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{{about|the air force rank|the film|Flight Lieutenant (film)}}
{{short description|Junior commissioned rank}}
{{short description|Junior commissioned rank}}
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{{about|the air force rank|the film|Flight Lieutenant (film)}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2013}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2024}}
{{Globalize||United Kingdom|date=February 2024}}
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{{Military ranks | state=expanded}}

'''Flight lieutenant''' ('''Flt Lt''' or '''F/L''') is a [[junior officer]] rank used by some air forces, with origins from the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/commissionedranks.cfm |title=Ranks and Badges of the Royal Air Force |access-date=2007-12-01 |year=2007 |publisher=[[Royal Air Force]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110709184204/http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/commissionedranks.cfm |archive-date=9 July 2011 }}</ref> The rank originated in the [[Royal Naval Air Service]] (RNAS) in 1914. It fell into abeyance when the RNAS merged with the Royal Flying Corps during the [[First World War]] but was revived in 1919 in the post-war RAF. The rank is used by air forces of many [[Commonwealth of Nations|countries that have historical British influence]].

Flight lieutenant is immediately senior to [[flying officer]] and immediately below [[squadron leader]]. It is usually equivalent to the rank of [[Lieutenant (navy)|lieutenant]] in the navy and of the rank of [[Captain (armed forces)|captain]] in other services.

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The equivalent rank in the former [[Women's Auxiliary Air Force]] (WAAF), [[Women's Royal Air Force]] (WRAF) and [[Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service]] (PMRAFNS) (until 1980) was [[flight officer]].

==Canada==
{{see also|Canadian Armed Forces ranks and insignia}}
The rank was used in the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] from 1920 until the 1968 [[Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces|unification of the Canadian Forces]], when army-type rank titles were adopted. Canadian flight lieutenants then became [[Captain (armed forces)|captain]]s.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} In official [[Canadian French]] usage, the rank title was {{lang|fr|capitaine d'aviation}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.castlearchdale.net/id37.html |title=The RCAF |website=www.castlearchdale.net |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603201652/http://www.castlearchdale.net/id37.html |archive-date=3 June 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== United Kingdom ==
{{see also|RAF officer ranks}}
{{Infobox military rank
{{Infobox military rank
| name = Flight lieutenant
| name = Flight lieutenant
| image =
| image =
| image_size = 150px
| image_size = 150px
| caption = An RAF flight lieutenant's command flag
| caption = Command flag
| image2 = British RAF OF-2.svg
| image2 = British RAF OF-2.svg
| image_size2 = 100px
| image_size2 = 50px
| caption2 = Shoulder and sleeve insignia of a flight lieutenant from the [[Royal Air Force]]
| caption2 = Shoulder and sleeve insignia
| image3 =
| image3 =
| image_size3 =
| image_size3 =
| caption3 =
| caption3 =
| country =
| country = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| service branch = Air forces
| service branch = {{air force|United Kingdom}}
| abbreviation = Flt Lt / {{smaller|FLTLT}}
| abbreviation = Flt Lt / {{smaller|FLTLT}}
| rank =
| rank =
| NATO rank = [[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers#Officers (OF 1–10)|OF-2]]
| NATO rank = [[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers#Officers (OF 1–10)|OF-2]]
| Non-NATO rank = O-3
| Non-NATO rank =
| formation = {{start date|1919|08|01|df=y}} ([[Royal Air Force|RAF]])
| formation = {{start date|1919|08||df=y}}
| abolished =
| abolished =
| higher rank = [[Squadron leader]]
| higher rank = [[Squadron leader]]
| lower rank = [[Flying officer]]
| lower rank = [[Flying officer]]
| equivalents = {{unbulleted list|{{nowrap|[[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|Captain]] ([[British Army]]; [[Royal Marines]])}}|[[Lieutenant (Royal Navy)|Lieutenant]] ([[Royal Navy|RN]])}}
| equivalents = {{unbulleted list|{{nowrap|[[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|Captain]] ([[British Army|Army]]; [[Royal Marines|Marines]])}}|[[Lieutenant (Royal Navy)|Lieutenant]] ([[Royal Navy|Navy]])}}
| history = [[Royal Naval Air Service]]
| history = [[Royal Naval Air Service]]
}}
}}
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===Origins===
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{{Military ranks | state=expanded}}
'''Flight lieutenant''' is a junior [[Officer (armed forces)#Commissioned officers|commissioned]] rank in air forces that use the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) [[RAF officer ranks|system of ranks]], especially in [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth countries]].<!--PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE NATO OF CODES. THEY GO FROM 1 TO 10 AND ARE NOT THE SAME AS UNITED STATES O CODES, WHICH RANK FROM 1 TO 11. OF-1 COVERS BOTH O-1 AND O-2--> It has a [[Ranks and insignia of NATO|NATO rank code]] of OF-2. Flight lieutenant is abbreviated as '''Flt Lt''' in the [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF) and RAF, and as <small>'''FLTLT'''</small> in the [[Pakistan Air Force]] (PAF), [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) and [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] (RNZAF) and has sometimes also been abbreviated as '''F/L''' in many services; however, it has never been correctly abbreviated as "lieutenant". A flight&nbsp;lieutenant ranks above [[flying officer|flying&nbsp;officer]] and below a [[squadron leader|squadron&nbsp;leader]] and is sometimes used as an English language translation of a similar rank in non-English-speaking countries.

