Pilot's Wings

This badge is one of the most coveted in the world. The granting of pilot's wings signifies you have become a pilot in the RAF. The RAF badge closely follows the pattern of the Royal Flying Corps badge first approved by King George V in 1913.

In early examples of the RAF badge the word Royal was emphasised by placing the enlarged letter R in the centre but these 'ARF' badges were not officially adopted. The design featuring the outstretched wings of the swift has been widely copied and has become the symbol for both military and civilian pilots throughout the world.