Why R.A.F. Cranwell Is Important | RAF PILOT CAREERS | Britain's Busiest Royal Air Force Station

R.A.F. College Cranwell is Britain's busiest RAF Station and it is also a very crucial station for ALL RAF pilots and aircrew. Why?

Well, this is where it all begins for a Pilot. As a Royal Air Force front-line Pilot you might fly the F-35B Lightning II, Typhoon FGR4, Voyager KC2/KC3, C17 Globemaster III, A400M Atlas, E7 Wedgetail, P-8A Poseidon, Shadow R1, RC-135W Rivet Joint, CH-47 Chinook, and Augusta 109 delivering Royal Air Force capability around the world. The roles of the Pilots are as varied as the aircraft and in the training role they fly Tutor, Prefect, Phenom, Juno, Jupiter, Texan T1 and Hawk T2, plus in the public display role the Hawk T1, Hurricane, Spitfire, Lancaster, Dakota and Chipmunk.

Whatever the Pilots end up flying, they will be initially streamed to fast jet, multi engine or helicopter aircraft per operational requirements and their flying ability. They may specialise in an aircraft type throughout their career or transfer to others. As the Pilot of a multi-role fast jet aircraft, their primary role will be air-to-air combat and ground attack. In Air Mobility (transport aircraft) they will be sent anywhere in the world on military support, humanitarian aid or air-to-air refuelling missions. On Rotary Wing (helicopters) their duties would include delivering troops and vital equipment within combat zones. In aircraft supporting Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) tasks, they would contribute to the UK understanding of activities taking place in the RAF's increasingly complex, congested and contested world. Like most people in the RAF, the Pilot will probably change roles every few years and move between RAF bases in the UK and overseas to carry out their operational and training role. As their career develops, they could also take on mission planning and ground-based staff duties.

At RAF Cranwell, it will start with Initial Officer Training. RAF officers begin their career by completing the Modular Initial Officer Training Course (M)IOT at the RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire. You will complete a challenging modular 24-week course, split into 4 distinct terms designed to develop your robustness, fitness, leadership and academic skills through several indoor and outdoor exercises across the UK.

Then it is Specialist Training which begins with Elementary Flying Training, flying the Tutor or Prefect aircraft. They will then be streamed to fast jet; multi-engine or rotary (helicopter) flying training.

For Fast-jet: Fast-jet training lasts about 2 years and they will initially fly the Texan at RAF Valley, after which they will be awarded the Pilot flying badge – known as ‘wings’. They will then go on to fly the Hawk T2 at RAF Valley and, after successful completion of the tactical weapons phase, they will go to an Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), where they will train on the specific aircraft that they will be flying in a front-line role (e.g. Typhoon).

Multi-engine: The training to fly multi-engine aircraft is about 10 months long, during which the Pilot will fly the Phenom at RAFC Cranwell. They will then be awarded their Pilot ‘wings’ and go to an OCU to train on the aircraft that they will be flying operationally (e.g. C17).

For Rotary Wing: If the Pilot is streamed to rotary they will spend around 18 months flying twin-engine helicopters at RAF Shawbury, the Juno and Jupiter. After the training, they will be awarded their Pilot ‘wings’. They will then go to an OCU where you will train on the helicopter that you will be flying operationally (e g. Chinook).

This is a basic summary of a Pilot's career, please see link further down for more info.

Links and Info:
RAF Pilot Career
https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/roles/...
RAF College Cranwell
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisati...
XXIV Squadron
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisati...
F-35B Pilot's experience
https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/...
Prefect T1
https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircraft/prefe...
29 Squadron (OCU)
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisati...
207 Squadron (OCU)
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisati...

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