The rank originated in the [[Royal Naval Air Service]] (RNAS) in 1914. It fell into abeyance when the RNAS merged with the Royal Flying Corps during the [[First World War]] but was revived in 1919 in the post-war RAF.

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An RAF flight lieutenant is the equivalent of a lieutenant in the [[Royal Navy]] and a [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] in the [[British Army]] and [[Royal Marines]]. The equivalent rank in the former [[Women's Auxiliary Air Force]] (WAAF), [[Women's Royal Air Force]] (WRAF) and [[Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service]] (PMRAFNS) (until 1980) was [[flight officer]].

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==Origins==
[[Image:RNAS Flt Lt.png|thumbnail|100px|left|The rank insignia of a [[Royal Naval Air Service]] flight lieutenant]]
[[Image:RNAS Flt Lt.png|thumbnail|100px|left|The rank insignia of a [[Royal Naval Air Service]] flight lieutenant]]
The rank originated in the [[Royal Navy]] as a rank title for [[Lieutenant (Royal Navy)|naval lieutenants]] serving in the [[Royal Naval Air Service]] (RNAS).<ref>{{cite journal |editor1-last=Spooner |editor1-first=Stanley |editor1-link=Stanley Spooner |title=Royal Naval Air Service Reorganisation |journal=Flight |date=26 June 1914 |volume=VI |issue=287 |page=686 |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_flight-international_1914-06-26_6_26/page/686/mode/2up |access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref> Promotions to the rank were first gazetted on 30 June 1914.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28845 |date=30 June 1914 |page=5070 }}</ref> It fell into abeyance when the RNAS merged with the Royal Flying Corps during the [[First World War]] but was revived in 1919 in the post-war RAF.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/ranks.cfm |title=Ranks and Badges of the RAF |work=Royal Air Force |year=2015 |access-date=22 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702132745/http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/ranks.cfm |archive-date=2 July 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The rank originated in the [[Royal Navy]] as a rank title for [[Lieutenant (Royal Navy)|naval lieutenants]] serving in the [[Royal Naval Air Service]] (RNAS).<ref>{{cite journal |editor1-last=Spooner |editor1-first=Stanley |editor1-link=Stanley Spooner |title=Royal Naval Air Service Reorganisation |journal=Flight |date=26 June 1914 |volume=VI |issue=287 |page=686 |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_flight-international_1914-06-26_6_26/page/686/mode/2up |access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref> Promotions to the rank were first gazetted on 30 June 1914.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28845 |date=30 June 1914 |page=5070 }}</ref> It fell into abeyance when the RNAS merged with the Royal Flying Corps during the [[First World War]] but was revived in 1919 in the post-war RAF.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/ranks.cfm |title=Ranks and Badges of the RAF |work=Royal Air Force |year=2015 |access-date=22 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702132745/http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/ranks.cfm |archive-date=2 July 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


On 1 April 1918, the newly created [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] adopted its officer rank titles from the [[British Army]], with [[Royal Naval Air Service]] lieutenants (titled as flight lieutenants and flight commanders) and [[Royal Flying Corps]] captains becoming captains in the RAF. In response to the proposal that the RAF should use its own rank titles, it was suggested that the RAF might use the [[Royal Navy]]'s officer ranks, with the word "air" inserted before the naval rank title. For example, the current rank of flight lieutenant would have been "air lieutenant". Although the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] objected to this simple modification of their rank titles, it was agreed that the RAF might base many of its officer rank titles on navy officer ranks with differing pre-modifying terms. It was also suggested that RAF captains might be entitled flight-leaders. However, the rank title flight lieutenant was chosen as [[Flight (military unit)|flights]] were typically commanded by RAF captains and the term flight lieutenant had been used in the Royal Naval Air Service. The rank of flight lieutenant has been used continuously since 1 August 1919.
On 1 April 1918, the newly created [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] adopted its officer rank titles from the [[British Army]], with [[Royal Naval Air Service]] lieutenants (titled as flight lieutenants and flight commanders) and [[Royal Flying Corps]] captains becoming captains in the RAF. In response to the proposal that the RAF should use its own rank titles, it was suggested that the RAF might use the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[Ranks of the Royal Navy|officer ranks]], with the word "air" inserted before the naval rank title. For example, the current rank of flight lieutenant would have been "air lieutenant". Although the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] objected to this simple modification of their rank titles, it was agreed that the RAF might base many of its officer rank titles on navy officer ranks with differing pre-modifying terms. It was also suggested that RAF captains might be entitled flight-leaders. However, the rank title flight lieutenant was chosen as [[Flight (military unit)|flights]] were typically commanded by RAF captains and the term flight lieutenant had been used in the Royal Naval Air Service. The RAF rank of flight lieutenant was introduced in August 1919<ref>{{cite book |last=Hobart |first=Malcolm C |date=2000 |title=Badges and Uniforms of the Royal Air Force |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ATMDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT29 |publisher=Leo Cooper |page=26 |isbn=0-85052-739-2}}</ref> and it has been used continuously since then.


