Prince William to become a SAR driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,852
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Prince William in RAF SAR
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,174
Likes: 7
From: UK
He could finish his LHS training at Valley. Strong rumours in Scotland that he will get his command at Lossie. After a couple of years Auntie Betty, God Bless Her, will be getting on a bit, so public duties will become larger on the horizon.
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: norwich, uk
Prince William
Hi everyone, have just read that prince william has now passed his Operational Captaincy for flying in the RAF, as I understand it he has 2yrs of experience, is this the normal amount of time it would take for a pilot in the military to qualify for Operational Captaincy?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Im sure Kate doesn't care!
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,184
Likes: 541
From: Lost again...
Frogy.
With respect - If you need to ask then you don't need to know!
If that was an innocent question then i apologise for slamming the door on you, but you must consider that it is also exactly the kind of question that a slack-arsed journo' who can't be bothered to get of his ass to do any research for a decent story would ask.
The RAF has comprehensive training and evaluation systems to ensure that those who hold SAR Commands (and any flying or ground post for that matter) are capable and suitably trained. I have no doubt that he would not be where he is if he had not thoroughly satisfied those requirements. His position and the attention he attracts will make it tougher for him to advance in these jobs, not easier!
Good luck to him!
He's doing a tough job, full-time with a heck of a lot of other things on his plate too! 
OH
With respect - If you need to ask then you don't need to know!
If that was an innocent question then i apologise for slamming the door on you, but you must consider that it is also exactly the kind of question that a slack-arsed journo' who can't be bothered to get of his ass to do any research for a decent story would ask.
The RAF has comprehensive training and evaluation systems to ensure that those who hold SAR Commands (and any flying or ground post for that matter) are capable and suitably trained. I have no doubt that he would not be where he is if he had not thoroughly satisfied those requirements. His position and the attention he attracts will make it tougher for him to advance in these jobs, not easier!
Good luck to him!
He's doing a tough job, full-time with a heck of a lot of other things on his plate too! OH
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: you aint seen me rite
Yes but he needs to shave his hair to the wood. I was posted at valley and my fringe ended up in Galway. Strap a pair on baldy and lop it off, kate will love it! That reminds me to put shredded wheat on the shopping list this week
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: In the desert southwest
absolutely
I graduated flight school in March of 87. Then went to UH-60 transition for two months. Then went to 101st Airborne Division. Late January of 88 I was checked out as PIC. Thats NVG, Instrument, Tactical etc. 7-8 months was not unheard of. Believe me, I am no Chuck Yeagar. We once did a 5 ship mission with a WO1 in every seat in the spring of 88. Exciting days! Two years of training would definitely have weeded out the weeds and certainly provided exceptional training for command of an aircraft. Just imagine an A-10 pilot is the aircraft commander on his/her checkride! An F-16 pilot is aircraft commander immediately after his/her checkride. Same for many, many military aircraft. None of this training lasts two years for goodness sakes. Sheesh.
Cheers, Doug
P.S. I sold the brewpub. Had a great run. We won alot of awards including Gold, Silver and Bronze at the World Beer Cup.
Cheers, Doug
P.S. I sold the brewpub. Had a great run. We won alot of awards including Gold, Silver and Bronze at the World Beer Cup.
Joined: Apr 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 10,959
Likes: 1,814
From: EGDC
After completion of the Sea King OCU, the normal expectation for an ab initio to achieve Op Captaincy is between 18 months and 2 years but can be longer.
Grumpy troll, PIC is not the same as Operational Captaincy - all SAR pilots leave the OCU as PIC having done a procedural instrument rating, NVG and mountain and maritime SAR.
Grumpy troll, PIC is not the same as Operational Captaincy - all SAR pilots leave the OCU as PIC having done a procedural instrument rating, NVG and mountain and maritime SAR.
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
Likes: 1,072
From: Downeast
The RAF has comprehensive training and evaluation systems to ensure that those who hold SAR Commands (and any flying or ground post for that matter) are capable and suitably trained.
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From: Wales
had to let a certain AVM 'have a go' a long time ago in a Leu Wessex. His take off scattered the starter crew and just missed the houchin with the tail wheel before I could arrest the unbriefed spot turn! Didn't let him have another go - like a Bear with a sore head he was! 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Back when I was stripling of a lad at boarding school in Brisbane I had a mate who was the son of the Padre at Amberley. I think it was the year of the Mirage intro 1963 or so, and there was an Aussie tour of a B47. I think it was to try to gen up a lease / loan deal in the interim between the Canberra and F111. That deal culminated in the F4.
Everyone turned out to watch it depart.
Turns out up in the front seats was a most very senior pin from each of USAAF and RAAF who both forgot to turn the rocket assist on until it was almost too late. Legend has it that a servo which was located on a low rise a couple of miles off the end of the active runway on the major Southern highway, had every glass pane blown out.
Everyone turned out to watch it depart.
Turns out up in the front seats was a most very senior pin from each of USAAF and RAAF who both forgot to turn the rocket assist on until it was almost too late. Legend has it that a servo which was located on a low rise a couple of miles off the end of the active runway on the major Southern highway, had every glass pane blown out.
