Has Air Marshall Wigston driven anything pointy during his career thus far?
Didn't seem so from my uneducated reading of his CV.
I had always assumed that the head of the service had usually been a flyer - and usually a fast jet flyer at that.
Not judging - just curious...

It appears that he has.

CAREER HISTORY

1986 - Commissioned on a University Cadetship

1992 – Completed pilot training on Tornado GR1

This was followed by a succession of frontline tours, including operational deployments enforcing the no-fly zones in Iraq.

2005 – Assumed command of 12 (Bomber) Squadron

Flying the Tornado GR4 and leading the Squadron on two operational tours in Iraq and large force exercises in Canada, Malaysia and the USA.

2007 – Commander of 903 Expeditionary Air Wing in Iraq

Supporting a number of aircraft types such as Typhoon FGR4, Tornado GR4 and C130 Hercules.

2013 – Tornado Force Commander

https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisat...el-capability/

I stand corrected.
Is it a given that CAS must have been a fast jet driver at some point?

Tartare
 

Cor, Bob Viking - despite your bracketed caveat - the rotary wing mafia (in the absence of their maritime equivalent) are sharpening their swords as I pen this.

You are brave but reckless officer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OD

...has dropped a live KRET in the face of one of his own formation.

Having been thoroughly dunked in a vat of purple paint, my dog in this fight these days is a small terrier - Scrappy Doo if you like. But I would suggest it's potentially a long walk home when superior FJ skills lose out to the laws of physics without a helicopter to give you a lift. And one thing I quickly learned about FJ pilots, they really don't like walking - can't even manage a round of golf without sitting on one of those motorised shopping carts ;-)

Incumbent before the current post holder flew whirly things

My earlier caution to Bob Viking was not meant to signal open warfare between the various types of 'drivers airframe', 'directional consultants' or anybody else but clearly it has fired the combative ppruners to take to the barricades.

I must search out a Christmas card received many moons ago which had a photo of Avro's tin triangle with a Blue Steel tucked underneath, on the front. When opened, the card held the message: 'Peace on earth and goodwill to all men - From the RAF's nuclear strike force'.

O-D

O-D
 

Very interesting... More info might amuse. :ouch:

OAP

I can't think why the R.A.F., R.N. etc. do not consult Ppruners BEFORE making appointments, thus gaining the benefit of of our vast experience, inside knowledge etc.

KRET?
Google's no help.
Kinetic Radio Emitting...???

Tartare
 

'K' meaning one thousand. 'RET' meaning retarded. Therefore KRET = 1000 pound retarded bomb. Now a legacy weapon.

I do not know any details of the story in question. It sounds like an honest mistake though!

BV

I guess if you do the hard yards you get the rewards. That being said having the top operational job does not seem a good precursor to becoming CAS. I will let this forum debate that one...

Remember when Steve was a Flying Officer and Elaine, by my calibration, was at least a Squadron leader and that is RAF not WRAF....! Hope they have an enjoyable retirement, they have certainly earn't it.

I've covered quite a few CASs during my time as a defence journo, but without doubt Pulford was the most anonymous of all of them.