==Usage in the RAF==
===Usage in the RAF===
'''Royal Air Force'''


Although in the early years of the RAF a flight lieutenant commanded an aircraft flight, with the increasing combat power of aircraft and therefore squadrons, command and control has shifted up the rank structure (currently, for instance, most squadron commanders in the RAF are [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]]s, a reflection on the comparative combat power between the modern air force and its predecessor).
Although in the early years of the RAF a flight lieutenant commanded an aircraft flight, with the increasing combat power of aircraft and therefore squadrons, command and control has shifted up the rank structure (currently, for instance, most squadron commanders in the RAF are [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]]s, a reflection on the comparative combat power between the modern air force and its predecessor).


The RAF's promotion system is automatic up until Flight Lieutenant. Every officer will attain the rank provided they complete their professional training and do not leave early. For Aircrew, Flight Lieutenant is reached 2.5 years after commissioning, Engineering Branch (AS & CE) entrants with applicable Bachelors/Masters degrees reach Fight Lieutenant at 2.5 and 1.5 years respectively, and for all other ground branch officers, 3.5 years. Aircrew are appointed to an Early Departure Payment Commission upon reaching their [[Operational Conversion Unit]], which is a commission for 20 years or age 40, whichever is later. Promotion to [[Squadron Leader]] thereafter is strictly upon merit; officers promoted beyond Flight Lieutenant are appointed to a Career Commission, or service to age 60. Resigning a commission is generally dependent on the needs of the Service, although an officer who has completed their Return of Service (service the RAF requires to justify its expense in originally training the officer) could leave after as little as four years. For aircrew, given the large expense required for training, this Return of Service is generally the length of their initial commission anyway, unless they re-role to a different branch having failed an element of flying training. Most aircrew reach their squadrons as Flight Lieutenants due to the length of training time required (up to four years for fast jet pilots) and the significant holds in the training pipeline.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Military-Flying-Training.pdf|title=<!--ACTUAL ARTICLE TITLE BELONGS HERE! original text: www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Military-Flying-Training.pdf-->}}</ref> The majority of squadron line pilots are flight lieutenants, with some squadron executives or Career Commission aircrew reaching Squadron Leader.
The RAF's promotion system is automatic up until flight lieutenant. Every officer will attain the rank provided they complete their professional training and do not leave early. For aircrew, flight lieutenant is reached 2.5 years after commissioning, Engineering Branch (AS & CE) entrants with applicable bachelor's/master's degrees reach flight lieutenant at 2.5 and 1.5 years respectively, and for all other ground branch officers, 3.5 years. Aircrew are appointed to an Early Departure Payment Commission upon reaching their [[Operational Conversion Unit]], which is a commission for 20 years or age 40, whichever is later. Promotion to [[squadron leader]] thereafter is strictly upon merit; officers promoted beyond flight lieutenant are appointed to a career commission, or service to age 60. Resigning a commission is generally dependent on the needs of the service, although an officer who has completed their return of service (service the RAF requires to justify its expense in originally training the officer) could leave after as little as four years. For aircrew, given the large expense required for training, this return of service is generally the length of their initial commission anyway, unless they re-role to a different branch having failed an element of flying training. Most aircrew reach their squadrons as flight lieutenants due to the length of training time required (up to four years for fast jet pilots) and the significant holds in the training pipeline.<ref>{{Cite report|url=https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Military-Flying-Training.pdf|title= Military flying training |publisher=[[National Audit Office (United Kingdom)|National Audit Office]] |author=Comptroller and Auditor General |date=12 June 2015 }}</ref> The majority of squadron line pilots are flight lieutenants, with some squadron executives or Career Commission aircrew reaching Squadron Leader.


Aside from aircrew, whose work typically does not require active leadership for units of airmen, ground branch officers can expect to operate units that can range in size from a few specialist non-commissioned personnel to 50 or more personnel for engineering or other manpower intensive roles. The role of a Flight Lieutenant generally involves management of a team of specialists Non-Commissioned Officers and airmen, within their specific branch. In the [[RAF Regiment]], a Flight Lieutenant generally has the same role and responsibility as a [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|Captain]] in the British Army, in charge of a Regiment Flight of 30 men, and could be second-in-command of a Squadron of up to 120 men.
Aside from aircrew, whose work typically does not require active leadership for units of airmen, ground branch officers can expect to operate units that can range in size from a few specialist non-commissioned personnel to 50 or more personnel for engineering or other manpower intensive roles. The role of a flight lieutenant generally involves management of a team of specialist non-commissioned officers and airmen, within their specific branch. In the [[RAF Regiment]], a flight lieutenant generally has the same role and responsibility as a [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] in the British Army, in charge of a regiment flight of 30 men, and could be second-in-command of a squadron of up to 120 men.


