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And the winner is....

at least half the pilots on my squadron are over six feet tall.

So, by a simple mathematical computation, less than half would be under six feet tall. Agreed?

I can assure you that 100% of them are more than 6" tall

Gosh, you crabs should take up creative accounting

Riiiight, can't fault your logic Harry but it's remedial reading for you I'm afraid.
I suspect that like Killingo the difference between ' and " has passed you by.

When you see a bite, Fwd, please let it run a while
You are too sharp for this lot matey

Absolute rubbish, at least half the pilots on my squadron are over six feet tall

And which squadron would that be?

"And which squadron would that be?"

Hardly going to post that on here, am I?

Well theres no security implications of giving that information as there is no reference to any of your personal details on this site.

I wear glasses/lenses and I really wanna become a pilot.
Is this possible?
And anyway, if it isn't, why not?
Thanks

All things are possible, as the great Julie Andrews said,
Climb every mountain
er, that`s it really

stevebishop wrote:I've read the RAF careers website and am deciding what A Level's to take to stand me in good stead for a place as a pilot. It says preferably GCSE's A-C in Maths and English language. Those are easy to get and was wondering if doing A Level maths and english language would be even better or just unnecessary. Says 2 A Levels or equivalent, so should I do them 2 or stick to ones I will enjoy more.

Thanks

Im doing the same thing. I decided to take math and physics so that I could become an engineer in the forces if my app for a pilot fails. Hope that helps. Backup plans and all.

amylouisey wrote:I wear glasses/lenses and I really wanna become a pilot.
Is this possible?
And anyway, if it isn't, why not?
Thanks

Mainly it's not possible because there are thousands of people applying,and we can afford to take the cream of the crop.
That's it really!

Thats some scary stuff right there. Im sure they want you to be perfect but it seems like your putting alot of pressure on the original question. I say do what your good at and enjoy and get yourself a backup plan!!! Just in case. Good Luck!

I will post what the wonderfully helpful RAF Officer at the Wrexham AFCO told me:

Get a degree. Anyone hoping to become a pilot, get a degree. A degree puts you 2 years senior to someone who applied at the same time without one, so that is pay-wise, promotion time-wise etc.

Also, you can be funded £1000 a year, no paybacks, for up to 4 years while you study. During this time, you have to join the University Air Squadron, which I'm assuming is like some sort of older cadets, which gets you prepared for the RAF life. All of these things combined give you a MUCH better chance of being accepted.

For one, you have a degree, which is good proof of how determined you are etc.
They have spent up to £4000 on you, so they are going to want you to earn it in service for them.
3+ years of UAS can only help prepare you for the RAF, so it is another great thing to have.

Also, during your Uni course, engaging in things like team sports and other extra curricular activities helps wonders (also true if you are in Sixth Form).

Finally, for anyone joining Sixth form and wondering what subjects to take, I would suggest Maths and Phyics, plus whatever esle you want. The reasons for this are two fold: Maths and Phyics are useful as is for being a pilot, but they are also required to get on courses such as "Aerospace Technology and Pilot Studies". I have only managed to find this at Liverpool Uni so far, but many Uni's do other Aerospace courses.

Yeah fine, but if you've got a bunch of guys with the same aptitude levels, you're gonna look at academic qualifications, community work, any charity work, leadership skills demonstrated etc. And they will take whoever ticks all the boxes.
Because they can.

If someone has amazing aptitude, but cannot hold a conversation in interview, sorry, but they aint gonna get through the first 2 days of selection. That's just the way it is.

Going back to the original question, I would say take into account what the RAF looks for, but in the end, you have to choose subjects which interest you, and can be useful for general life, otherwise you're screwed if you don't get through OASC.
Take a long-term view on it, and keep all your options open.

I realise this is an old thread, but I've been reading into the requirements for RAF pilots since I heard Prince William (over 23 years old and wears glasses) had been accepted for pilot training.

First of all, isn't this blatant discrimination against everybody not of royal blood, and thus illegal?

Secondly, (with reference to the above post) why is the RAF interested in whether or not you've done charity or community work? It hardly seems relevant to flying helicopters or fast jets, and seems like just another way to potentially overlook a modern-day Johnnie Johnson.

The Southerner wrote:I realise this is an old thread, but I've been reading into the requirements for RAF pilots since I heard Prince William (over 23 years old and wears glasses) had been accepted for pilot training.

First of all, isn't this blatant discrimination against everybody not of royal blood, and thus illegal?

Secondly, (with reference to the above post) why is the RAF interested in whether or not you've done charity or community work? It hardly seems relevant to flying helicopters or fast jets, and seems like just another way to potentially overlook a modern-day Johnnie Johnson.

Don't worry about it being an old thread, I do the same all the time!

I agree that it is unfair to the rest of us that he has been accepted at over 23, but I also appreciate that I don't know all of the facts. For all we know, he could be a perfect candidate. The RAF has often bent over backwards to get certain people in.

However, that is only if you don't take into account the fact he wears glasses. The fact he wears glasses makes this a right royal piss take of the highest magnitude. Although I do remember the gentleman doing my eye test saying that once you are in the RAF, if you lose you sight a bit then they make lenses that fit inside your helmet to correct your vision. This was a man from Specsavers Opticians btw, and he said he personally had a hand in such lenses.

Overall though, it is extremely unfair to the rest of us and is definitly discrimination.

As for you last question; the reason they are interested in charity work etc is because it is something that puts you above the rest. It shows you put effort into things that aren't compulsory, can do things as an individual and can do them well, all under your own initiative.