Selected for pilot screening

[strongmanmike]

My son Riley has been selected for ADF flight screening. He will be going to Tamworth in July for two weeks to see if he has the right stuff :thumbsup:

He's not there yet, his chances of actually getting a pilot training spot are still quite low as the ADF have very few pilot spots available (so they only take the best) but it is extremely hard to get even this far in the process, so we are very proud of him. He is nearly 21 and has been a keen aviator for some time with quite a few hours under his belt already, he is to a point where he is able to sit his private pilots license and he has paid his way himself too, saving every penny he earns over the last couple of years and using it to fly :thumbsup:

Thanks for listening to a proud dad :)

Mike

[Astroman]

Top stuff Riley, wish you all the very best and hope you do get though, what an amazing career.

[Satchmo]

Having a history of interest and self motivation will put him in good standing , Mike. One of the young guys at our gliding club started flying at 15 , and has been accepted for Officer ( pilot ) training , with no power flying experience . Many would argue that gliders are a fabulous intro as they require more precision.

[Gem]

A good option if you just miss pilot is to go for Naval Observer - they still do all the pilot training anyway. Most pilot applicants go for RAAF, so Army and Navy are good options.
Alternatively, enter the ADF as a technical trade (e.g. avionics) and then do an internal transfer down the track.

Good luck! :)

Grant
ex-RAAF

[wasyoungonce]

Congrats Mike.

He has a good chance with his current experience. If he can...try to get a few hrs flying with an ex RAAF pilot instructor.

My friend did this (he was already an airframe tech), went to the selection board and they just shook his hand and said welcome aboard! Inside help is a good thing and the old tie network exists.

Brendan

[DavidTrap]

All the best to him Mike,

DT

[marc4darkskies]

That's great news Mike!! Please pass on congrats and good luck wishes from Gail and I.

Cheers, Marcus

[Lee]

Don't fall into the trap of thinking the RAAF prefer people who can already fly though.... sometimes this equates to too many bad habits they need to knock out of someone at 1FTS.... :)

[Hans Tucker]

That was the old perception but they do actually prefer candidates to have a few hours of flying and it is a bonus for Flight Screening at Tamworth. 1FTS died a sad death decades ago, now everything basic is done at Tamworth...but 2FTS is still around although civilian run.

Congratulations Mike and well done to your son for making the first hurdle.:thumbsup: I gather your son hasn't picked a particular service. (RAAF, Army or Navy):D Either way it sounds like he has a good foundation of flying to work on...but in the remote chance of not making it the first time...maybe have him think about ADFA.

We have the new Growler, P8 Possidon and Spartan (C27J) aircraft coming which should be in service if your son is finally selected and graduates.

Please keep us all informed of his progress

[Larryp]

Great news, Mike, and I hope he makes it all the way :thumbsup:

[MattT]

Very good stuff proud dad! My older brother did the whole RAAF Fighter flying school thing I think for two years. Got as far as the final flying test was just about to take off, in a jet, when they called him back and kicked him out! The reason so they said....didn't think he would follow orders without question.
This was during the 'Topgun' movie era, still his favourite movie and the experience of flying the training jets solo he said was worth it, and they were probably right.
Best of luck to your son.
Matt

[AndrewJ]

Gday Mike

Congrats on yr sons possible future,
but i gotta ask, if he does get in,
Will you still love him when he leaves
afterburner skidmarks across one of your 10min subs :lol:

Andrew

[iceman]

Congrats Mike! Hope he does well! You must be proud.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks for all the encouraging comments :thumbsup:

Riley already made it through the officer selection process and was offered a place as an army officer, which was his third choice on his original application after RAAF pilot and Army Pilot but after much consideration he turned it down because it is the air that he really wants to be in! Unfortunately for him he was deemed too tall when he sits down to be an army pilot and then he was deemed medically unfit to be a pilot in the ADF due to a misunderstanding about a respiratory issue. To his credit he fought this ruling and after some frustrating bureaucracy he won his appeal and his medical ruling was over turned...he was tenacious, thorough and won! Now his dream has been realised and he will get the chance to show his skills, abilities and temperament and hopefully the Australian Airforce will get a genuine asset, he will make a superb air force officer. He wants t go to ADFA and get a degree too :thumbsup:

Mike

[rat156]

Hi Mike,

Congrats to Riley.