Flight Lieutenant is the most common officer rank in the RAF; in April 2013, for example, there were 8,230 RAF officers, of whom 3,890 (47.3%) were Flight Lieutenants.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/284564/uk-af-personnel-report-1-april-2013-revised.pdf |title=UK Armed Forces Annual Personnel Report |work=Ministry of Defence |date=1 April 2013 |access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref> In RAF informal usage, a flight lieutenant is sometimes referred to as a "flight lieuy". A Flight Lieutenant's starting salary is £42,008.48 as of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf-ff.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/20190919-2019-Pay-Rates.pdf|title=<!--ACTUAL ARTICLE TITLE BELONGS HERE! original text: www.raf-ff.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/20190919-2019-Pay-Rates.pdf-->}}</ref>
Flight lieutenant is the most common officer rank in the RAF; in April 2013, for example, there were 8,230 RAF officers, of whom 3,890 (47.3%) were flight lieutenants.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/284564/uk-af-personnel-report-1-april-2013-revised.pdf |title=UK Armed Forces Annual Personnel Report |work=Ministry of Defence |date=1 April 2013 |access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref> In RAF informal usage, a flight lieutenant is sometimes referred to as a "flight lieuy". A Flight Lieutenant's starting salary is £42,008.48 as of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf-ff.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/20190919-2019-Pay-Rates.pdf | title= Pay Rates for 2019–20 |website = Royal Air Force Families Federation |date=24 July 2019 }}</ref>


'''RAF Air Cadets'''
===RAF Air Cadets===


In the [[Air Training Corps]], a flight lieutenant is usually the officer commanding of a [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]]{{citation needed|date=April 2011}}, appointed under a Cadet Forces Commission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/758400/00149.pdf|title=<!--ACTUAL ARTICLE TITLE BELONGS HERE! original text: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/758400/00149.pdf-->}}</ref> Retired flight lieutenants are the first rank that may continue to use their rank after they have left active service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/professions/armed-forces/raf/retired.aspx |title=Armed Forces, Forms Of Address |work=Debrett's |year=2015 |access-date=22 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913161710/http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/professions/armed-forces/raf/retired.aspx |archive-date=13 September 2012 }}</ref>
In the [[Air Training Corps]], a flight lieutenant is usually the officer commanding of a [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]],{{citation needed|date=April 2011}} appointed under a Cadet Forces Commission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/758400/00149.pdf | publisher = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] | date = 2 February 2018 | title = Royal Warrant for Cadet Force commission }}</ref> Retired flight lieutenants are the first rank that may continue to use their rank after they have left active service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/professions/armed-forces/raf/retired.aspx |title=Armed Forces, Forms Of Address |work=Debrett's |year=2015 |access-date=22 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913161710/http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/professions/armed-forces/raf/retired.aspx |archive-date=13 September 2012 }}</ref>


==Insignia==
===Insignia===
The rank insignia consists of two narrow blue bands on slightly wider black bands. This is worn on both the lower sleeves of the tunic or on the shoulders of the [[flight suit]] or the casual uniform. The rank insignia on the mess uniform is similar to the naval pattern, being two band of gold running around each cuff but without the Royal Navy's loop. Unlike senior RAF officers, flight lieutenants are not entitled to fly a [[Squadron Leader#Insignia and command flag|command flag]] under any circumstances.
The rank insignia consists of two narrow blue bands on slightly wider black bands. This is worn on both the lower sleeves of the tunic or on the shoulders of the [[flight suit]] or the casual uniform. The rank insignia on the mess uniform is similar to the naval pattern, being two band of gold running around each cuff but without the Royal Navy's loop. Unlike senior RAF officers, flight lieutenants are not entitled to fly a [[Squadron Leader#Insignia and command flag|command flag]] under any circumstances.


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</gallery>


==Other air forces==
== Gallery ==
<!-- In alphabetic order of country name please -->
The rank of flight lieutenant is also used in a number of the air forces in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], including the [[Bangladesh Air Force]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://baf.mil.bd/website/rank.php |title=BAF RANKS |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2020 |website=Bangladesh Air Force Website |publisher=BAF Communication Unit |access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref> [[Ghana Air Force]], [[Indian Air Force]],<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Officer ranks in Indian Army, Air Force and Navy |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/officer-ranks-in-indian-army-air-force-and-navy-1464351-2019-02-25 |work=[[India Today]] |location=[[New Delhi]] |date=25 February 2019 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> [[Namibian Air Force]], [[Pakistan Air Force]], [[Royal Australian Air Force]] and [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]]. It is also used in the [[Egyptian Air Force]], [[Hellenic Air Force]], [[Royal Air Force of Oman]], [[Royal Thai Air Force]] and the [[Air Force of Zimbabwe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afz.gov.zw/?page_id=1115 |title=RANKS AND BADGES IN THE AFZ |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2020 |website=Air Force of Zimbabwe Website |publisher=Air Force of Zimbabwe |access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref>
<gallery class="center">

