Hello

[Avid Merrion]

Hi I asked this question the other day but put it in the Egg Race thing by mistake

I'm thinking about joining as an Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic or an Armourer could anyone there give me some ideas which is best?

My Dad said (he's ex RAF) if I get in, all my training will be done at Cosford but I have heard you are closing down. Is this true?

Thank you

Avid

[propersplitbrainme]

Hi mate, I'll repeat the answer I gave in the egg race thread here.

Both trades have their merits and it depends upon what you want to do.

Armourers deal with stuff the goes bang, loading weapons, servicing ejection seats that sort of stuff But they don't just work on aircraft things, they deal with small arms, pyrotechnics and bomb disposal as well. I'm sure a real armourer could fill in the many gaps I've left out.

As an AMM you work on the aircraft as an all round trade assistant, you'll be given some basics on hydraulics, engines, flying copntrols, avionics - the lot. Your initial training takes you to what we term 'mechanic' level. After that you go out into the 'real airforce' and after two years learning the ropes you return to Cosford do more in-depth training in your specialised field i.e. mechanical or avionics.

Of the two trades, armourer is traditionally thought to be more dead-ended, i.e. there are less job opportunities outside of the RAF in that field. That said, many RAF aircraft techies often adopt a compltely different career once they leave the service anyway.

If you join in the next year or so you'll definately do your initial mechanic training at Cosford, thereafter ..who knows. Cosford may or may not close depending upon the outcome of a decision to be announced shorty, probably in the new year, although the rumour status now appears to have it as a done deal :rolleyes:. And don't listen to all the jackasses out in the main forums who refer to the place as Tossford, its not that bad really :PDT_Xtremez_28:

[gemarriott]

[quote=propersplitbrainme;47763]Armourers deal with stuff the goes bang, loading weapons, servicing ejection seats that sort of stuff But they don't just work on aircraft things, they deal with small arms, pyrotechnics and bomb disposal as well. I'm sure a real armourer could fill in the many gaps I've left out.


The gaps are spent drinking, whoring and fighting, be a plumber it's a great life while it lasts:PDT_Xtremez_30:

[Avid Merrion]

Hi mate, I'll repeat the answer I gave in the egg race thread here.

Both trades have their merits and it depends upon what you want to do.

Armourers deal with stuff the goes bang, loading weapons, servicing ejection seats that sort of stuff But they don't just work on aircraft things, they deal with small arms, pyrotechnics and bomb disposal as well. I'm sure a real armourer could fill in the many gaps I've left out.

As an AMM you work on the aircraft as an all round trade assistant, you'll be given some basics on hydraulics, engines, flying copntrols, avionics - the lot. Your initial training takes you to what we term 'mechanic' level. After that you go out into the 'real airforce' and after two years learning the ropes you return to Cosford do more in-depth training in your specialised field i.e. mechanical or avionics.

Of the two trades, armourer is traditionally thought to be more dead-ended, i.e. there are less job opportunities outside of the RAF in that field. That said, many RAF aircraft techies often adopt a compltely different career once they leave the service anyway.

If you join in the next year or so you'll definately do your initial mechanic training at Cosford, thereafter ..who knows. Cosford may or may not close depending upon the outcome of a decision to be announced shorty, probably in the new year, although the rumour status now appears to have it as a done deal :rolleyes:. And don't listen to all the jackasses out in the main forums who refer to the place as Tossford, its not that bad really :PDT_Xtremez_28:

Sorry I must of missed that bit but thanks a lot for the information

By the way why do you call it Tossford? Someone else called it decay Tossford too but I can't remember where

Thanks

[Avid Merrion]

[quote=propersplitbrainme;47763]Armourers deal with stuff the goes bang, loading weapons, servicing ejection seats that sort of stuff But they don't just work on aircraft things, they deal with small arms, pyrotechnics and bomb disposal as well. I'm sure a real armourer could fill in the many gaps I've left out.


The gaps are spent drinking, whoring and fighting, be a plumber it's a great life while it lasts:PDT_Xtremez_30:
I don't want to be a plumber, my grandad is a Gas Fitter and heating engineer and he said plumbers stink anyway I want to join the RAF not to be a plumber and I don't really like beer very much.

