The platinum Wings is a successful mission flying over CAC and placing a box of Special K upon his SD hat
I’m pretty sure Silver are for solo flights either through a gliding scholarship with one of the VGSs or at ACPS. I’m sure I’ve seen a few posts shared recently on the book of faces of FSCs getting silver wings for first solos.
My comment was a response to this post (amongst others):
At this time that is correct .. however note I said that Drone /RPAS course is developed so in time they are going to be offering a sliver type course for this and if passes they will also qualify for the sliver wings
Blockquote
ACP1358 now incorporates the option for qualified RAFAC CFAVs to wear metal flying and space qualification badges, which are private purchase through the RAF Benevolent Fund :
Apparently proposals were made to produce metal cadet aviation progressive training syllabus badges (Blue/ Bronze), as well as RAFAC Silver / Gold Flying Badge and Civilian Flying Badge, but this option was not adopted. Also, I hear the small number of cadets entitled to wear the Reserve Pilot (Glider) badge have been told they cannot wear the metal version as it’s not listed for cadet wear, only for CFAV, in ACP1358.
This could do with a rethink and the current position denies funds for RAFBF but also means that cadets cannot demonstrate their progress in aviation other than wearing the BG jersey. We should be doing all we can to raise funds for the RAFBF and showcasing cadet achievement!
Excellent, I have a set, I’ll wear them on my RAFAC polo shirt! 
I’d be interested to see why the metal flying badges for cadets was never taken up, as it’s a shame these cadets don’t get to display their achievements for half a year.
1 Like
I’m sure RAFBF would be very open to all those additional potential customers.
1 Like
Exactly, it’s even going to a good cause!
1 Like
I wonder how they could differentiate between the levels though, as blue/bronze and silver/gold are the same?
I proposed an ASTRA for this and the system didn’t want to set a precedent for other qualification badges.
I felt that it was worth an exception to recognise genuine pilot experience amongst the staff cadre, even if the badge looked quite different.
Even if the bar was higher (I.e. instead of solo, a full PPL onwards).
Edit: just realised the forum showed me a really old post and I thought it was new.
What, like the Commando dagger or RAF Regt mudgards?
I think the argument may have been more “RAFAC-specific” badges.
But I struggled to think of an example that may naturally follow.
Basically this got pushed back by those who felt that there is no other respect in which we recognise civilian qualifications on RAFAC uniform - commando daggers and Regt mudguards are not equivalent. I think it’s a shame, too, but then I would say that…
1 Like
And yet… Cadet Civilian Wings - of which two of mine are very proud to wear.
1 Like
Since when was ACPS gold (used to be Tayside PPL), and if so, what’s now silver for the powered stream (if anything)
Photo from SM
From what I can remember cadets on an ACPS that is run at a 6FTS unit, ie and AEF, cannot go solo due to the regulations set out by 6FTS and the MAA. They do, however, do a ghosted solo.
Could be wrong as I haven’t yet seen the flying syllabus.
1 Like
Is that where the instructor is in the aircraft but doesn’t do anything?
1 Like
I’ll be honest I much prefer it that way… I see very little point in having gold be something which is a. financially unattainable by the vast majority of cadets and b. not even an internal qual.
Maybe I’m being cynical but keeping it as a PPL from an external supplier feels more like an ego badge for the (very) few with financial means to do it, as opposed to an actual RAFAC qualification
1 Like
Oh I 100% agree, not least because it was only for Tayside PPLs (identical nationwide!!!), just wondering when the change was promulgated
1 Like