DISCLAIMER This web page has nothing whatsoever to do with the real RAF. It is intended to be a base for private individuals who wish to share their enjoyment of combat flight simulators. No disrespect is intended towards the men and women of the RAF who tirelessly and bravely assist in the defence of our country and her allies. We feel that this site, while frivolous in nature, can only serve to enhance people's interest in flight simulators and thereby promote a general understanding and enthusiasm for things that fly. It is certainly true that modern air combat simulators have been an inspiration for a number of young people wishing to pursue a career in the RAF. |
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INTRODUCTION The RVAF exists as a basis for the formation of squadrons of British combat flight simulator pilots. The RVAF is not really anything like the organized units such as the Cyber Marine Air Wing which are already on the web. The RVAF is far less formal and does not require its pilots to do anything in particular, apart from enjoy flight sims. There is no competitive ladder or formal training required to form or fly in an RVAF squadron. Essentially, the whole thing is just for fun and to identify yourself as a British (or Dutch, as it turns out!) pilot. If you wish to associate yourself with the RVAF and still compete, then there is no reason why you can't affiliate yourself with us and compete on the Cyber Wings system, or in DoA, WB, whatever. FORM OR JOIN So what do we require? We need only for you to own a copy of, and fly at least one combat flight simulator. You can do this on any computer platform you like, Macintosh, PC. . . Silicon Graphics Indy II (hee, hee!). Having decided that you own a flight sim and that you like to fly it, you may wish to either join or form a squadron. If you want to join a squadron, you should follow the appropriate link on this page and email the Commanding Officer of the unit in which you are interested. Each squadron will be run completely automonously and it is up to the individual squadrons as to whether you fit in with the way that they use their simulators. Some squadrons may be competitive ones, some may be for fun, some may be one person's private project and some may be restricted to certain sims on certain computer platforms. They may let you in, they may not. It's all up to the CO(s) of the squadron concerned |
FORMING A SQUADRON But let's say you fancy starting out with your very own squadron. There are a few rules here, but they aren't at all restrictive and are really to do with maintaining the identity of the RVAF. First off, you need a reason for a squadron. This can be pretty much anything. You may want to compete worldwide under your own flag, you may want to occasionally fly against other people or you may just want somewhere to keep all your replay files and cool screensnaps. All of these are perfectly good reasons to form a squadron, and the RVAF is just here as a central page to link from. So, armed with your idea you simply dream up a name, grab an unused squadron number, decide what kind of squadron you want (strike, fighter, bomber, torpedo bomber , operational conversion unit, Army co-operation, county or flying boat) and build your web site. Once that's done inform the RVAF that you have formed a new squadron and a link will be made to your site. There are a few artwork guidelines we would like you to adhere to. Please use the blank squadron badge templates linked to here to create your crest. When you do this, you should credit Nige as the creator of the original artwork. Feel free to use the RVAF roundels in any way you like or make your own: they are hardly complicated. Users of computers other than Macintosh may wish to change the central red area of the roundel (currently, it is the Apple Computer logo). Use your creativity in this area and the first non-Mac user to come up with a neat "red bit" may have his idea cast in stone as the convention for all RVAF roundels. That's all there is to it. |
* These squadrons, although not taken by any virtual squadron leaders, Site maintained by Richard P. Grant and Nige |