But if you know anything about being an armourer that would be great

Thanks

Take him away Kevin and snsp is spin and pul is tetdsicles throo is noseoles

Avid

[alberts nose]

I don't want to be a plumber, my grandad is a Gas Fitter and heating engineer and he said plumbers stink anyway I want to join the RAF not to be a plumber and I don't really like beer very much.

But if you know anything about being an armourer that would be great

Thanks


Avid[/QUOTE]

If you dont like beer you wouldnt make a good plumber.
Plumber is RAF nickname for armourers.
Decay comes from the Official name of Cosford; Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering (DCAE) Cosford.

[MattBombHead]

[quote=gemarriott;47768]
I don't want to be a plumber, my grandad is a Gas Fitter and heating engineer and he said plumbers stink anyway I want to join the RAF not to be a plumber and I don't really like beer very much.

But if you know anything about being an armourer that would be great

Thanks

Avid


Best you join as AMM son!!!

::/:

[Tin basher]

Avid old chap if your member profile is correct then as a civvy with your HOME COUNTRY being the Netherlands and assuming therefore you are Dutch (I may be wrong) then joining the Royal Air Force in what ever capacity may be something of a problem. :PDT_Xtremez_03: Have a proper merry crimbo.

[Captain Slog]

[QUOTE=Avid Merrion;47811]


Best you join as AMM son!!!

::/:

Coming from an Armourer that is mighty fine advice.

Unless you can drink beer until your sick and then drink some more, carry heavy objects on your shoulders that other people would normally use a sling for, as a member of a squadron refuse to mix with any other trade, be fiercely loyal to all your fellow armourers above and beyond what any other trades do, apply for specialist courses such as bomb disposal and the leave the RAF and try and get a job on a civil airline who’s Jumbo Jets have ejections seats and carry 2000 lb Paveway bombs.

If you don’t fancy all that then definitely be an AMM and then 2 years later get a trade as a Rigger/Sootie (that’s Airframes/Engines to the uninformed).

PS; this is not intended as a criticism of the armourers it’s just an observation opinion after 28 years as a blue suit, besides I do have friends who are armourers and I don’t want my bike blown up!

[gemarriott]

[quote=MattBombHead;47828]

Coming from an Armourer that is mighty fine advice.

Unless you can drink beer until your sick and then drink some more, carry heavy objects on your shoulders that other people would normally use a sling for, as a member of a squadron refuse to mix with any other trade, be fiercely loyal to all your fellow armourers above and beyond what any other trades do, apply for specialist courses such as bomb disposal and the leave the RAF and try and get a job on a civil airline who’s Jumbo Jets have ejections seats and carry 2000 lb Paveway bombs.

If you don’t fancy all that then definitely be an AMM and then 2 years later get a trade as a Rigger/Sootie (that’s Airframes/Engines to the uninformed).

PS; this is not intended as a criticism of the armourers it’s just an observation opinion after 28 years as a blue suit, besides I do have friends who are armourers and I don’t want my bike blown up!


And you were doing so well too all the stuff in red beautiful! but then you go and spoil it by typing crap. what came over you man? you know Jumbos only carry sneb cans and CBUs.

blow his bike up anyway lads I haven't seen a bike blown up for ages::P:

[Avid Merrion]

[QUOTE=MattBombHead;47828]

Coming from an Armourer that is mighty fine advice.

Unless you can drink beer until your sick and then drink some more, carry heavy objects on your shoulders that other people would normally use a sling for, as a member of a squadron refuse to mix with any other trade, be fiercely loyal to all your fellow armourers above and beyond what any other trades do, apply for specialist courses such as bomb disposal and the leave the RAF and try and get a job on a civil airline who’s Jumbo Jets have ejections seats and carry 2000 lb Paveway bombs.

If you don’t fancy all that then definitely be an AMM and then 2 years later get a trade as a Rigger/Sootie (that’s Airframes/Engines to the uninformed).

PS; this is not intended as a criticism of the armourers it’s just an observation opinion after 28 years as a blue suit, besides I do have friends who are armourers and I don’t want my bike blown up!
NowI'm really coinfused

Plumbers/Riggers/Sooties the Corporal at the careers office never mentioned them

He was really keen on me becoming an AMM but my Dad says they sound just like Flems or something that he remembered when he was in - he said they had no real career prospects.

