"AE" for Air Electronics Officer/Operator.Legacy flying badges still in use in the RAF but no longer issued, include: Legacy Mission Aircrew who qualified prior to April 2003, wear a single wing with no crown and a letter or letters (denoting speciality) in a brown laurel wreath, however, they may choose to wear the new WSO/WSOP Flying Badge. weapons systems officers/operators (Mission Aircrew) wear the letters "RAF" in a brown laurel wreath, surmounted by a crown, with a single swift's wing on one side.pilots wear the letters "RAF" in a brown laurel wreath, surmounted by St Edwards crown ( the crown worn by the sovereign on state occasions), with a swift's wing on each side.Aircrew, other than RPAS pilots, are then posted to their Operational Conversion Units having gained their wings, but still have a good deal of training and type familiarisation to complete before they are considered operational or front-line aircrew. The award of wings usually occurs upon completion of the secondary phase of training for example, in the fast jet stream, wings are awarded upon completion of the Basic Fast Jet Course (BJFT), currently at RAF Valley for helicopter pilots, wings are awarded after they complete helicopter training at RAF Shawbury pre-OCU for RPAS post-FTU (Formal Training Unit) and on the attainment of "Limited Combat Ready" status, and for multi-engine aircrew, wings are awarded upon completion of their Multi-Engine Advanced Flying Training (MEAFT) training at RAF Cranwell. Aircrew first undertake Elementary Flying Training, and are then streamed to either fast jet, helicopter, RPAS or multi-engine pipelines.
In the RAF, the Flying Badge (colloquially referred to as wings), is awarded upon the completion of a significant stage of flying training.