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OK - so this has been a little while coming - but I just felt the sudden need to post this now.
For all those Fan fiction writers (and you know, TPTB if they're around) who have been wondering - no, the RAF is not the same as the USAF. They don't even have the same ranks.
I had to say this, because, I have seen fics with RAF officers that somehow, mysteriously, have ranks that don't exist......and notice I say officers - there is some overlap - but there's so little that it's chance if said people manage to get it right - more so in fics where they have one accurate rank and six non. (I know that the RAF are rare - but I've seen it)
The worst thing? It's not even like it's HARD to check these things - all they need to do is go on wiki or do a google search.
I admit that I can't name or order the ranks off the top of my head - but then I was never expected to - plus I always thought of my da as an engineer while he was in the RAF, fact is he was a Technician (only officers are classed as engineers...despite the fact that most of the work on the aircraft is done by the Technicians).
Another thing - for anyone planning to write an RAF character - they all have slightly odd senses of humour - not to mention British.
Also - this is a minor thing - that I doubt/hope has never come up in fanon (I tend to wince and gag before I get too far in once I find the rank wrong...) - the planes are all different from the american ones.....I hope to God everyone knows this, but I have a dreadful feeling there are people who don't....
Basically - in my opinion - as with a lot of things - people should research this stuff before they start/write the damn fic. They shouldn't get lazy/think that the rules are the same everywhere - cos they ain't. Hell, the regulations aren't even the same!!
Okay - so - having got that out of my system - should anyone be considering writing such a character - I would be very happy to help out - if I get stuck I can always throw questions at my Da (who has some very funny and very interesting stories - and also had a bad habit of insulting officers wives *head desk*), my best friend, my housemate (an officer's son - air traffic controller) or hell, the brother (who is presently in the stages of getting into the force himself - ground crew). So yeah - I have contacts.
For all those Fan fiction writers (and you know, TPTB if they're around) who have been wondering - no, the RAF is not the same as the USAF. They don't even have the same ranks.
I had to say this, because, I have seen fics with RAF officers that somehow, mysteriously, have ranks that don't exist......and notice I say officers - there is some overlap - but there's so little that it's chance if said people manage to get it right - more so in fics where they have one accurate rank and six non. (I know that the RAF are rare - but I've seen it)
The worst thing? It's not even like it's HARD to check these things - all they need to do is go on wiki or do a google search.
I admit that I can't name or order the ranks off the top of my head - but then I was never expected to - plus I always thought of my da as an engineer while he was in the RAF, fact is he was a Technician (only officers are classed as engineers...despite the fact that most of the work on the aircraft is done by the Technicians).
Another thing - for anyone planning to write an RAF character - they all have slightly odd senses of humour - not to mention British.
Also - this is a minor thing - that I doubt/hope has never come up in fanon (I tend to wince and gag before I get too far in once I find the rank wrong...) - the planes are all different from the american ones.....I hope to God everyone knows this, but I have a dreadful feeling there are people who don't....
Basically - in my opinion - as with a lot of things - people should research this stuff before they start/write the damn fic. They shouldn't get lazy/think that the rules are the same everywhere - cos they ain't. Hell, the regulations aren't even the same!!
Okay - so - having got that out of my system - should anyone be considering writing such a character - I would be very happy to help out - if I get stuck I can always throw questions at my Da (who has some very funny and very interesting stories - and also had a bad habit of insulting officers wives *head desk*), my best friend, my housemate (an officer's son - air traffic controller) or hell, the brother (who is presently in the stages of getting into the force himself - ground crew). So yeah - I have contacts.