But the Corporal also said that Armourers are a dying breed because the regiment will look after the hand guns soon and the armourers will amalgamate with the survival equipment fitters. My dad said it will be better to be a fitter rather than a mechanic because mechanics are thickos so I'm going back tomorrow to see about becoming a survival equipment fitter.

I do like drinking I just don't like beer. I really like cider and I had some Malt off my grandad and that gave me a real buzz, it was just like being smacked off my tits, so hopefully I will get posted to Scotland

Thank You

Avid

[propersplitbrainme]

[QUOTE=Captain Slog;48119]
NowI'm really coinfused

Plumbers/Riggers/Sooties the Corporal at the careers office never mentioned them

OK, these are terms for the various trades as the used to be


Plumbers - Slang term for armourer. Still exists

Riggers - Slang term for single trade airframe technician. Now defunct as such, amalgamated into new Aircraft Technician Mechanical

Sooties/Sumpies - Slang term for single trade propulsion technician. Now defunct as such, amalgamated into new Aircraft Technican Mechanical.

So, the AMM is as I previously decribed it, once you've done your technician training after two years in the RAF, you become either a:

Aircraft Technician Mechanical - Airframes and Propulsion systems or

Aircraft Technician Avionics (I think) - Avionics, comms, radar and electrical

Hope that helps

[alberts nose]

blow his bike up anyway lads I haven't seen a bike blown up for ages::P:

You will need to have a lot of explosives to blow up Captain Slogs bike. Its a special reinforced one made from old battleships.

albert

[Avid Merrion]

[QUOTE=Avid Merrion;48123]

OK, these are terms for the various trades as the used to be


Plumbers - Slang term for armourer. Still exists

Riggers - Slang term for single trade airframe technician. Now defunct as such, amalgamated into new Aircraft Technician Mechanical

Sooties/Sumpies - Slang term for single trade propulsion technician. Now defunct as such, amalgamated into new Aircraft Technican Mechanical.

So, the AMM is as I previously decribed it, once you've done your technician training after two years in the RAF, you become either a:

Aircraft Technician Mechanical - Airframes and Propulsion systems or

Aircraft Technician Avionics (I think) - Avionics, comms, radar and electrical

Hope that helps
Thanks ever so much - but I've been thinking now that crew chief sounds like fun so I might have a go at that I'll ask at the careers office this afternoon

One more question what is a splitbrain?

Thanks

Avid

[Avid Merrion]

You will need to have a lot of explosives to blow up Captain Slogs bike. Its a special reinforced one made from old battleships.

albert
We had kid in cadets that sounds like him

Our fat kid was a Trekkie to, maybe yours should be called Captain Slob

Thanks

Avid

[propersplitbrainme]

[QUOTE=propersplitbrainme;48152]
Thanks ever so much - but I've been thinking now that crew chief sounds like fun so I might have a go at that I'll ask at the careers office this afternoon

One more question what is a splitbrain?

Thanks

Avid

Crew chiefs don't exist any more, not in the sense that I'm thinking of. They are called Ground Engineers and are posts filled be Sergeants and Chief Techs, i.e. you only get to do this job when you've been in a few years.

A splitbrain is the slang term for a dual trade technician (airfames and propulsion) who joined under a long since dead apprenticeship scheme.
PS. Ignore any inevitable and predictable abuse that the single trade jackasses will hurl at the very mention of splitbrains...they are know nothing, nobodies the lot of 'em ::P: :PDT_Xtremez_28:

[Hu Jardon]

[quote=Avid Merrion;48253]

Crew chiefs don't exist any more, not in the sense that I'm thinking of. They are called Ground Engineers and are posts filled be Sergeants and Chief Techs, i.e. you only get to do this job when you've been in a few years.

