Women have 98 RAF career paths

Pilot Officer Holly Steel, who flies a Sea King search and rescue helicopter described her job as "fantastically exciting".

"I am never stuck behind a desk and I really do not know what is going to happen from one day to the next."

She continued: "We go through exactly the same training (as men) and are just as capable of doing the job - the RAF recognises that."

Equal opportunities

The RAF is the only arm of the British military that offers women posts in all but two of its 98 career paths.

Women in the RAF

1918 Women's RAF formed - disbanded a year later 1936 Women's Auxiliary Airforce (WAAF) created 1989 Bar on women as non-combat pilots lifted 1991 Bar on women as combat pilots lifted 1994 WAAF integrated into RAF 2002 Women make up over 10% of RAF

But women are still not allowed to become front-line combat soldiers in the RAF ground regiments.

Flight Lieutenant Andi McColl, 33, is a navigator on Britain's premier strike aircraft the Tornado after 16 years in the RAF.

"I joined as an air traffic controller and then just thought I wanted to fly and not be stuck on the ground," she said.

She is due to crew a Tornado GR4 which will put on display flights across Europe this summer.

Working mothers

Squadron Leader Alison Simmonds said that whoever applied was considered for the 5,000 posts each year.

She said that motherhood was no barrier to success as childcare facilities were provided.

But she added that she did sometimes suffer from mistaken identity in her blue uniform.

"I have been asked what time the shop shuts when I am in a supermarket and if I can fix cars when I am at the garage," she said.