File:British RAF OF-2.svg|([[Royal Australian Air Force]])<ref name="Australia">{{cite web |title=Badges of rank |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/images/Badges_of_rank.pdf |website=defence.gov.au |publisher=[[Department of Defence (Australia)]] |access-date=31 May 2021}}</ref>
The [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] used the rank until 1968, when the three armed services were unified and army-type ranks were adopted; flight lieutenants became captains. In official French Canadian usage, a flight lieutenant's rank title was ''capitaine d'aviation''. Until the late 1970s, the [[Royal Malaysian Air Force]] used the rank. Thereafter the rank of captain was used instead.
File:British RAF OF-2.svg|([[Bangladesh Air Force]])<ref>{{cite web |title=OFFICER'S RANKS |url=http://www.joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd/index.php/main_controll/ranks_structure_baf?1=1&pagemenu=ranks_structure_baf&submenu=1&leafsub=0 |website=joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd |access-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219212643/http://www.joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd/index.php/main_controll/ranks_structure_baf?1=1&pagemenu=ranks_structure_baf&submenu=1&leafsub=0 |archive-date=19 February 2020}}</ref>

File:09.Ghana Air Force-CPT.svg|([[Ghana Air Force]])<ref name="Ghana_AirForce">{{cite web |title=Rank Structure |url=http://gafonline.mil.gh/airforce/index.php/subhome/rank-structure |website=gafonline.mil.gh |publisher=Ghana Air Force |access-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121080703/http://gafonline.mil.gh/airforce/index.php/subhome/rank-structure |archive-date=21 January 2018 |date=2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In the [[Danish Army]], a flight lieutenant is called a [[Captain (armed forces)|captain]] (Army equivalent). The rank of flight lieutenant is an old Army rank for army pilots and is now used for lieutenants (OF-1).
File:Indian IAF OF-2.svg|([[Indian Air Force]])<ref>{{cite web |title=For Officers |url=http://www.careerairforce.nic.in/life_airforce/lifeair_cargraph_officers.html |website=careerairforce.nic.in |publisher=Indian Air Force |access-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225210317/http://www.careerairforce.nic.in/life_airforce/lifeair_cargraph_officers.html |archive-date=25 February 2012}}</ref>

File:09-Namibia Air Force-FLTLT.svg|([[Namibian Air Force]])<ref name="Namibia">{{cite magazine |title=Government Notice |magazine=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia |date=20 August 2010 |volume=4547 |pages=99–102 |url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2010/4547.pdf |access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Nigeria-AirForce-OF-2.svg|([[Nigerian Air Force]])<ref name="Nigeria">{{cite book |last1=Smaldone |first1=Joseph P. |editor1-last=Metz |editor1-first=Helen Chapin |editor-link=Helen Chapin Metz |title=Nigeria: a country study |series=Area Handbook |date=1992 |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |lccn=92009026 |pages=296–297 |edition=5th |url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.nigeriacountryst00metz_0/?sp=340 |access-date=21 October 2021 |chapter=National Security}}</ref>
File:Australia RAAF OF-2.svg|An [[RAAF]] flight lieutenant's sleeve/shoulder insignia
File:Pak-air-force-OF-2.svg|([[Pakistan Air Force]])
File:NZ-Air-OF2.svg|A [[RNZAF]] flight lieutenant's sleeve/shoulder insignia
File:British RAF OF-2.svg|([[Sri Lanka Air Force]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Commissioned Officers |url=http://www.airforce.lk/ranks.php |website=airforce.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Air Force |access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref><br />
File:Hellenic Air Force OF-2.svg|A Hellenic Air Force ''sminagos'' (flight lieutenant's) rank insignia
File:British RAF OF-2.svg|([[Royal Air Force]])<ref name="UK_AirForce">{{cite web |title=RAF Ranks |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/raf-ranks/ |website=raf.mod.uk/ |publisher=[[Royal Air Force]] |access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref>
File:Flight Lieutenant of IAF.png|An Indian Air Force flight lieutenant's rank insignia
File:TaT-Air Guard-OF-2.png|([[Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard]])<ref name="Trinidad&Tobago_Officer">{{cite web |title=Rank Chart (Commissioned Officers) |url=http://69.0.195.188/HQ/Our-Organisation/Ranks-Chart-(Commissioned-Officers).aspx |website=69.0.195.188 |publisher=Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force |access-date=27 May 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
File:09-Namibia Air Force-FLTLT.svg|A Namibian Air Force flight lieutenant's rank insignia
File:Canadian Air Command (1984-2014) OF-2.svg|([[Air Force of Zimbabwe]])<ref name="Zimbabwe_AirForce">{{cite web |title=Ranks and Badges in the AFZ |url=http://www.afz.gov.zw/?page_id=1115 |website=afz.gov.zw |publisher=[[Air Force of Zimbabwe]] |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609134525/http://www.afz.gov.zw/?page_id=1115 |archive-date=9 June 2022}}</ref>
File:Flt Lt Pakistan Air Force.png|A [[Pakistan Air Force|PAF]] flight-lieutenant's rank insignia.
File:RTAF OF-2 (Flight Lieutenant).svg|A [[Royal Thai Air Force|RTAF]] flight lieutenant's rank insignia
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Notable flight lieutenants==
==Notable flight lieutenants==
{{More citations needed|section|date=February 2024}}
⚫
[[File:Bir Shreshto Flt. Lft. Matiur Rahman-3.png|thumb|right|150px| [[Bir Sreshtho]] [[Matiur Rahman (military pilot)|Matiur Rahman]], famous Bangladeshi freedom fighter.]][[File:Prince William of Wales RAF.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge|Prince William]] in 2010, in his flight lieutenant's uniform; promoted to [[squadron leader]] in 2016]]
{{Excessive examples|section|date=February 2024}}
⚫
[[File:Bir Shreshto Flt. Lft. Matiur Rahman-3.png|thumb|right|150px| [[Bir Sreshtho]] [[Matiur Rahman (military pilot)|Matiur Rahman]], highly decorated Bangladeshi pilot]][[File:Prince William of Wales RAF.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge|Prince William]] in 2010, in his flight lieutenant's uniform; promoted to [[squadron leader]] in 2016]]