A splitbrain is the slang term for a dual trade technician (airfames and propulsion) who joined under a long since dead apprenticeship scheme.
PS. Ignore any inevitable and predictable abuse that the single trade jackasses will hurl at the very mention of splitbrains...they are know nothing, nobodies the lot of 'em ::P: :PDT_Xtremez_28:

Strange because theres I'm pretty sure there's a few on the Kipper Fleet a bloke at Kin**** called Get TEa and another at Waddo called Pam Worrier and they say they are crew chiefs now and there is loads of extra money for being on them because they are crew

[Bitburger]

[QUOTE=Captain Slog;48119]
NowI'm really coinfused

.

I do like drinking I just don't like beer. I really like cider and I had some Malt off my grandad and that gave me a real buzz, it was just like being smacked off my tits, so hopefully I will get posted to Scotland

Thank You

Avid

I don't thnk there is a place for you in the RAF if you know what 'being smacked off my tits' feels like.

[Avid Merrion]

Oh yes there are crew chiefs Get Tae is one and he sent me this message

Aye ask the careers office about crew chief, its identical to AMM but you get paid sh1te loads more for doing even less. I joined straight from training as a crew chief and havent looked back since. Only problem is the leftover dognuts are taking thier toll!

I just don't know who to believe now

and I thinks he meant doughnuts not dogs doodaas

[propersplitbrainme]

Oh yes there are crew chiefs Get Tae is one and he sent me this message

Aye ask the careers office about crew chief, its identical to AMM but you get paid sh1te loads more for doing even less. I joined straight from training as a crew chief and havent looked back since. Only problem is the leftover dognuts are taking thier toll!

I just don't know who to believe now

Nor do I. Crew Chief/GE, think they are the same thing just a terminology difference- a technician whose primary role is to fly with the aircraft and do running repairs on the thing when it breaks down in faraway lands. Chances of effecting a repair without calling for assistance from base are inversely proportional to the local ambience, i.e. beach, hotel, sun, loadsa women...no chance. Cold $hitty hole, done in a jiffy.

[Avid Merrion]

[QUOTE=Avid Merrion;48123]

I don't thnk there is a place for you in the RAF if you know what 'being smacked off my tits' feels like.
I don't know why my cousin, he's an SAC, said things are really easy now - theres hardly any feds about and its easy to have a quick toot if you want one.

Anyway I only really got smacked off my tits once 'cos its dead expensive and cost me nearly all my birthday money. Whiskey is much cheaper

Thanks a lot

Avid

[alberts nose]

I don't know why my cousin, he's an SAC, said things are really easy now - theres hardly any feds about and its easy to have a quick toot if you want one.

Anyway I only really got smacked off my tits once 'cos its dead expensive and cost me nearly all my birthday money. Whiskey is much cheaper

Thanks a lot

Avid

Maybe you should pm your cousins name to myself, Hu Jardon, or ProperSplitBrainMe, just so we can verify your story.

albert

[Avid Merrion]

Maybe you should pm your cousins name to myself, Bitburger, Hu Jardon, or ProperSplitBrainMe, just so we can verify your story.

albert

Why are you the Police?

He's my cousin and I don't want to grass him up

Thanks a lot

Avid

[Hu Jardon]

Maybe you should pm your cousins name to myself, Bitburger, Hu Jardon, or ProperSplitBrainMe, just so we can verify your story.

albert

Don't drag me into this FFS I've got my own ideas about this little sh!t stirring little tw@t. But if he does join I hope its as a mechanical AMM 'cos the fairy gene pool is fooked up enough already with those fekkin dog fcuckers

Hu

:raf:

[alberts nose]

Don't drag me into this FFS I've got my own ideas about this little sh!t stirring little tw@t. But if he does join I hope its as a mechanical AMM 'cos the fairy gene pool is fooked up enough already with those fekkin dog fcuckers

Hu

:raf:

the rigger side is fcuked up too, maybe hope for him as a squipper. I've only taken one to them to Collie before being kicked out.

[Penguins Suck]

rightt listen in yous avrill merryone yous shud join as a rock becos we's are the hardest

[Captain Slog]

[quote=Captain Slog;48119]

And you were doing so well too all the stuff in red beautiful! but then you go and spoil it by typing crap. what came over you man? you know Jumbos only carry sneb cans and CBUs.

blow his bike up anyway lads I haven't seen a bike blown up for ages::P:

The last time I saw the armourers blow anything up was back in the early 70’s when they were requested to “blow” the undercarriage locks on an old Vulcan Mk 1 at Waddington so it would collapse gently onto the ground and the firemen could then use it for fire rescue practice.

