Flight Lieutenant

Flight Lieutenant (pronounced as flight lef-tenant, see Lieutenant) is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above Flying Officer and immediately below Squadron Leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase, and is never shortened to "Lieutenant." It is abbreviated as Flt Lt.

Related Topics:
Lieutenant - Royal Air Force - Commonwealth - Flying Officer - Squadron Leader - Flt Lt

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It has a NATO ranking code of OF-2, and is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy or a Captain in the British Army or the Royal Marines.

Related Topics:
NATO - Lieutenant - Royal Navy - Captain - British Army - Royal Marines

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From the formation of the RAF in 1918 until just after WWII, a flight lieutenant would command a flight of aircraft, three or four of which form a squadron. In the modern air force, it is rare that a Flt Lt is in command of a flying unit, but most ground units have Flt Lts commanding flights of personnel.

Related Topics:
RAF - WWII - Aircraft - Squadron

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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 flying suit or the casual uniform.

Related Topics:
Insignia - Flying suit

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The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) also uses this rank. The only difference is that it is abbreviated in capitals. FLTLT with no space.

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