Just seen a post with a cadet FS wearing No1s with aircrew insignia. I thought Aircrew slides were only an RAF thing (Not for RAFAC personnel). Flight Staff Cadets have flight staff tapes. This particular FS is said to be involved with Aviation Ground Schools (So, not even a VGS where cadets are flying) - only delivery of ground based training aswell as other STEM topics. I’ve also seen some RAFAC staff sometimes rock these aircrew slides, so just keen to actually know what the regs are on this
Personally, I think this is pointless - but someone has decreed that we can have Sgt, FS, Mstr Aircrew ranks for staff who are merely connected with VGS, AEF, AGS (even in non-flying roles) and unfortunately it does also allow cadets on the same to wear cadet aircrew rank slides. Pointless, costly and doesn’t meet any need other than a shiny new badge. I want RAFAC Regiment Mudguards as I’m an SAAI, RCO and ECO.
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When I first saw these RAFAC aircrew ranks at RIAT, it made perfect sense: as those wearing them also had glider pilot brevets.
That’s as far as I think the logic can carry: pilots are aircrew, but ground instructors are not. Similarly, for FSCs the aircrew ranks should be preserved for those actually qualified to fly with cadets.
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Exactly - they had glider pilot wings. Why the need for a new badge?
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To be completely honest, I don’t even know why the RAF keeps them. ‘During the War’ you had SNCO pilots, air gunners, etc, who didn’t need them.
At some point it got brought in to distinguish direct entry SNCOs: but now we have DE SNCOs who aren’t aircrew. (Not to mention that all RAFAC SNCOs are DE.)
Had this conversation elsewhere.
As someone who did the full RAF trg for 2 brevets (AEOp& pilot), I do not think that we should be issuing “aircrew status” rank slides to cadets.
Aren’t cadets only allowed to wear the FSC tapes when on VGS/AGS duty? Question is how are they on VGS/AGS duty in No1s…
No, that was changed so there was no constant swapping of tapes.
Within the context of this being a thing, I think that was a good decision.
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That makes sense in a way
However No 1s would involve in physically damaging the no 1s to put the eagle on.
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Surely only as much as sewing on any other badge/rank insignia?
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It may not be a flying badge, but quite simply they should not be wearing aircrew insignia. Obtain and read “Electronic Airborne Goldfish by John Clements” and then reflect.
exmpa