RAF

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Anyone here in the UK worked in the RAF? whats your experience of it?

 

Have no idea what I want to do when I leave sixthform and just thought maybe its worth a shot - never used to want to join purely 'cause i hated harriers and tornados :P but now have no real reason not to try.

 

Also could anyone link me to the ACTUAL requirements - espcially height (being 6'2"+ im not sure if i'll even get past the first hurdle) the official RAF site is useless to be honest and i want up to date information.

 

its either that or trying to get into aerospace engineering and being predicted straight Bs (my teacher said he'd be surprised if i EVER got an A) its going to be hard getting an AAB it would seem. Never worked it my life which really doesnt help at this stage either ¬_¬

 

 

thanks in advance

[jonnyB3]

Hi dood!

 

I'm only 14 years old yet i have already decided to become a pilot of any fighter plane in the RAF. First i thought i would have to join air cadets and get my BTEC which gives you 6 RAF related GCSE's. Then here comes your secondary school GCSE's which is a big hello to the RAF recruitment officers. I was on my first class camp and i met one cadet who had enough GCSE's to be a Pilot or a Regiment Commander. He couldn't decide wether to be the Pilot or the Officer!!!! If anything you should try get a pilots job(the best in the RAF for sure!)

 

Dont listen to what your teacher sais or what you friends say. You just got to keep your head down and work hard to get that thing you have always wanted. My friend tells me that there is one student that is predicted A's for every subject yet he is unbehaved.

 

You are still able to join the RAF without being in air cadets. Air cadets is just to show that you have had experience as a normal RAF man and you can do i without help. Joining the RAF without that means you are unexperienced and you have less chance of getting in.

 

Goodluck!

Jonnyb

[britgliderpilot]

I've never been in the RAF, but I know a couple of people who are trying.

 

Six foot two is probably borderline for a fast jet pilot - if that's what you want. There are many more jobs in the RAF ;)

 

 

Current RAF Careers site, under Aircrew\Pilot is saying:

 

5 GCSEs/SCEs and 2 A-levels or 3 Highers or equivalent. GCSEs/SCEs at Grade C/3 minimum to include English language and maths.

 

http://www.rafcareers.com/jobs/pilot.cfm

 

Doesn't mention physical attributes - my problem's always been eyesight, otherwise I might have found myself in your position not so long ago :)

 

Bear in mind that if you get in, "pilot" covers a multitude of sins. Could you hack flying a Herc or a Merlin if they ordered you to?

 

 

As regards aeronautical engineering, it might not be as hard to get into as you think - Loughborough accepted me onto the BEng with ABC, and they do give the option to move up to MEng at the end of the second year.

 

 

You've got a couple of options - be aware that most of them will involve hard work ;)

[DPS]

I was in the RAF (Photographic Branch) for nearly four years after I left school. The RAF is a lot smaller these days and I understand that it's a lot harder to get in to. If you are University material the RAF may fund your studies (or they certainly used to). And there is also the UAS if you are a budding pilot/leader. Good luck.

[Mizzy]

I come from an extended family of Navy/RAF personnel (non of them pilots) but I wanted to join the RAF as a pilot when I was young but.......oh well, boys and other interests took my interest!

 

I have a B.A. (Hons) Class 2/1 from Leeds University (Graduated in 1983) but even if this qualification would have been good enough, I have a deep aversion to killing anyone for whatever reason. I think that would have ruled me out as ever being a fighter pilot!

 

So moral of the story is, can you!!!!

 

Mizzy

 

PS another bloody late nite with Juniors teeth.... GRRRRR :mad:

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GCSE grades are fine for me btw - i have 2A*s 5As and plenty of other grades so no worries there :P

 

Yeah eyesight and moral issues did put me off when i was younger (starting to remember more of why i havent gone for it!) still worth a try though espcially if they can sponsor me for university to do something like aeronautical engineering (perfect situation)

 

I realise there are plenty of oppurtunites for aerospace engineering and im sure id be accepted somewhere - but right now i have my heart set on Bath university annoyingly enough as its a tough one. probably just a phase though. From what i hear it doesnt really matter where you go as long as you've studied.

 

As for the moment Im accepted and sign the 15year contract (or whatever it is) then they turn round and tell me to get in the nimrod yeah thats when i'll run away to Columbia ¬_¬

 

 

By the way DPS what is the UAS? is that a department of the RAF?

 

thanks

[britgliderpilot]

UAS = University Air Squadron. Obviously, it requires you to be at University . . . . other than that, I believe it's an RAF-supported flying school :)

 

 

Not sure I know anyone doing Aeronautical stuff at Bath - know a few at Bristol who seem both clever and cool, you checked that one out?

 

If you want to see difficult to get into, go look at the grades required for Imperial :P

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UAS = University Air Squadron. Obviously, it requires you to be at University . . . . other than that, I believe it's an RAF-supported flying school :)

 

 

Not sure I know anyone doing Aeronautical stuff at Bath - know a few at Bristol who seem both clever and cool, you checked that one out?

 

If you want to see difficult to get into, go look at the grades required for Imperial :P

 

Yeah both and bristol and imperial are on my list :P but i'll probably only keep 2 or maybe 3 on the final entry form (6 maximum) in case my grades arent too good (quite likely my teacher thinks)

 

So I now know which club i'll be signing up to at uni then!

 

thanks

[britgliderpilot]

Yeah both and bristol and imperial are on my list :P but i'll probably only keep 2 or maybe 3 on the final entry form (6 maximum) in case my grades arent too good (quite likely my teacher thinks)

 

So I now know which club i'll be signing up to at uni then!

 

thanks

 

Ahem. Gliding!!

 

Cheaper, more of a challenge, and the last real seat of the pants stuff you can do.

 

Follow links. Watch.

 

 

 

 

Oh . . . . and the daddy of all gliding videos has apparently been rehosted ;)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Ou383ro4A