Yes, Kezz, I do have that advice. It's simple:-
1) Go to a decent University (doesn't have to be Oxford or Cambridge). It needs to be one with a University Air Squadron. My son went to Imperial College. A degree is useful, preferably in Science rather than Art.
2) Join the Uni Air Squadron, attend 1 lecture a week, have cheapest beer at Uni in the 'mess'. Go skiing, sailing, biking abroad, etc., and get PAID for doing it. Oh..... and get taught to fly for free. Go solo after about 6 to 10 flights
3) At the end of 3 years, he will know if he can tolerate the RAF. The RAF are not allowed to use this period as an extended 'interview'.......... ahem.
4) Apply to join RAF as Pilot Officer and sign-up your life for a MINIMUM of 18 years.... if accepted.
5) Have (almost) perfect health including eye-sight (no glasses allowed). My son's best mate from school has 20:19 vision...... he had to join same group but in the Navy..... the RAF are ludicrously picky!
6) go through seriously tough training regime. Pass your initial flying exams on Grobs Tutor.
7) Move to Tucanos and 'pass'.
8) Move to Hawk T2 and 'pass'
9) Move to Typhoons and 'pass'.
Two consecutive 'bad' flights in ANY of those planes and it's likely that you will get 'chopped'!
.....and that's it.
However, of the over 1,000 applications they had for Pilot Officer when my son applied, only 1 got through to the end. The others got 'chopped' along the way. If you get to pass on the Grobs, you could move to Multi-Engined planes and/ or Helicopters. You can be 'chopped' to those at ANY stage with no warning at all.....
The odd twist is that my Daughter in Law did EXACTLY the same path and is now only the 2nd British Female Typhoon Pilot......
I am impressed that one of them managed it, let alone two!
The above is pretty much it! It does help if they come with a WIDE CV with LOADS of successes, preferably in a sport. My son's colleagues played for England in Cricket, Rugby and Rowing, Skied in the British Team at the Olympics etc.... It's not essential...my son didn't.....!
It also helps to be LIKE the other pilots: calm, friendly, witty, steely, thoughtful and well up to date with the current news AND the background to the stories. That does NOT include minor celebrity stories! They need to be able to hold a conversation with almost anybody: Queens to Dustmen..... and NOT say 'you know', or 'like' or 'know what I mean' or 'errrr...' etc..
Get your lad to meet a few Pilot Officers: they are quite shockingly similar to each other! Almost like clones!
If he can do those things..... he can make it!
Wish him luck.
So far, my two love it! They haven't yet found the words to explain HOW good the Typhoon is to fly but you can see it in their eyes! It has a name: the two words spoken by EVERY pilot when they sit at the end of the runway on their first Typhoon take off....... and open the throttle FULLY...... Guess what those words are!!!!
Oh..... Daughter in Law's brother signed up before Uni and is being paid a scholarship through Uni. You have to be particularly good to get that. Hopefully, he will join them in Typhoons in about 3 more years.
Hope this helps! There are other ways but that's a pretty good 'direct' route!
Ian
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