I hope he hasn't got your build, they'll need to expand the cockpit at about shoulder height!

I look forward to seeing him around the traps, though I don't work with the RAAF much. If he doesn't make it, Army Engineers are the way to go.

Cheers
Stu

[LewisM]

Mike,

I was an instructor pilot for too many years (around 2500 hours instructional). I worked with a guy who was an instructor with the selection training at Tamworth, and got to know a LOT about their processes.

1. Prior flight experience is not only deemed "appropriate" but is almost ESSENTIAL. Shows keenness to do it on your own bat rather than the "free ride". Seeing he already has a few hours, then great. I would suggest he go do a few hours of aerobatics and unusual attitudes too - he's going to need it! And his flight precision is going to have to be top-notch. Split the zero as we say.

2. The academic/theoretical stuff is daunting - more so than the civilian stuff. I used to have ALL the manuals (copies), but sold them on eBay (for $1!!!!!!!!!). He MUST know the ops manual cover to cover, the flight manual verbatim etc. As well as all the RAAF rank structure, hierarchy, other aircraft data etc etc etc.

3. Interviews - ALWAYS say you want to be a fighter pilot. ALWAYS. If you say you want to be a trash hauler, they instantly think "Airline Pilot wannabe" - i.e using the RAAF as a stepping stone to better pay. I think they are a little more relaxed about it now, but they sure as heck never were before!

I went for the RAAF and Army DEO Pilot scheme back when I was a raw commercial pilot. Got all the way to be offered a place, and declined as I was offered what I thought was a better position (hindsight, where for art thou!).

Best of luck to him!

[Hans Tucker]

Interesting, I would have thought that being too tall in the torso wouldn't necessarily be a problem for Army Pilots, RAAF yes, but Army :confused2:

As for respiratory issues, I gather you are possibly talking about Asthma. Thing to note here is that if it isn't documented with your GP and he isn't taking regular medication it is best not to mention it for the reasons you mentioned.

I manage the Hypobaric (Decompression) Chamber for the RAAF at the Institute of Aviation Medicine (AVMED) which, if your son makes a RAAF Pilot, he will no doubt become familiar with as part of his Altitude and Hypoxia training....I could arrange a video to be taken of him succumbing to Oxygen deprivation :D

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Hans I'll let him know :thumbsup:

Mike

[Gem]

Angus Houston is quite tall when you see him in person!

[Baddad]

Hi Mike,:)
I feel very happy for you. Your son is doing well so far. All the best is what I wish for him.:)

I already am a proud father. I know what it feels like. My son is a Blackhawk pilot officer. I do hope you will experience the same thing. However even if he does not proceed any further, your son has already done well.

Cheers:)

[wasyoungonce]

Hi Hans...the hyperbaric chamber in Edinburgh? Worst job is opening that damn chamber door!

I've seen 6'2"+ fighter pilots in F18s.

.....Angus was a F111 driver. Titheridge was taller than Angus..... and had a bigger chin. I always wondered how he fitted in a Mirage and got his mask on!

Problem is everyone wants to be a fighter jock. No shame is wanting to fly other types as long as he can convince the board of your desire and reasons to do this. Lets say...flying heilo's...the challenge of flying close support or Herc's you like the team environment....remember key words!

[h0ughy]

hope he does well Mike - he deserves a good chance

[Ric]

What an amazing career path Mike.

Hope he does well.

[Hans Tucker]

Yes, the chamber at Edinburgh which is the last operational one in the Airforce, the one at the RAAF Museum will only be a static display.

In my time at 2FTS I had seen a number of tall student pilots going through. I know that the RAAF had concerns with pilots being tall in the torso particularly if their head (with helmet) extend above the canopy breakers on the ejection seats. If they were tall in the legs then they risk losing their knee caps to the instrument panel when the leg restraints pull their lower legs in before ejection.

