Height, weight and fitness requirements - RAF

[machineman9]

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

[EGNX]

I think the minimum weight is 60kg... It might be 65kgs.

As for fitness I think you need to do a minimum of 20 press ups, level 9 point something on the bleep test and a minimum of 30 sit ups.

I'll ask my friend who did OASC recently to see if those numbers are correct.

[C]

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.

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

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.

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!).

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.

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.

[C]

Just scouring elsewhere, it appears 56.8kg and 94kg are the upper and lower limits on joining. Obviously once in, they relax a little depending on the job you're doing.

[machineman9]

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  ;D

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.

[C]

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.

Somewhere around that 10 or 11minutes 30 secs is vaguely familiar (over 5 years since I did it!)

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.

Sounds silly, but don't go for a "number 2" in the hours before your medical.

[machineman9]

Lol, I suppose every little helps  ;D

[scalper_old]

5,9 132 lbs. eat somthing.  ;)

[machineman9]

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]

I think the minimum weight is 60kg... It might be 65kgs.

As for fitness I think you need to do a minimum of 20 press ups, level 9 point something on the bleep test and a minimum of 30 sit ups.

I'll ask my friend who did OASC recently to see if those numbers are correct.

only 30 sit ups. There are 6 year olds that can do that :\

[machineman9]

I think the minimum weight is 60kg... It might be 65kgs.

As for fitness I think you need to do a minimum of 20 press ups, level 9 point something on the bleep test and a minimum of 30 sit ups.

I'll ask my friend who did OASC recently to see if those numbers are correct.

only 30 sit ups. There are 6 year olds that can do that :\

I presume different roles will demand more.

[C]

I think the minimum weight is 60kg... It might be 65kgs.

As for fitness I think you need to do a minimum of 20 press ups, level 9 point something on the bleep test and a minimum of 30 sit ups.

I'll ask my friend who did OASC recently to see if those numbers are correct.

only 30 sit ups. There are 6 year olds that can do that :\

35...

...having just done a set of maximal effort press ups, and maximal effort bleep test. The main limitation with the sit ups is the time. You can push dozens out at a time, but taking into account the amount of time to do a full sit up (as opposed to a crunch or half sit up), it can be tricky!

[61_OTU]

35 in a minute?  ;D

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

Never seem to find the time one way or another  :-/

[flyboy 28]

Those physical requirements are a joke.

[BigTruck]

Those physical requirements are a joke.

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