* [[Billy Strachan]] - pioneer of black civil rights in Britain, survived 33 missions during WWII when average life expectancy was 7 missions
* [[Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia (1924–2016)|Alexander, Prince of Yugoslavia]]{{spaced endash}}member of Yugoslavian royal family
* [[Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia (1924–2016)|Alexander, Prince of Yugoslavia]]{{spaced endash}}member of Yugoslavian royal family
* [[Gerald Bouey]]{{spaced endash}}former governor of the [[Bank of Canada]]
* [[Gerald Bouey]]{{spaced endash}}former governor of the [[Bank of Canada]]
* Sir [[Arthur C. Clarke]]{{spaced endash}}British author and inventor
* Sir [[Arthur C. Clarke]]{{spaced endash}}British author and inventor
* Sir [[Christopher Lee]]{{spaced endash}}British actor, served in RAF Intelligence during World War II
* Sir [[Christopher Lee]]{{spaced endash}}British actor, served in RAF Intelligence during World War II
* [[Family of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge|Peter Francis Middleton]]{{spaced endash}}grandfather of [[Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge]] and co-pilot of [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]]
* [[Family of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge|Peter Francis Middleton]]{{spaced endash}}grandfather of [[Catherine, Princess of Wales]] and co-pilot of [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]]
* Sir [[Patrick Moore]]{{spaced endash}}British astronomer
* Sir [[Patrick Moore]]{{spaced endash}}British astronomer
* [[Donald Pleasence]]{{spaced endash}}British actor
* [[Donald Pleasence]]{{spaced endash}}British actor
* [[Matiur Rahman (military pilot)|Matiur Rahman]]{{spaced endash}} [[Bangladesh Air Force]] ([[Formar Pakistan Air Force]]) pilot; honoured in Bangladesh with highest military honour for his heroic attempt to defect at the start of the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] in 1971.
* [[Matiur Rahman (military pilot)|Matiur Rahman]]{{spaced endash}} [[Bangladesh Air Force]] ([[Former Pakistan Air Force]]) pilot
* [[Jerry Rawlings]]{{spaced endash}}Ghanaian politician who twice served as his country's president
* [[Jerry Rawlings]]{{spaced endash}}Ghanaian politician who twice served as his country's president
* [[Ian Smith]]{{spaced endash}}Prime Minister of Rhodesia (1964–1979)
* [[Ian Smith]]{{spaced endash}}Prime Minister of Rhodesia (1964–1979)
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* [[Gough Whitlam]]{{spaced endash}}Prime Minister of Australia (1972–1975)
* [[Gough Whitlam]]{{spaced endash}}Prime Minister of Australia (1972–1975)
*[[John Nichol (RAF officer)|John Nichol]] – Former RAF Navigator, Gulf War prisoner of war and motivational speaker.
*[[John Nichol (RAF officer)|John Nichol]] – Former RAF Navigator, Gulf War prisoner of war and motivational speaker.
*[[Nicholas Winton|Sir Nicholas George Winton]] - contributed to the [[Kindertransport]] humanitarian rescue.\
*[[William, Prince of Wales]]


==See also==
==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|United Kingdom|War|Aviation}}}}
{{stack|{{Portal|United Kingdom|Aviation}}}}
* [[Air force officer rank insignia]]
* [[Air force officer rank insignia]]
* [[British and U.S. military ranks compared]]
* [[British and U.S. military ranks compared]]
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[[Category:Military ranks of the Royal Air Force]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the Royal Air Force]]
[[Category:Air force ranks]]
[[Category:Air force ranks]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistan Air Force ranks]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the Indian Air Force]]

Latest revision as of 19:03, 1 December 2024

This article is about the air force rank. For the film, see Flight Lieutenant (film).

