Welcome to the Fighters discussion blog. The purpose of this blog is to foster discussion between future Air Force officers interested in becoming pilots and flying fighters and active duty officers currently flying such planes. The views expressed in this blog are solely the opinions of the individual authors and not of the United States Air Force nor the Department of Defense.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Questions
Cadets, post questions here as comments on this post that you would like to see turned into new threads for discussion.
Sir, I've heard that pilots are deployed all of the time, but in your intro, you say one 90 day deployment every other year. Does it depend on what aircraft you fly? If so, which ones have the heavier deployment schedules?
I just lost my PQ for a minimum observation period of 5 years because of a "severe" head injury. I am wondering if you have any kind of experiance or know anyone who has been DQ'd for a certain amount of time? Also when my observation period is up how hard will it be to get my pilot slot back since i already had one? I've also heard stories of people who were medically disqualified but knew the right people to get them back into flying, is something like that true?
have a pilot slot, but I have not had much fun flying the DA-20 Katana in our AFS program here at school and have therefore considered going to a non-rated AFSC. I've began to wonder if i would really enjoy flying since that program was such a bore. Do most pilots enjoy every kind of flying, regardless of the airplane? Or how much different is flying opperationally compared to flying private aircraft?
Eric, Let me provide you one suggestion - you can always choose to SIE (self remove) from pilot training and go into another career field. It is VERY difficult (not impossible) to go the other way around. I spent a lot of time puking in different airplanes while other people flew, that's why I picked fighters. Everytime I'm flying, life is good. The views made it real for me!
Polar Bear - No SA (situational awareness). When I left this place, I had originally a waiver for sinus issues, but after two years, I got that removed from my records. Just keep at the flight docs with relentless pressure.
Astro Engr - It absolutely depends on your aircraft. There are very few F-16CJ squadrons out there. They deploy often (as do EA-6 crews) because they are needed in the fight. Heavy crews fly on round the globe missions about once a week or so (see their website). In a year in Korea, I never deployed (technically you already were), and in the F-117, we deployed about once a year. You do, however, also go to training exercises, like Red Flag, Maple Flag, or the weapons school (2 week deployments), but that never really counts because those are a blast! The 90 day deployments are supposedly once every AEF cycle, which is somewhere around 1.5 years. Again, in my 12 years of flying fighters, it's held to that once every 1.5 years for the long deployments
Eric, Good Question, and unfortunately there isn't a universal answer. If I understand your concern, you find private license, bug smashing kind of flying boring...and wonder if AF flying will be similar.
I have 550+ hours of general aviation aircraft flying and love it. I also loved flying fighters, T-34C, and the 737--I truly do enjoy flying. But, there is definitely a difference between having an operational mission to fly and just flying from point A to B, shooting a nice approach, and then trying to grease the landing. AF flying is exciting because of what you do between takeoff and landing, whereas, civilian flying is often just transporting yourself from one place to another and enjoying the view along the way, then the challenging part is instrument approach and making a sweet landing.
I had classmates that didn't care for AFS...or UPT for that matter because it is fast paced and stressful...but then they loved the operational flying. It's cool to be part of the mission and know you're doing your part to help achieve objectives and protect freedom on a daily basis. I think you'd enjoy the operational flying and wouldn't get bored. If you're an adrenaline junkie and don't get fighters, then try to get into Special Ops flying one of the C-130s or go for helicopters. Hope that helps!
i have heard rumors that if you self remove from pilot training you are likely to get put into a career field you dont want or even be put in the army. I have also heard of people who get put into a career field they asked for when they decided to drop out. Does anyone know what is most likely to happen if someone were to decide they didnt like flying and wanted out? How likely is it that if I didn't like pilot training and decided to drop out that i would get to go into the career field i want?
In the current force shaping environment, some people are being asked to leave the Air Force if they self-eliminate. Others get the career field they want, others get the left over career fields. It really depends on the needs of the Air Force at the time you self-eliminate. (speaking from examples of former students in 04-05 & friends in UPT in 99-03)
i'm about to graduate and pumped about casual, but even more excited to hit the ground running in UPT to get a fighter slot. what do they look for in potential t38 canidates? what can i do to show i'm serious about flying fighters? is there anything i can do now or during casual to give me a leg up? do taking PPL classes or acrobatic classes help?
Can anyone who went to Laughlin give me a little insight to the base such as dorm/duplex living, "a day in the life of a UPT student in T-6s," and activities there are available off base? Is getting a bike a good idea if you want to go to San Antonio all the time?
