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3D Heli Depot . JR-Spektrum . Gyro Hobbies

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Main Discussion > Wish me luck, RAF interview next week!
 
 
spurry
Veteran
Location: Wolverhampton/Leeds/ Dumfries, UK

Yes! Finally I've heard back from the RAF.

I applied quite a while ago after changing my trade preference from pilot to propulsion technician. I was called back a few months ago and passed the aptitude tests etc and on the 4th August I had to go down to London for a specialist medical to make sure my arm was fit after an accident 4 years ago where I had to get metal plates in. They said they would let me know soon as possible.

And this morning, a phone call comes and I have my interview booked down for next Thursday. I don't have many doubts, as I was told that I did very well in a previous pilot interview. Once I've done this, then that's me, off and away.

If only you could imagine keeping any part-time jobs off and having to survive in this hobby with about £50 p/w. I can only dream of what it must be like to actually have disposable income!

I'm ready for 6-8 weeks basic training and then a couple of years learning about those lovely turbines!!! Model clubs on site, go-karting, great pay=great helicopters! It all sounds so good!

James
09-10-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
G.Man
rrProfessor
Location: Northants, but soon to be Nicosia, Cyprus

Good luck james



Don't Email me as I wont reply - PM Only (spam countermeasures)
09-10-2003 Over year old.
 
 
TroyE
Senior Heliman
Location: Orlando, FL.

I wish you luck and triumph.
09-10-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
DOKEY
rrProfessor
Location: Northampton UK

Was one thing I always wanted to do.

Best of Luck,hope it goes well for you. Ryan

Check the gallery!
09-10-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
ez-flier
Veteran
Location: Vermont

Good luck James!! I hope all goes well
Aaron

Century Rep
Magnum Rep
09-10-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
RotorX
Key Veteran
Location: London

Good luck mate,

Will you be able to fly your heli when you are signed up with the RAF ?

You can always leave them with me - i'll look after them hehehe

Kaz
09-10-2003 Over year old.
 
 
Marty
Senior Heliman
Location: Australia

Best Wishes.
It will all work out in the end, and good to see you kept your chin up and sense of humor throughout!
Cheers!
09-11-2003 Over year old.
 
 
spurry
Veteran
Location: Wolverhampton/Leeds/ Dumfries, UK

cheers guys, I'm sure I'll be taking my heli with me Kaz! Oh crap, I just thought, 8 weeks without a heli, girls, drink or even a computer...what am I going to live on???

Is there anyone here at Runryder that is or has been in the RAF? I expect the first 2 years to be studying and quite hard work, then after that when I get posted somewhere, the life of luxury begins. Working about 4 days a week, brilliant food, great lads, decent work and fantastic pay. Why don't you quit your jobs and come with me?

Anyone who's interested can read about it here. The A-Z link at the top will keep you happy, there's something for everyone. I musn't get carried away though, it's not mine yet.

I'll let you all know how I get on. And I'll be sure to keep my feet firmly on the floor Janek!


James
09-11-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
WMac
Veteran
Location: Skotlande

Hope all goes well... sounds like you've found yourself a right cushy number

Will


Beep Beep! One Road Travel, with Dominic Byrne!
09-11-2003 Over year old.
 
 
spurry
Veteran
Location: Wolverhampton/Leeds/ Dumfries, UK

Thanks Will.
The crap thing is, that from now until then I am going to have to wean myself off RR and read all The Times papers, watch the news, learn current affairs, geography, politics, history of the RAF, current rates of interest, bank rate, FTSE, exchange rates, what the job involves and anything else. Talk to you next week.

Or anyone here in any Air Force? How much time to you get to fly?
James
09-11-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
headcase
Senior Heliman
Location: UK

Hi James

I have been in the RAF for almost 20 years now and overall have had
a great time.Only slight regret was my choice of trade (movements
controller), wish i had gone for one of the technical trades like yourself,
techies are on a higher pay band for a start!
I have always had plenty spare time to fly, as i have mostly worked
shifts, (2 days 2 nights 4 days off).
Bye the way, when you do your basic training at RAF Halton, you have one of the best model heli shops in the UK just a few minutes away
(Skyline Models)
Very best of luck, if you have any more questions give me a shout

regards

Brian
09-11-2003 Over year old.
 
 
spurry
Veteran
Location: Wolverhampton/Leeds/ Dumfries, UK

Hi Brian, That sounds great. I'm glad to hear that people in the RAF have plenty of time to fly.
I've heard many stories of the RAF but my their behind the times now since they were told by my parents. I will shoot you a pm soon to ask you a few techie questions.