Problem is Fighter Pilot wannabee's have big ego's and they were the problem children at 2FTS...I don't have an issue with confidence but you would always have arguments with these guys and they wont admit when they are wrong on a maintenance issue. I don't tell them how to fly so I don't expect to be instructed on how to repair an aircraft.

[rat156]

From the man himself, he lied about his height on his application form, then "ducked" a little in the medical.

Presumably they catch these things these days.

Cheers
Stuart

[Kunama]

Hi Mike, all the best of luck to Riley. Its such a competitive area, you need luck as well as skills but above all the you need the right attitude.
You're rightfully proud of him!

A friend from my Duntroon days in 1976 is now the head of Army Aviation Systems and has always loved his life in the Army. Another friend was one of the design team heads of the Joint Strike Fighter.

Hope all goes well.

[wasyoungonce]

I got knocked back from the RAAF in Melbourne recruiting due to Asthma (late late 70's). I had done years of rowing and never had an issue ....had bigger lung function than the charts could measure.

The Army would take me though.

2 weeks later applied in Sydney...fibbed...got in and did a 26
+ years service. Never had an issue.

Winning:thumbsup: It pays not to tell the truth sometimes.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks for the well wishes guys Riley is getting a lot of advice from a number of avenues, he will have to sort it out himself now but I appreciate the sentiments :thumbsup:.

Mike

[FlashDrive]

At the age of 16 ( closer to 17 )... I applied to join the Army to be a Apprentice Radio Technician.
They wrote back to me and said....apply again when your 17 ( 15 and 16 year olds can be an apprentices ...your too close to being 17 ...sorry don't want you just yet. )

Well ....stuff you I thought ( typical cheeky kid I was :D ) ....I'll try the Airforce,....so......sat all their ' entrance ' exams....6 weeks later :thumbsup:..I was on my way to 1RTU at Edinburgh SA....that was 40 years ago this year.

As it turned out...........I did Aircraft Engineering ...specializing in Aero Engines ( sumpy's as we were known as )...went to Amberley when the 1st F111-C's arrived.

Good luck Mike with your Son's endeavors....:thumbsup:

Flash..........

[Matt Wastell]

On ya Mike - hope it goes well for Riley.
One thing that stands out - surely you are too young to have a 21 year old son!

[Satchmo]

He will also probably have to agree to kill another human being if instructed by his authority - I was told this was part of the admission questionnaire by I young guy that went through the entry tests for the air force. I guess thats getting down to the nitty gritty . Some people may prove to have a conscientious objection when directly confronted with that question

[SingleMalt]

I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment but respectfully disagree with your advice. With the current shortage of fast jet pilots, the RAAF is not going to be interested in hiring guys who don't want to fly fighters. They're having enough problems convincing newly-winged 2FTS grads to go to 79SQN as it is (which is understandable), without throwing into the mix people who never wanted to go to jets in the first place.

My advice? If he wants to be a maritime/transport/VIP pilot, that's awesome. Go to Tamworth, work his backside off though the selection process, and tell the board that he wants to fly fighters. Hopefully he gets selected, goes to BFTS and 2FTS, continues working his backside off. 2 weeks before he gets his wings, when they ask him for his preferences as to what he wants to fly, put down whatever he wants as his first preference.

Good luck.

[pilot.raaf]

I'm a former RAAF Pilot that graduated from both BFTS and 2FTS. I am now looking at helping others attain their dreams of becoming Military Pilot's.

I have still have copies of the SATG and other materials like the CT4 type manual and instructors handbook, these will be a more comprehensive copy of the materials they will provide you on flight screening.

If anyone would like to get access to these resources send me an email at pilot.raaf@gmail.com

I am happy to help out as needed

[LewisM]

I too have a BUNCH of documentation,manuals etc, but civilian. If anyone legitimately needs instructor manuals (helps prepare you for what the instructor will show you by reading in advance what you will be taught from BOTH sides) drop me a PM. It could take me a while to find some of them from deep storage (especially any SFC manuals etc) but I do have ready access to my FAA instructor manuals, CAA/CASA manuals etc.