After the “Specialist Explosives Chief” gently applied what he thought was the 200lb of required gelignite, he set off the charge and yes, you’ve guess it – there was a fcuking great bang and all that was left were little pieces the size of a CD (that’s like a metal record for you armourers – not a bar of chocolate). The resultant 5 mile plume of smoke and flame that drifted into the sky had everyone in a 20 mile radius of Waddo think that one of the Bombers had piled in.

So please gemarriot, don’t blow up my bike – Cosford couldn’t afford to rebuild half of the station!

By the way Avid – I ain’t a fat Trekkie, just a Trekkie and by the sound of your responses may be the armourer world would be just right for you.

[alberts nose]

rightt listen in yous avrill merryone yous shud join as a rock becos we's are the hardest

Maybe PS is right. He put a good reasoned arguement forward about the Regt, though he failed to also mention that they are on the higher pay band.

You also learn skills that can come in handy when you leave the RAF, like snapping peoples spine.

Albert

[Avid Merrion]

rightt listen in yous avrill merryone yous shud join as a rock becos we's are the hardest
I'm quite shy but I would like to be a bit harder

What exactly is a Rock?

Thank You

Avid

[Avid Merrion]

[QUOTE=gemarriott;48122]
So please gemarriot, don’t blow up my bike – Cosford couldn’t afford to rebuild half of the station!

By the way Avid – I ain’t a fat Trekkie, just a Trekkie and by the sound of your responses may be the armourer world would be just right for you.

If Cosford is closing it won't matter if it got blown up would it

And another thing I bet you are fat

Thank You

Avid

[alberts nose]

I'm quite shy but I would like to be a bit harder

What exactly is a Rock?

Thank You

Avid

Shy in one post and then gobbing off in the next. tin foil hat please

[Penguins Suck]

I'm quite shy but I would like to be a bit harder

What exactly is a Rock?

Thank You

Avid

Right yous aved merryone listen in Rocks are RAf Regiment we are one of the big 3 the othvers are the para and the marines. we are ard as fcuk and kick fcuk out of fat spekkie techies at the bop and then nick there burds becos all the burds love rocks

[Avid Merrion]

Right yous aved merryone listen in Rocks are RAf Regiment we are one of the big 3 the othvers are the para and the marines. we are ard as fcuk and kick fcuk out of fat spekkie techies at the bop and then nick there burds becos all the burds love rocks

Thanks for the reply and my name is Avid Merrion not aved merryone sorry to be a pain but my mum checks up on me and she would be angry if she sees you calling me that

I never even knew the Regiment was part of the RAF sorry I thought they was Special outfit

Do you have to drink loads of beer in the Regiment because I only like cider and malt whiskey

I'm not fat and I don't wear glasses I take it if you like women then you don't have gays in the Regiment or is there a special Regiment Flight for the gays?

Thanks very much

Avid

[Penguins Suck]

Thanks for the reply and my name is Avid Merrion not aved merryone sorry to be a pain but my mum checks up on me and she would be angry if she sees you calling me that

I never even knew the Regiment was part of the RAF sorry I thought they was Special outfit

Do you have to drink loads of beer in the Regiment because I only like cider and malt whiskey

I'm not fat and I don't wear glasses I take it if you like women then you don't have gays in the Regiment or is there a special Regiment Flight for the gays?

Thanks very much

Avid

right yous avral maryone how the Fcuk cud a rock be gay? thems are rocks for fcuks sake if you say that again i will snap yous spine
if yous like cider espacialy diamond white yous will do wel in the Regt

[propersplitbrainme]

Hmmmm,

Being taken for a ride here I think.

I'm bailing out.

[Hu Jardon]

[quote=Captain Slog;48119]


And you were doing so well too all the stuff in red beautiful! but then you go and spoil it by typing crap. what came over you man? you know Jumbos only carry sneb cans and CBUs.

blow his bike up anyway lads I haven't seen a bike blown up for ages::P:
sadgggggggggggggggggggggggggggg