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Comet 4b Welcome to the RAE Ex-Apprentices Association and RAE Crest SE5a

This WEB-Site is concerned with highlighting the activities of the RAE Ex-Apprentices Association. The association provides a forum for ex-apprentices to meet and exchange views and experiences.

We were trained by the men who knew Cody, De H, Clarke and Busk,

And in the early days of flying, we struggled from daylight to dusk,

to get earthbound men skywards in devices although very crude,

Contained all the basic ingredients for the mighty aeronautical prelude

Since those early beginnings its an honour, and a privilege to be,

RAE Apprentices like the other one thousand, and me.

The one thousand became approximately 5000 by the time the scheme closed, Many ex-apprentices have made a major contribution in the fields of aviation, avionics, aerodynamics, engineering, information technology and others. Examples include major R&D programmes associated with the development of many well known aircraft including, in more recent years, Concorde, Harrier, Hawk, TSR2, Tornado, Jaguar, Lightning, Hercules and many more.

We hope that the WEB-Site provides a useful reference to ex-apprentices, particularly those who are unaware of the Association, in the hope that they might make contact with one of the committee members.

However, the association is now mainly concerned with more social activities."We are of course also the living history of RAE and maintaining interest/contact through news articles etc."

Are you an Ex-Apprentice who has just discovered this web site please email your contact details to the membership secretary Jim Allen many thanks.

A Brief History

Events

Digger and other Mentors