Comparative military ranks
Armies,
air forces
(non-Commonwealth)		 Navies,
coast guards		 Air forces
(Commonwealth system)
General officers, Flag officers, Air officers
Field marshal Admiral of the fleet Marshal of the air force
General or
colonel general or
army general		 Admiral Air chief marshal
Lieutenant general or
army corps general		 Vice admiral Air marshal
Major general or
divisional general		 Rear admiral or
Counter admiral		 Air vice-marshal
Brigadier or
brigadier general		 Commodore or
flotilla admiral		 Air commodore
Senior officers
Colonel (Ship-of-the-line)
Captain		 Group captain
Lieutenant colonel Frigate captain or
Commander		 Wing commander
Major or
commandant		 Corvette captain or Lieutenant
commander		 Squadron leader
Junior officers
Captain Lieutenant Flight lieutenant
First lieutenant or
lieutenant		 Lieutenant
junior grade or
sub-lieutenant		 Flying officer
Second lieutenant or
junior lieutenant		 Ensign or
midshipman		 Pilot officer
Non-commissioned officers
Warrant officer or
sergeant major		 Warrant officer or
chief petty officer		 Warrant officer
Sergeant Petty officer Sergeant
Enlisted ranks
Corporal or
bombardier		 Leading seaman Corporal
Lance corporal or
Lance bombardier or
Specialist		 Able seaman Leading aircraftman or
Air specialist
Private or
gunner or
trooper or
sapper		 Seaman Aircraftman or
airman or
aviator

Flight lieutenant (Flt Lt or F/L) is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force.[1] The rank originated in the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in 1914. It fell into abeyance when the RNAS merged with the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War but was revived in 1919 in the post-war RAF. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence.

Flight lieutenant is immediately senior to flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. It is usually equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the navy and of the rank of captain in other services.

The equivalent rank in the former Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) and Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (PMRAFNS) (until 1980) was flight officer.

Canada

[edit]
See also: Canadian Armed Forces ranks and insignia

The rank was used in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1920 until the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces, when army-type rank titles were adopted. Canadian flight lieutenants then became captains.[citation needed] In official Canadian French usage, the rank title was capitaine d'aviation.[2]

United Kingdom

[edit]
See also: RAF officer ranks
Flight lieutenant
Shoulder and sleeve insignia
Country United Kingdom
Service branch Royal Air Force
AbbreviationFlt Lt / FLTLT
NATO rank codeOF-2
FormationAugust 1919 (1919-08)
Next higher rankSquadron leader
Next lower rankFlying officer
Equivalent ranks
Related articles
HistoryRoyal Naval Air Service

Origins

[edit]
The rank insignia of a Royal Naval Air Service flight lieutenant

The rank originated in the Royal Navy as a rank title for naval lieutenants serving in the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).[3] Promotions to the rank were first gazetted on 30 June 1914.[4] It fell into abeyance when the RNAS merged with the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War but was revived in 1919 in the post-war RAF.[5]

On 1 April 1918, the newly created RAF adopted its officer rank titles from the British Army, with Royal Naval Air Service lieutenants (titled as flight lieutenants and flight commanders) and Royal Flying Corps captains becoming captains in the RAF. In response to the proposal that the RAF should use its own rank titles, it was suggested that the RAF might use the Royal Navy's officer ranks, with the word "air" inserted before the naval rank title. For example, the current rank of flight lieutenant would have been "air lieutenant". Although the Admiralty objected to this simple modification of their rank titles, it was agreed that the RAF might base many of its officer rank titles on navy officer ranks with differing pre-modifying terms. It was also suggested that RAF captains might be entitled flight-leaders. However, the rank title flight lieutenant was chosen as flights were typically commanded by RAF captains and the term flight lieutenant had been used in the Royal Naval Air Service. The RAF rank of flight lieutenant was introduced in August 1919[6] and it has been used continuously since then.

Usage in the RAF

[edit]

Although in the early years of the RAF a flight lieutenant commanded an aircraft flight, with the increasing combat power of aircraft and therefore squadrons, command and control has shifted up the rank structure (currently, for instance, most squadron commanders in the RAF are Wing Commanders, a reflection on the comparative combat power between the modern air force and its predecessor).

