Flier’s short way to enter the navy (5)

I believe the answer is:

raven

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'flier's' is the definition.
(raven is a kind of birdanimal)

'short way to enter the navy' is the wordplay.
'short way' becomes 'ave' (abbreviation for avenue, a type of 'way'. I am not sure about the 'short' bit.**).
'to enter' is an insertion indicator.
'the navy' becomes 'rn' (abbreviation for Royal Navy).
'ave' going inside 'rn' is 'RAVEN'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for raven that I've seen before include "Hungrily devour" , "flesh-eating bird" , "Large blue-black bird" , "Crow-like bird" , "Flyer" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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