14 comments:
Sir, I've heard that pilots are deployed all of the time, but in your intro, you say one 90 day deployment every other year. Does it depend on what aircraft you fly? If so, which ones have the heavier deployment schedules?
I just lost my PQ for a minimum observation period of 5 years because of a "severe" head injury. I am wondering if you have any kind of experiance or know anyone who has been DQ'd for a certain amount of time? Also when my observation period is up how hard will it be to get my pilot slot back since i already had one? I've also heard stories of people who were medically disqualified but knew the right people to get them back into flying, is something like that true?
have a pilot slot, but I have not had much fun flying the DA-20 Katana in our AFS program here at school and have therefore considered going to a non-rated AFSC. I've began to wonder if i would really enjoy flying since that program was such a bore. Do most pilots enjoy every kind of flying, regardless of the airplane? Or how much different is flying opperationally compared to flying private aircraft?
Eric,
Let me provide you one suggestion - you can always choose to SIE (self remove) from pilot training and go into another career field. It is VERY difficult (not impossible) to go the other way around. I spent a lot of time puking in different airplanes while other people flew, that's why I picked fighters. Everytime I'm flying, life is good. The views made it real for me!
Polar Bear -
No SA (situational awareness). When I left this place, I had originally a waiver for sinus issues, but after two years, I got that removed from my records. Just keep at the flight docs with relentless pressure.
Astro Engr -
It absolutely depends on your aircraft. There are very few F-16CJ squadrons out there. They deploy often (as do EA-6 crews) because they are needed in the fight. Heavy crews fly on round the globe missions about once a week or so (see their website). In a year in Korea, I never deployed (technically you already were), and in the F-117, we deployed about once a year. You do, however, also go to training exercises, like Red Flag, Maple Flag, or the weapons school (2 week deployments), but that never really counts because those are a blast!
The 90 day deployments are supposedly once every AEF cycle, which is somewhere around 1.5 years. Again, in my 12 years of flying fighters, it's held to that once every 1.5 years for the long deployments
Eric,
Good Question, and unfortunately there isn't a universal answer. If I understand your concern, you find private license, bug smashing kind of flying boring...and wonder if AF flying will be similar.
I have 550+ hours of general aviation aircraft flying and love it. I also loved flying fighters, T-34C, and the 737--I truly do enjoy flying. But, there is definitely a difference between having an operational mission to fly and just flying from point A to B, shooting a nice approach, and then trying to grease the landing. AF flying is exciting because of what you do between takeoff and landing, whereas, civilian flying is often just transporting yourself from one place to another and enjoying the view along the way, then the challenging part is instrument approach and making a sweet landing.
I had classmates that didn't care for AFS...or UPT for that matter because it is fast paced and stressful...but then they loved the operational flying. It's cool to be part of the mission and know you're doing your part to help achieve objectives and protect freedom on a daily basis. I think you'd enjoy the operational flying and wouldn't get bored. If you're an adrenaline junkie and don't get fighters, then try to get into Special Ops flying one of the C-130s or go for helicopters. Hope that helps!
January 31, 2007 5:08 PM
i have heard rumors that if you self remove from pilot training you are likely to get put into a career field you dont want or even be put in the army. I have also heard of people who get put into a career field they asked for when they decided to drop out. Does anyone know what is most likely to happen if someone were to decide they didnt like flying and wanted out? How likely is it that if I didn't like pilot training and decided to drop out that i would get to go into the career field i want?
Blue Duck,
In the current force shaping environment, some people are being asked to leave the Air Force if they self-eliminate. Others get the career field they want, others get the left over career fields. It really depends on the needs of the Air Force at the time you self-eliminate. (speaking from examples of former students in 04-05 & friends in UPT in 99-03)
What about for the deployment schedules/daily lives of the bomber community?
Anyone know the commitment for nav?
i'm about to graduate and pumped about casual, but even more excited to hit the ground running in UPT to get a fighter slot. what do they look for in potential t38 canidates? what can i do to show i'm serious about flying fighters? is there anything i can do now or during casual to give me a leg up? do taking PPL classes or acrobatic classes help?
Can anyone who went to Laughlin give me a little insight to the base such as dorm/duplex living, "a day in the life of a UPT student in T-6s," and activities there are available off base? Is getting a bike a good idea if you want to go to San Antonio all the time?
how hard is it to have a family AND be a pilot?
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