Hi everyone,
Please excuse the the title that crosses the border from hobby into personal life but I am at an age now where I'm starting to work full-time.

Up until now, my aim has been to be a pilot officer in the RAF but I've got a metal plate in my arm so it failed my medical and now before I persue anything specific I would like to know if anyone has a career in an aviation or modelling field.

I'd love to have something like Curtis Youngblood where I am recognized all over the world and have my own business. Being self-employed is my goal so I can fly when I want to! :greedy:

I believe there are very many people here who are very successful in what they do because of their number of $1000's worth of heli's. So, is your job related to your hobby in anyway?

By the way, I am only 17 but am an experienced heli flyer so I'm not just a newbie wanting to make it big time in the sport. I would like any opinions or help at all with this as I'm looking for something that will decide if I'll be happy or not in the future.

I'd love to hear from people who have been successfull in promoting their own business, people who work with something related to aviation/RC or people who work for a firm that is totally down a different avenue ot the rc market.

Thank you very much and I really appreciate your help. I would just like to hear from people here first before the Job Center.

James

you could try an engineering field in the RAF. As engineering officer (aerospace) or mechanical engineer.
these days, there is a severe global shortage of good aircraft mechanical and avionics engineers (especially avionics) because 10 years ago everyone interested in the electronics fields entered IT. now there is a massive void/shortage of qualified guys.

although the RAF certainly isnt anything similar to being self employed, the training they supply (free financially, but you must commit to stay with them for some specified period) is probablly the best training in the world. not to mention the great times you have as a young bloke travelling around the place, shagging everything....
i think also you may find most RAF bases have a modelling club or association, so you can keep your hobby, get educated in aerospace, be paid for it, and have a great time.

just get out after your commitment to then pursue your lifetime ambitions.......

just my opinion.

I tried the USAF but am color blind. They wouldn't let me fly and told me I would never fly commercially. I went to a private school and got rated, now I have my airline transport rating and have flown a few jets and a lot of other planes for people. I fly a plane for a private guy here and have a blast doing it. Sure glad they all said I couldn't do it. Made me have to prove them wrong. You can do anything you want. Make it happen.

I pursued a career in avionics... didn't pay well so I went into software.... Now I design software for banks and teach software design part time at the local university (U of Toronto)....

Plenty of free time and enough money to stay seriously with the hobby (compete) and raise a family (both very expensive).

Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy it first. Working is like getting paid to pursue another hobby to me, and has been all my career (>20 years).

Hi all,
I just typed a nice lengthy reply and once I clicked to post reply post, I got a message saying too many images, probably the smilies, so go back and correct it. I went back and all I seen was a page full of computer language. It was all jargon to me, it wasn't HTML as I recognize that but it was so annoying that I can't type it all out again now but will do tomorrow sometime.

Jim, I've sent you a PM as you seem to know alot about computers. Does any moderators who are reading this know a solution or the cause? I've saved the page and the contents so I may be able to decipher it to save me typing it all again.
James

Hi James.
I am from Portugal and my dream since I remember was to be a pilot. Because of that I started to practice this hobby and I love it. When I was 17 I tried Portugal Air Force to be a real pilot but , like you, I failed one of the last medical exams. I was very, very disapointed but life has to go on. I have been in hospital to cure the thing that made me fail those medical exams and now I am 20 years old and I am in the 3 year of Electronic and Computer Engineering.
A week ago I finally started doing something about my dream, I am in a private pilot school and studing to get a Private Pilot Licence. In the future I want to finish my graduation and become an engineer to get money to realize my dream, get the Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. It is not an easy job to get but I hope I can make it.
I wish you the best lucK:
Daniel Maia

I too wanted to be a pilot since I was very young. My Grandpa says he remembers telling me to be a doctor but I would say "No, I'm going to be a pilot" :+)

Well, after becoming an A&P mechanic, I went to flight school, earned all my ratings then flew odd jobs trying to build flight time (very difficult task) as insurance requirements are very strict.

Finally got my ATP and got a job flying Gulfstreams at age 26. Became a Captain at 29 and now Lead Pilot for a Fortune 100 company.

I had got alot of discouragement from people who never made it, but I was going to show them! So don't let any one discourage you

Here is my current office



Unfortunately, thanks to some terrorist Aholes, flying is a very tough business to get into.

g2driver, thats an awfully nice office. I used to fly for a company that had 3 gulfstreams. I never flew them though, always the Westwind. Need a co-pilot?

