The RAF website seems to be a little reluctant to give out complete requirements for signing up. Google doesn't seem to have that many more results and Air Cadet Central's forums don't seem to be working that well at the moment.

I'm just looking for the height and weight (and fitness) requirements for being a fast jet pilot. Height shouldn't be a problem for me... Apparently the maximum height is 6' 4" and I am 5' 9" or there abouts. I know it resides more on leg length, but as I am well under the maximum limit, I should be alright.

Weight is another issue. I understand there must be a minimum weight limit because Mr Ejector seat likes to throw you out with quite some force. Does anyone know the upper and lower limits for this? Last time I checked I weighed in at 60kg, or 9st 6.5lbs, or 132lbs.

Is this sufficiently weighty enough? I know I've still got some growing to do and I imagine I will put on a bit more weight through training, but how does it look so far?


What sort of fitness levels are required? Or generally what kind of fitness is done? By this I mean things such as if you must complete an 'X' mile run in 'Y' time or must complete a certain number of pressups etc.



Hopefully should be speaking to the AFCO in the next few months if I do have any questions un-answered, but I figured I would come here first to get a good idea of what to expect.


Cheers

machineman9 wrote on Apr 14^th, 2009 at 2:38pm:


Should be no problem there, unless you're particularly disproportionate, with either very long thighs or a very long back.

Quote:


The minimum weight is the least limiting. Can't remember it exactly (and my paperwork is deep in the garage), but I suspect it's somewhere around 8-9stone. The upper limit is about 95-100kg (limited by the Tucano seat IIRC, which has a limit of about 105kg for a pilot with full kit - I was just over 100kg kitted out!).


Quote:


As fit as you can be. I suspect you'll be familiar with the beep test? If so, they'll be expecting a teenager to score above level 10-6 (again, IIRC), and the higher the better. When you start training you'll do the BPFA (IIRC Basic Personal Fitness Assessment), which consists of a 1.5 mile run to which you need to meet a set time, followed by 2 minutes each of press ups (28min for "pass") and sit ups (about 40 to pass; consider that the RAF fitness test requires 35 sit ups in one min anyway!). The RAF annual fitness test (which is 6 monthly), consists of the beep test (9-10)*, and a minute of sit ups (35)* and press ups (20)*.

From what I've heard recently you do the full RAF fitness test at OASC these days, but I may be wrong. The pass mark is the pass mark, but extra consideration is given to stronger passes (where the 10-6 level crops up).

In short, be as fit as you can!

*Numbers in bold are the pass levels for up to age 30.

Oh goodness, darn bleep test haha. Not my strongest point during circuit training at school. But I've got time to practise that one.

Yep I think I found that (for me) I will need to pass a 2.4km run in roughly 12 minutes. I think that is just the initial pass grade anyway.


But sounds good to me. Certainly seems manageable anyway... Says he who runs on treadmills without pounds of kit on his back 

Should be able to put on a bit more weight as it is, but it doesn't seem as if I am in any danger of not making the grade. I usually stick around this weight and haven't gone more like half a kilo below it in quite some time.

Cheers for the answers. Sets me a goal and plenty of time to reach it.

Lol, I suppose every little helps 

I eat all the time lol. Constantly getting the munchies hehe. I'm just the sort who doesn't put on that that much weight from eating.

Dr.bob7 wrote on Apr 14^th, 2009 at 8:01pm:

I presume different roles will demand more.

35 in a minute? 

I keep telling myself that I should do 35 in a WEEK!

Never seem to find the time one way or another 

flyboy 28 wrote on Apr 16^th, 2009 at 10:09pm:



  I've seen some U.S. Navy sailors that aren't allowed on ship due to payload restrictions 

More fun, less run... That's what I now say.

Get the fitness bit sorted and spend time working towards the actual goal of said career. Can only learn so much about flying aircraft when doing reps in the gym where you could be proving every so often that you are fit and spend the rest of the time training practically.

Seems a lot more in your own hands. Other services seem to watch over you all the time, but the RAF seems to say 'we have seen that you can be capable, so heres your opportunity to show that you are capable in the long run'. Besides at Cranwell I saw their Kendo team training. I would love to try something like that than just repeatedly going on a treadmill etc.