I applied to join the RAF as a pilot during my final year at university. I was still flying with the University Air Squadron at the time, so I had some idea of what was in store for me when I was called for the interview process at RAF Biggin Hill in late spring of 1977. Less than a year after I joined the RAF, an early BBC fly-on-the-wall documentary was produced to record RAF fast-jet flying training. It was filmed between May 1978 and early 1981 then broadcast from September to October 1981.
Fighter Pilot 1 – “Dreams”
Filming for this series began almost exactly 12 months after I started going through the system, so everything shown in this episode was what I experienced the year previously.
Two of the successful candidates in this episode later joined me flying Canberras on 100 Sqn. Robbie Lowe joined the squadron as a pilot about 18 months after me. Rod Smart switched to become a navigator; we flew together several times in 1982 and 1983.
Fighter Pilot 2 – “Officers and Gentlemen”
As I was a university graduate, I was sent to RAF Cranwell for my Initial Officer Training instead of to RAF Henlow as shown in this episode. Whilst the content of my course was almost identical, there was one major difference; we were treated as officers from the start of the course.
The SNCO and Warrant Officer instructors all had to call us “sir”, even when shouting at us on the parade ground: “Mr Trask, your shoelace is flapping around like a loose foreskin; tie it up, sir“! Better still, as soon as we arrived, we all immediately moved into our individual rooms in College Hall Officers’ Mess. Imagine my surprise as I was unpacking to have my new batman tap on the door, introduce himself as “Denis”, and ask what time I wanted to be woken with my cup of tea in the morning!
Fighter Pilot 3 – “Graduation”
I enjoyed the Initial Officer Training element so much that I did it twice! I finally graduated in April 1978 as a member of No30(R) Graduate Entry course.
The Jet Provost TMk5A aircraft that performed the graduation flypast were the type that I was destined to fly during my next course, and also what I was to teach students to fly during my second tour of duty. I flew and led such flypasts many times over the years.
Fighter Pilot 4 – “Going Solo”
Even though I had flown 144 hours on Bulldog aircraft with the UAS, since I had not been sponsored through university by the RAF, I was given the full 100 hour basic flying training course. Better still, because I was a graduate, I completed all of that course on the Jet Provost TMk5A at RAF Cranwell. The Jet Provost TMk3A featured in this episode was far inferior to the TMk5A and would struggle to maintain an airspeed of 240kts, against the 300kt cruise of the TMk5A.
When I became a Flight Instructor four years later, I discovered that the senior RAF staff had been horrified by some of the airborne instructional techniques displayed in this episode. Judge for yourself, but just remember, “You’re making some stupid mistakes. Relax and don’t be so tense”!
Fighter Pilot 5 – “Chopped”
The pilot wash-out rate during the 1970/80s was hideous. In those days, the training budget was high and the RAF could afford to be selective. If a student could not progress at the rate which was required, then the axe was swung without remorse. The first course that I was involved with training when I became a brand-new QFI in 1984 consisted of 12 pilots. At its end, one student went to fly helicopters, one to multi-engine training and only one got as far as fast-jet training on the Hawk; all the rest were chopped.
Fighter Pilot 6 – “Fear of Failing”
John McCrea didn’t win any friends in the Air Force Board for his comments made to the visiting minister and air staff. He was right, of course; leave was seen by senior air staff as an unnecessary interference in flying training, and that nothing but flying really mattered, but times and attitudes were changing.
Fighter Pilot 7 – “Wings”
Advanced flying training at RAF Valley was probably the most exciting thing that I did in my career. I was posted to No3 Sqn at Valley which was located to the north-western side of the airfield and had traditionally operated Hawker Hunters for those students that were too large to fit into the Folland Gnat. However, because the Gnat had been phased out by the time I arrived, the 3 Sqn Hunters were being replaced with Hawks and I was on 3 Sqn’s first course operating those aircraft. I recall that flying in the front seat of a Hawk through Welsh valleys at 420 kts and 25o ft above the ground felt like sitting in the head of a bullet.
My favourite part of this episode was the bit that shook the Air Force Board to the core. The Chief Flying Instructor’s opening comment, “You’re not going to go to war with a wanker on your wing”, apparently left the Board speechless, but secretly, I think they quite enjoyed it.
Fighter Pilot 8 – “Sport of Kings”
This was the part of training that I didn’t get to do. After getting my wings at the end of the fast-jet course, I was posted to Canberra aircraft.
The Air Force Board were upset by scenes of their young officers living in private rented accommodation and worse – cooking for themselves! Their immediate response was to order that all young officers should either move back into the Officers’ Mess or live married quarters until they were “combat ready” some months after reaching their first squadron.
Although I was initially disappointed not to be going on to fly something fast and pointy, I later witnessed the stress placed on friends who went on to fly front-line fast-jets. So overall, looking back, I wouldn’t want to change my flying career; I enjoyed every minute of it.
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