Im in management for a Hobby dist./retailer. Im also working on my private license, want to some day fly big iron.

Hi everyone and thank you for your replies,

I'm going into Leeds RAF Careers office tomorrow morning to try and get into an aircraft engineering trade. I have yet to decide whether or not to go in to weapons, propulsion or airframes. But I'm pretty sure that I'll be a technician in the RAF as the only other options are to fly privately then for a company or go down a totally unrelated career option.

I have now realised that you don't have to be a pilot in the RAF to have a great lifestyle and be able to fly. I would like to stay with the RAF for 9 years (normal enlistment) get some cash together and start flying by myself. My father has his PPL and I taught him most of the checklists and stuff. And then I could leave the RAF with some qualifications and start flying, possibly run my own business but has yet to come.

G2Driver, where's you rudder pedals? Are they all combined on the yoke. I have never seen one like that before.

Just my thoughts, and if I enjoy work, all the better!


Doesn't that sound like a dream lifestyle. Thanks Vortexgen, you've set me on my travels. I always overlooked those trades as I had my mind set on being a pilot, but I've now read the hundreds of leaflets I have and it seems great. 9 years service with great pay. Lots of holidays and depending on your trade, 3 days off every week.Plus more time off your work days for sport or other liesure activities (RC HELI'S) Aerospace seems good and that is my second choice, but in all the pictures, the technicians/engineers are sat in front of a large VDU similar to ATC's and I would prefer a more hands on kinda job. Check out:
http://www.rafcareers.com/html/airba...pjob.asp?id=33

So, I'm going in to the RAF Office tomorrow morning for direct-entry. It might not be long until I am in some RAF base anywhere in the UK getting paid, working full-time, living alone! It's a big step to take, but if my raptor can come with me I'm sure I'll sleep at night! Both parents were in the RAF for 12 years and they turned out ok!
As I wrote before, I typed a nice reply with some usefull info and it was all lost so I have now lost all the usefull links I spent about an hour gathering together so I'll have to leave it as it is.

Hopefully they won't take me in before august, I've just paid about £200 for 3D masters UK and am going flying with the Air Cadets this summer. I will post here tomorrow evening and tell you how I got on.
James

Hi G2driver, you should call yourself: EMB=135LR flyer! Very nice heli as well!

Good luck to everyone who is going for there PPL. It is great! I went with my dad everytime he had lessons just to watch him fly around and also have a look around the other planes. Managed to sit in all the hangared planes and got a few flights with an instructor.

Off to bed now, don't want to look bad tomorrow morning!
James

Hi Spurry, the rudder pedals are at the bottom, they have 6 squares cut into each one.

The yoke took a few flights to get used to, the Hawker's also have a similiar yoke.

I flew a Gulfstream II for 3 1/2 years prior to getting this EMB-135, that's where the nick G2driver came from.

Good luck to you,

Later,
Raj

That's a nice plane! John Travolta's got one similar to that, I think it is a learjet of some sort. I bet they're great to cruise around in just above the clouds at sunset! . Those pedals look like fixed footrests so I was a but muddled. All I have came into close contact with are the smaller light aircraft.

Just got back from RAF office and I have two choices in the technician trades:

1./ Airframe and propulsion technician.

2./ Weapons and avionics technician.

These all used to be seperate specialised trades but now they are trying to train technicians in two fields. Airframe and propulsion is my first choice as it is of most interest to me. It's basically a job fixing, maintaining and upgrading the aircraft and their engines! I will be posted in the UK at first but this job could take me anywhere in the world where ever we have aircraft!

I've got my application forms and I will have them posted tomorrow morning. I will hear within 10 days, then I will get called up for a series of test (aptitude and ability) at the centre, if passed then followed by at an unaffiliated medical unit around the corner all in the same day. If all is successful, I will be called for a formal interview with an RAF corporal or sergeant. There may be a few interviews and if every thing is fine and I have been accepted, then I'll have one final formal interview with an offer of service. If I pass everything, I should be starting basic training in August at RAF Halton.

Thank you all for replies. I now have a good idea of what careers are achievable and I am aiming for very similar things in the future. For anyone who is following this story, I will post the results of each selection part so you can know how I'm getting on.

Bye for now
James