Rank badge of a Royal Air Force leading aircraftman
RAF leading aircraftman as it appears on dress uniform
Rank badge of an Bangladesh Air Force leading aircraftman
Rank badge of an Indian Air Force leading aircraftman
NZCF Leading Air Cadet (LAC) rank insignia

Leading aircraftman (LAC) or leading aircraftwoman (LACW)[1][2][3] is a junior rank in some air forces. It sits between aircraftman and senior aircraftman, and has a NATO rank code of OR-2. The rank badge is a horizontal two-bladed propeller. The rank was renamed air specialist (class 2) (AS2) in the Royal Air Force in July 2022.[4]

History

The rank originated in the Royal Air Force, when it was formed in 1918. It replaced the Royal Flying Corps rank of air mechanic 1st class (which wore the same badge). It was only a trade classification until 1 January 1951, when it became a rank, although it is non-supervisory.

Countries

Australia

Leading aircraftman is a rank in the Royal Australian Air Force (which uses a single chevron rather than a propeller device) where it is the senior aircraftman rank.[5]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Air Force[6]

Canada

It was a rank until 1968 in the Royal Canadian Air Force being replaced by the army rank of private after unification, which then in 2015 was replaced by aviator (basic).

Ghana

Ghana Air Force

India

Indian Air Force

New Zealand

In the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the rank is awarded after three years of service or completion of a senior trade course, whichever comes first.

Leading air cadet (LAC) in the New Zealand Air Training Corps also uses the propeller badge. It is not technically a rank (although many units regard it as a very junior NCO rank), and may be awarded to cadets who have attended a minimum of thirty parades, or completed one year in a unit. The rank is generally awarded to those cadets who show obvious leadership skill.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Air Force

Zimbabwe

Air Force of Zimbabwe[7]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "RAF Distinguishing Insignia" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  2. ↑ RAF website
  3. ↑ The spellings "aircraftsman" and "aircraftswoman", despite being occasionally seen even in official documents, are incorrect in any air force.
  4. ↑ RAF Ranks
  5. ↑ "Ranks". Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "BAF RANKS". Bangladesh Air Force Website. BAF Communication Unit. 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "RANKS AND BADGES IN THE AFZ". Air Force of Zimbabwe Website. Air Force of Zimbabwe. 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.

See also

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