Quite a few slots around ATM. The new boss has apparently said that this will be a face-time Sqn for the first few years whilst it is stood up. Nobody is sure what the actual job will entail but a lot of Brize mates are steering clear.

Herc - Rumour has moving to a fully tactical role once A400 takes on strat. Frames are busted so will need recovery time once Herrick role is complete.

C17 - Future is bright although continuing Herrick runs/det TFN. By the time you're through the OCU you'd hope that would be finished. Long haul type operations with a few more westward looking routes. A good bet :ok:

Sentinel - Slots available but extension only for five years post '15 (I think?). Lots of hours, good type rating.

Shadow - Certainly a marmite aircraft; some love it, some hate it. Detachments solidified now so fairly stable, just a lot of time away. Uncertain future.

BAE146 - 125 is chopped in April and the 146 losing 30% of its crews; don't expect any slots in the next few years.

I lived at Waddo for 2 years (10 years ago mind). Having been there on visits before, I knew to buy on the Waddo side of Lincoln (I bought in a village called Branston). Saved the commute through the city traffic every day. Nice enough part of the world in my opinion, although I knew it was always short-term for me before returning to the hilly North! Can you not wangle a few days "tour of the options"? Visit the sqns and stay in the messes - have a face-to-face chat with those currently in the job/area.

Ascoteer - great precis, if you don't mind what are your thoughts on the platform you're on at the moment? Happy for PM if you want to share "warts & all".

Sandy Parts - I'm going to do the road trip, face to face is always best. In the meantime I'm after some idea of the good questions to ask on the fact-finding tour and probably more importantly I'm getting into the Manning negotiation phase of exact dates for cross-over and potential platform OCU's available in my timescale.

All - anyone want to add more comment? It'd be good to hear more from everyone, but comment from the ISTAR world and Royal Sqn would really help develop my understanding.

Thanks all who are reading & posting/PMing

Allthegear

E3: Probably good for a few more years, possibly enough to see you 'til retirement. Certainly up until a couple of years ago there were regular detachments - including to civilized parts of the world, not just the middle east. The flying is a bit boring though. And, being at Waddo (if that's really where you want to be), you could look to move types and remain located there in the future. As and when RJ gets fully operational I'm sure they'll be busy too.

Not sure what life is like there ('XW) at the moment, many of the people I know/knew have left (and are happy to have done so), or are looking to do so.

Lots of nice villages to the South along the ridge; if it's a factor a lot of the schools are good too.

There's also the matter of property prices, should you be looking at buying near Waddo...or Brize.

Average prices in a village such as Branston are only about 2% higher than Swaffham, whereas even in Carterton, a town with the architectural quality of Soweto, the average prices are 30% higher than Swaffham....:eek: In Witney they are 52% higher than in Swaffham, with a typical 3 bed detached house costing around £340K (if you're lucky!). Which is around 45% higher than a similar property in Coleby, near Waddington.

Sentinel sounds like it could suit you, sir!

allthegear, have you looked at the '60 years of the Hercules' thread ? It will give you a flavour of what life was like on a typical Hercules squadron and may well be so again.

Yeah, based on my time I'd certainly choose AT for enjoyable flying. That was a few years ago mind. Blimey, it was 10 years ago next week that I left the 130K (had I been a pilot I wouldn't have left it).

Recommend you read StopStart's post here:

http://www.pprune.org/military-aviat...ot-duties.html

Although I suspect times have changed in the last 12 years. :ok: