Trouble is mate, you couldn't join as an orifice until you were (are ??) 18, so that kind of puts the mockers on Plan A :)

I managed to get front line while I was still 21 and I thought that was pretty good going. Joined at 18, straight through training and jumped courses as I went (RN don't you know :}), no hold-overs, minimal leave and a l....o....n....g OFT. There were rumours that in the good ol' days you could have a Midshipman poling a Phantom with a Middy in the back looking for stuff but I don't know if this has ever been proven.

And you guys are SO mean about You-Know-Who of the Lightning/Red Arrows/(and now probably Boeing test pilot). Just don't let the hand grenade near the VS girls in JNB (especially when it was turning into a good night until the inevitable happened) :rolleyes:

F - is there now a sequel to this story then? Did he NOT make the space shuttle programme...........:)