Rank badge of a Royal Air Force Leading Aircraftman
RAF Leading Aircraftman as it appears on Dress Uniform
Rank badge of an Indian Air Force Leading Aircraftman
Air Specialist Class 2, previously Leading aircraftman (LAC) or leading aircraftwoman (LACW)[1] is a rank in some air forces, between aircraftman and senior aircraftman and having a NATO rank code of OR-2. The rank badge is a horizontal two-bladed propeller.
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.
Leading aircraftman is also a rank in the Royal Australian Air Force (which uses a single chevron rather than a propeller device), Royal New Zealand Air Force, Indian Air Force, Ghana Air Force and the Sri Lanka Air Force, and until 1968 was a rank in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
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.
The RAF changed the name Aircraftman to Air Specialist Class 2 sometime in 2022.[2]
Footnotes[]
- ↑ RAF website
- ↑ "NON-COMMISSIONED OTHER RANKS". Royal Air Force. 16 July 2022. https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/raf-ranks/.
See also[]
- RAF enlisted ranks
The original article can be found at Air Specialist (Class 2) and the edit history here.