The RAF's promotion system is automatic up until flight lieutenant. Every officer will attain the rank provided they complete their professional training and do not leave early. For aircrew, flight lieutenant is reached 2.5 years after commissioning, Engineering Branch (AS & CE) entrants with applicable bachelor's/master's degrees reach flight lieutenant at 2.5 and 1.5 years respectively, and for all other ground branch officers, 3.5 years. Aircrew are appointed to an Early Departure Payment Commission upon reaching their Operational Conversion Unit, which is a commission for 20 years or age 40, whichever is later. Promotion to squadron leader thereafter is strictly upon merit; officers promoted beyond flight lieutenant are appointed to a career commission, or service to age 60. Resigning a commission is generally dependent on the needs of the service, although an officer who has completed their return of service (service the RAF requires to justify its expense in originally training the officer) could leave after as little as four years. For aircrew, given the large expense required for training, this return of service is generally the length of their initial commission anyway, unless they re-role to a different branch having failed an element of flying training. Most aircrew reach their squadrons as flight lieutenants due to the length of training time required (up to four years for fast jet pilots) and the significant holds in the training pipeline.[7] The majority of squadron line pilots are flight lieutenants, with some squadron executives or Career Commission aircrew reaching Squadron Leader.

Aside from aircrew, whose work typically does not require active leadership for units of airmen, ground branch officers can expect to operate units that can range in size from a few specialist non-commissioned personnel to 50 or more personnel for engineering or other manpower intensive roles. The role of a flight lieutenant generally involves management of a team of specialist non-commissioned officers and airmen, within their specific branch. In the RAF Regiment, a flight lieutenant generally has the same role and responsibility as a captain in the British Army, in charge of a regiment flight of 30 men, and could be second-in-command of a squadron of up to 120 men.

Flight lieutenant is the most common officer rank in the RAF; in April 2013, for example, there were 8,230 RAF officers, of whom 3,890 (47.3%) were flight lieutenants.[8] In RAF informal usage, a flight lieutenant is sometimes referred to as a "flight lieuy". A Flight Lieutenant's starting salary is £42,008.48 as of 2019.[9]

RAF Air Cadets

[edit]

In the Air Training Corps, a flight lieutenant is usually the officer commanding of a squadron,[citation needed] appointed under a Cadet Forces Commission.[10] Retired flight lieutenants are the first rank that may continue to use their rank after they have left active service.[11]

Insignia

[edit]

The rank insignia consists of two narrow blue bands on slightly wider black bands. This is worn on both the lower sleeves of the tunic or on the shoulders of the flight suit or the casual uniform. The rank insignia on the mess uniform is similar to the naval pattern, being two band of gold running around each cuff but without the Royal Navy's loop. Unlike senior RAF officers, flight lieutenants are not entitled to fly a command flag under any circumstances.

  • An RAF flight lieutenant's sleeve/shoulder insignia
    An RAF flight lieutenant's sleeve/shoulder insignia
  • An RAF flight lieutenant's sleeve mess insignia
    An RAF flight lieutenant's sleeve mess insignia
  • An RAF flight lieutenant's sleeve on No. 1 service dress uniform
    An RAF flight lieutenant's sleeve on No. 1 service dress uniform
[edit]

Notable flight lieutenants

[edit]
Bir Sreshtho Matiur Rahman, highly decorated Bangladeshi pilot
Prince William in 2010, in his flight lieutenant's uniform; promoted to squadron leader in 2016

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ranks and Badges of the Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. 2007. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  2. ^ "The RCAF". www.castlearchdale.net. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  3. ^ Spooner, Stanley, ed. (26 June 1914). "Royal Naval Air Service Reorganisation". Flight. VI (287): 686. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  4. ^ "No. 28845". The London Gazette. 30 June 1914. p. 5070.
  5. ^ "Ranks and Badges of the RAF". Royal Air Force. 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  6. ^ Hobart, Malcolm C (2000). Badges and Uniforms of the Royal Air Force. Leo Cooper. p. 26. ISBN 0-85052-739-2.
  7. ^ Comptroller and Auditor General (12 June 2015). Military flying training (PDF) (Report). National Audit Office.
  8. ^ "UK Armed Forces Annual Personnel Report" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Pay Rates for 2019–20" (PDF). Royal Air Force Families Federation. 24 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Royal Warrant for Cadet Force commission" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 2 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Armed Forces, Forms Of Address". Debrett's. 2015. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  12. ^ "Badges of rank" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Department of Defence (Australia). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  13. ^ "OFFICER'S RANKS". joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Rank Structure". gafonline.mil.gh. Ghana Air Force. 2018. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  15. ^ "For Officers". careerairforce.nic.in. Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Government Notice" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. Vol. 4547. 20 August 2010. pp. 99–102. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  17. ^ Smaldone, Joseph P. (1992). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Nigeria: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 296–297. LCCN 92009026. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Commissioned Officers". airforce.lk. Sri Lanka Air Force. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  19. ^ "RAF Ranks". raf.mod.uk/. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Rank Chart (Commissioned Officers)". 69.0.195.188. Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Retrieved 27 May 2021.[permanent dead link‍]
  21. ^ "Ranks and Badges in the AFZ". afz.gov.zw. Air Force of Zimbabwe. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  22. ^ "No. 58941". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 January 2009. p. 123.
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