This is me trying to get my studying done! RR always seems to pop up when I'm on the net.


James
09-11-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
coops
Senior Heliman
Location: Bradford UK

Good luck and best wishes Spurry, from t'other Yorkshire Lad on RR...............I may have room for your Raptor in My Hanger If you need it looking after !!.......you know running occasionally .............you know just to stop the batteries draining .....................and stopping the bearings from seizing.......and err......... any thing else, I may not have thought of...................

When life hands you lemons......pass the tequila baby !!
09-11-2003 Over year old.
 
 
col
Veteran
Location: U.K. Ipswich.

good look.

just watch your back in the showers.



hope u don't get bored with the hotels...

col..
09-12-2003 Over year old.
 
 
f14mech
Heliman
Location: Sparta mo

hi all..and good luck

just watch your back in the showers.


sounds like he joined the navy..lol.. i hope to hear how it goes for you..i have 19 ys. in the u.s.navy.. i have been on dets woth some of your guys..drink untill 4 am ..go to work at 7 am..go home and drink till 4 am.. i was able to hang for 4 days..but after that..sleep...lol ..good luck
09-12-2003 Over year old.
 
 
cfranks
Veteran
Location: Adelaide South Australia

James,

With your positive attitude you should get on very well. Good luck.

I joined the RAF, also at Halton, 50 years ago next week. I only lasted just over 2 years but I still use skills that I learned there.

Charles
09-12-2003 Over year old.
 
 
spurry
Veteran
Location: Wolverhampton/Leeds/ Dumfries, UK

You beauty! It was a great interview today and it went well right from the start, thank god!

I had been worrying about this for a long time ever since my demoralising interview with the boss of bosses. I really knuckled down and I know almost every detail of every headline in the times so I was prepared. But because I was only interviewed by a corporal, it wasn't as hard as the one by the officer and there were no politics questions at all.

Went in my best bib and tucker and the whole thing was just like I was talking to a friend for the first time and realising that we share the same hobbies or interests. At the end of it, he wouldn't keep me hanging on so he told me there and then, that I had gotten through absolutely fine.

The only downside is that because I have lived in South Africa during the last 5 years, my security clearance will take longer and even then it may not be a pass. SA isn't a communist country so I think it should be fine, just need to wait for the embassy, referrences and such to be checked.

What now? Within 2 weeks I should get a letter and then I'll just have to wait for the all-clear from the security people. Then I'll be on my way to nice and sunny Halton for 9 weeks of pure hell where at the end of it I will feel like a man who's just had the best time of his life, before 12 months trade training at RAF Cosford, then on to a station somewhere.

Thanks for all the support and the offers to take care of my birds! But I found out there are model clubs !!!! It's just such a relief to get the interview over with and to know that where ever I end up, I can fly the heli's! And I should be getting paid enough to be able to get that Fury Extreme.

Cheers, James


.
09-18-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
RotorX
Key Veteran
Location: London

Well done mate, sounds like a win win to me.....

Kaz
09-18-2003 Over year old.
 
 
MooseLoad
Senior Heliman
Location: Charleston AFB, SC

Congrats man! Don't worry too much about the security clearance. If their practices are anything like ours here in the states, it may take a bit longer, but if everything is as you told them it will go fine. I have seen some here lately take 6 months to a year (some of the new kids get to our squadron after all their schools and STILL dont have their clearance), so be ready for the possibility of a bit of a wait, but it should be fine.
09-18-2003 Over year old.
 
 
spurry
Veteran
Location: Wolverhampton/Leeds/ Dumfries, UK

I hope so Mooseload. Bloomin heck those C-17's are HUGE!!! I'd love to get to see one for real rather than just trying to spot this little guy standing next to it on the front of the RAF brochures.

I don't mind waiting, just as long as I know that something is happening and I'm not just a file sitting at the bottom of a pile on a workers desk. But the longer I'm waiting, the more I just want to get in there. Hell, I've never known me to be so excited to go out and work. You won't believe how much I'm looking forward to it.

The other good news that the corporal told me today was that from 2005 the airframe and propulsion will again be merged into one dual-trade. It will mean 6 weeks extra training for me once I'm out on the field just to get me up to grabs with the airframe side of it, then I would be working on all the hydraulics, airframes, fuel systems as well as those lovely screaming jet engines!
Anyway, musn't get my knickers in a twist just yet, I have wait to hear from them first.


.
09-18-2003 Over year old.
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Main Discussion > Wish me luck, RAF interview next week!
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