Top Guns Inside The RAF

[Richard E]

Hopefully the right place to ask a left-of-field but logical question one of my colleagues who watched this series has asked me "because I know about aircraft" but I'm stuck for an answer.

What else do aircrew do when they are not actually flying (or preparing/debriefing a mission) - I'm guessing that there is a degree of regular training and that more senior aircrew may also have "desk jobs" managing the squadron but would all aircrew have a secondary role running the squadron operations as well ?

Many thanks

[Condor68]

Probably the head sizes are different.

Quite agree C 24 but as Captain Mannering seemed to imply on training night it is the head shape that is different not the size Dont know number of relevant training document.

[teeonefixer]

Hopefully the right place to ask a left-of-field but logical question one of my colleagues who watched this series has asked me "because I know about aircraft" but I'm stuck for an answer.

What else do aircrew do when they are not actually flying (or preparing/debriefing a mission) - I'm guessing that there is a degree of regular training and that more senior aircrew may also have "desk jobs" managing the squadron but would all aircrew have a secondary role running the squadron operations as well ?

Many thanks

Once a pilot has got established on a squadron (finished his initial qualifications) he will have his time filled up with all sorts of secondary duties, many official (aircrew-related duties such as in ATC, squadron and base admin, organising events, etc.) and background (social, the tea bar) too numerous to list. Plus the services promote sports and expeditions etc for those keen enough. If you look at the professional pilots forums, these things can often be the pain in the *** for a lot of officers.

[Rob666]

Hopefully the right place to ask a left-of-field but logical question one of my colleagues who watched this series has asked me "because I know about aircraft" but I'm stuck for an answer.

What else do aircrew do when they are not actually flying (or preparing/debriefing a mission) - I'm guessing that there is a degree of regular training and that more senior aircrew may also have "desk jobs" managing the squadron but would all aircrew have a secondary role running the squadron operations as well ?

Many thanks

Once a pilot has got established on a squadron (finished his initial qualifications) he will have his time filled up with all sorts of secondary duties, many official (aircrew-related duties such as in ATC, squadron and base admin, organising events, etc.) and background (social, the tea bar) too numerous to list. Plus the services promote sports and expeditions etc for those keen enough. If you look at the professional pilots forums, these things can often be the pain in the *** for a lot of officers.

I thank all those pilots you have helped run spotters trips in the past, always with a smile, and very much appreciated rather than flying in the clouds.

[C24]

Compared with Warship it highlights the great differences between the two services. Both are just tv programmes for what they are worth. Designed to dull the mind of the general populace and slightly more interesting than come dancing. Or at least the bits that I have encountered flashing the channels

[gamecock]

Series 2 announced, concentrating on Coningsby and Waddington. From the @truenorthtv Twitter account

[Sparts99]

Waddington will be interesting if they get reasonable access to the ISTAR squadrons. 56 also there, I don't know what they do but it seems hush hush.

[Unknown74]

I realise it's a long shot but it would still be great to see a DVD release of this First Series, I've got a DVD of a TV Show about the training of UK F-35 Pilots so this would be the ideal programme to go with that one. Looking forward to seeing Series 2.....

[Vulcanone]

Waddington will be interesting if they get reasonable access to the ISTAR squadrons. 56 also there, I don't know what they do but it seems hush hush.

54 Squadron is the ISTAR OEU and 56 Squadron is the ISTAR OCU from memory, hence I think callsign Firebird still gets used for training flights

[Sparts99]

RAF Website says 56 is the OEU?
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation ... -squadron/
Anyway, whatever, be good to see at least a little bit about them in the programme.

[Vulcanone]

RAF Website says 56 is the OEU?
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation ... -squadron/
Anyway, whatever, be good to see at least a little bit about them in the programme.

Yep old grey matter creeping in.... The E-3 ZH107 had the large 54 Sqn badge on its tail, even if it never flew with it before going under the JCB...

[jamesg23]

Think they finished filming at coningsby last week.

[Enobob]

Waddington will be interesting if they get reasonable access to the ISTAR squadrons. 56 also there, I don't know what they do but it seems hush hush.

56 Squadron is the ISTAR Test and Evaluation Squadron, OEU in old money. Nothing secret about that at all.