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.

Beamer/steve757

Big hint at post #63. Second initial K.

Of course, one of you could be he!

Me

Thanks IoMa, got it now, all descriptions accurate!!

Chaps, RPAS is indeed now a streaming option and is being removed as a stand alone profession.

I confirm that you have accurately identified the "pd" of my post.

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.

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.

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 !

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.

Don't know where they are going, but it sounds like the entire course can share a taxi.

Same in the CAF air element (now RCAF again) When I was in boot camp (BOTC 7504 if anybody's checking) we had one cadet who openly said he wanted rotary, and a rather macho colleague stated 'I'd rather admit I ma*t*rb**ed than want to fly a helicopter'.

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'!

‘Developments, Concepts and Doctrine Centre’ ? I think we used to call it basket weaving…….

He's a really nice guy guy though, very charismatic.

I very recently saw the rather delectable Susie Dent on TV discussing the word. I think she’s got a fair amount of it herself. :E

P.s. making some bread this morning. Must go and check if the the dough has rizz….

Can anyone tell me who is OC OACS at Cranwell and how I could contact him/her.Any info would be appreciated via a PM.

A rather strange request for personal details of a SP on a public forum but you can contact Cranwell here for enquiries :)

Not requesting any personal details, just trying to contact the officer in charge which should be no secret,. The RAF is happy to publicise the names of Reds etc so why should we not know who is i/c OASC.
Yes, one can contact Cranwell, but phones at OASC. remain unanswered or “ not available.”.
including those for OASC reception and medical reception. I have those numbers.
I spoke to a recently retired officer (S/L) ? from Cranwell who told me comms. . there were appalling.
Multiple attempts to contact OASC confirm that !

Probably because there are virtually no landlines there anymore.

You could just send a letter.

Cranwell 201 springs to mind?