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This has probably been asked before so my appologies if I'm covering old ground.

I was wondering if RM Officers can join the fast jet pipeline directly or if they are selected after being excellent helicopter drivers?

Suggest you try this thread

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/2758.html

Why have we ever had any excellent helicopter drivers?

Battle bowler on, incoming!

Barry

You're still alive aren't you ?

Here I come into the discourse a whooping and a hollerin'. Of course you have had excellent heliocopeter pilotes. HAD being the operative word, we're all gone and aged now, living in the twilight of our years, whisky soaked and punched out. Roll on my 30th birthday!

I've just remembered that Bootnecks never needed to do the descending bit when out in the field, we were already there; whilst our crab friends were in the heavens.

Well said Rob! Yes you Navy Pilots were top guys...........................


TAKE COVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have we still got RM Helicopter pilots, never mind fast jet?

This is the crest of 847 Naval Air Squadron; the squadron that used to be 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron Royal Marines. Can you see anything remotely connected to Corps aviation depicted here? Answers on a postcard to Rob...... I'm heading for the bunker ................. incomingggggg

To add to the above observation I gather that you now have to have 'pips' to sit up front. Cabs must be getting easier to drive!

Jim T

Last year I read about a Sgt RM flying Gazelles for the AAC's display team.

The two RM Harrier pilots are both offisahs so I think one does need to be 'pipped' to get on them.

When supporting your "own" you look for evidence to back you up. I heard the following regarding RN/RM chopper pilots in a comparison to RAF:

All (most) prospective pilots join the RAF to fly fast jets. Those who don't make the grade end up flying other aircraft including choppers. So the "best" pilots end up in jets.

There are very few fast jets in the Fleet Air Arm, so most prospective pilots expect to end up flying choppers. Which means (relatively speaking) there is more quality in RN/RM chopper pilots than RAF.


How true all this is I have no idea. At the time I was young and naive, so swallowed it hook line and sinker. Now I'm old and naive - but it does have a certain logic to it. If memory serves in the Far East Ulu, I can recall RN contour flying low over the canopy and RAF flying high and in straight lines. There again, memory can be selective - and distorted.

I think the look on a troop stripeys face when he clambered into my gazelle with his two oppos says it all. 'Relief'. he knew me, knew what he could expect from me, and got it.
Must have taken them ages to yomp to their correct position.

No seriously, I remember landing on a rain soaked patch near a huddle of officers. I recognised one, Jim Tappin, newly SD, and waved him over to the turning and burning gazelle, invited him into my little coccoon of warmth and gave him coffee, he then called Jock Stark over. That's what makes the diffference.

Norway, told to take a Rebro to the top of a mountain. Collected them, stowed their kit, wound it up and lifted to the hover. Luckily we were on Harstads ice runway, because we never made the hover. As we climbed the nose tried to stuff itself into the ice. I ran the skids on and slid along the deck, gradually slowing the cab down. When stopped I had a quiet think and the word 'Rebro' broke through the cloud of doubt and concern.
"What's in your bergens lads?"
"A41 batteries Sarge!"
Thought so, remember how much one battery weighed, well these buggers had four bergens full, no wonder the center of gravity had shifted to my left foot.

Crab pilots( or "pilotes" as Rob calls them), when it suits them, they fly. When it suits you, they won`t.
Perce? They`re filming a new series for the Beeb, called "Can`t fly, won`t fly"
The Andrew? Fly most of the time. Unless it`s raining, obviously Or hilly. And they don`t do dark.
Royal turns up when you want and drops you where you want. He does this for one simple reason. He knows what a Grav feels like when he`s told the bus ain`t turning up and, by way of variety, we`ll walk instead.
He was that soldier. That`s why.

Aye, Harry

P.S. Rob, is pilotes like pillates? Only asked cause you could do with losing some ballast

You noticed, damn, I thought this Kaftan made me look younger and slimmer.
Demis Roussos anybody? Oh you've just put one out.

Ahoy there!
Belize early 1986, somewhere near the Guatemalan border. I was due to be airlifted back to HMS Holdfast. The Gazelle touched down and the pilot gave me the thumbs up. Imagine my surprise when the pilot lifted his visor to reveal an old oppo Glynn 'Flames' Price. I didn't know he was in country and he didn't know I was until he saw me dashing towards him.

In late 1986 I met a former bootie pilot in Brunei (Rod something) serving with RBAF.

Ken Blaine, rangy, greying, prominent teeth!
Met him again while playing them at rugby '83.