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
What to fly?
What do you see as the biggest difference between flying fighters vs. flying heavies? What are some of the strengths and drawbacks of each side?
Flying 500' and 500 knots, or 100' and 300 knots, or 50,000-60,000' and Mach 2.0+. Sound like fun? IT IS! And, there's nothing like it in the world.
All this can be yours for the measely price of 12 hour days, a few 90 day deployments, about one every other year, but usually only if it's important, and a LOT of studying.
But, as one wise person said, if you don't love your job every day, why are you doing it? Ask any fighter pilot if they love flying, and I doubt you'll find more than one that says they don't. The 'queep' (paperwork and side duties) is sometimes dreary, but again, a small price to pay.
And, the camraderie, tradition, and purpose for being when you have a true mission, well, that makes it the best job in the world...
First of all, let me say that any day with air under your butt is better than a day without it. Also, I would gladly fly any aircraft in the AF inventory--protecting freedom is a huge job and everybody on the team is vitally important...we need every mission.
Having flown both F-15Cs and 737s I can say that flying small vs big jets is uniquely different...being one with the jet vs managing inertia. There both good--but different, and I'd choose the small jet experience again...you can always fly something big, slow, and heavy when you're old, fat and gray (hey, I resemble that remark...ok, I'm bald not gray).
The real question is what are you doing between takeoff and landing--that's the mission. If the highlight of your day is talking about the approach you shot down to mins on a foggy day, and that's the most excitement you want...well then maybe a figher is not for you. There are lots of cool missions: C-130s do some very tactical, in the weeds missions, C-5s do a little more long hall. Examine the mission and do something you're exicted about. Shoot for what you want, but love what you get!!
Bolter and others have given a pretty accurate representation of what to expect in the ops world ("the real world"). There are a few things that have changed in the recent past that should be mentioned.
Quick history for perspective - '98 grad - UPT @ Columbus - F-16s @ Hill AFB - T-38 IP @ Laughlin - Test Pilot School(TPS) @ Edwards.
The AEF cycle remains the same (18 months), however the PCS and deployment lengths have changed. You can expect to stay at whatever base you get out of RTU for 4 years (instead of 3) due to lack of funds and force structure changes to save $. Also, the standard deployment is now 120 days (vs. 90). Based on that, you can expect to deploy about 8 months (possibly 12) out of a normal assignment. These numbers are representative of units in the AF that are needed to fight and win the wars (Fighter, Bombers, Tankers too...). Whether or not you fly, if you're on the pointy end of the spear (doing something flying related - mx, intel, fuels, logistics, etc), you should expect to deploy. Even if you're not on the pointy end, you will deploy in support of the guys doing the job.
The airlift assets are tasked on a very different schedule that is much less predictable. In the past few years, C-17/C-5/C-130 crews have been deployed as much as 250 days a year! These deployments are in support of OIF, OEF, etc and last about 2-3 weeks at a time. The crews will return home for about a week (sometimes less, sometimes more) and then the cycle repeats - all year long.
The AF is reducing personnel over the next ~4 years by 40,000 airmen. Most of these are non-rated positions. If you are in touch with any recent graduates, more than likely either one of them or someone they know has been involuntarily separated due to down-sizing. Some are getting severence pkgs but I wouldn't count on any compensation.
Now, when it comes to your AFSC - you have to be happy about getting up in the morning and going to "work." I still grin every time I say "work" because the AF pays me to fly multi-million dollar airplanes - that's not work, that's fun! Being the only thing that decides whether or not to unleash the fury of WCMD (wind corrected munitions dispenser) on a line of advancing troops or taking another airplane out of the sky with an AMRAAM is a responsibility that the AF entrusts with only the best. Flying fighters is the most challenging and rewarding thing that the AF has to offer. With that priviledge comes great responsibility and yes, it takes lots of time in the books. But, everytime you light the AB on takeoff and you're there alone to make those decisions, every bit of time you spent in preparation was well worth it!
In test pilot school (an opportunity available to everyone after ~1000 hours of flying time under your belt - and a strong academic background), I've had the opportunity to fly ~25 different planes in less than a year. There are challenges of flying every different kind of airplane out there - including the Goodyear blimp! By far, the most fun I've had in an airplane is when you're screaming along at 10 miles a minute, looking up at the terrain you're hiding behind, pop over a ridge and rain 4000 lbs of TNT on your target - solo! There is no other job in the AF like it!
The opportunites on the horizon for your class are outstanding. The F-22 is now operational and going on its first overseas deployment. The F-35 has accomplished a handful of flights and is due to be operational in about 5 years. The capabilities of these airplanes are unbelievable! Flying the most advanced aircraft in the world is an opportunity that is open to each of you considering pilot training.
If you've ever had the suspicion of whether or not you'd like to fly, you simply must give it a shot. You can always elect to do something else once you've started. (A word of caution though - recent pilot training students that have quit were immediately released from the Air Force due to the downsizing I mentioned earlier).
3 comments:
Flying 500' and 500 knots, or 100' and 300 knots, or 50,000-60,000' and Mach 2.0+. Sound like fun? IT IS! And, there's nothing like it in the world.
All this can be yours for the measely price of 12 hour days, a few 90 day deployments, about one every other year, but usually only if it's important, and a LOT of studying.
But, as one wise person said, if you don't love your job every day, why are you doing it? Ask any fighter pilot if they love flying, and I doubt you'll find more than one that says they don't. The 'queep' (paperwork and side duties) is sometimes dreary, but again, a small price to pay.
And, the camraderie, tradition, and purpose for being when you have a true mission, well, that makes it the best job in the world...
First of all, let me say that any day with air under your butt is better than a day without it. Also, I would gladly fly any aircraft in the AF inventory--protecting freedom is a huge job and everybody on the team is vitally important...we need every mission.
Having flown both F-15Cs and 737s I can say that flying small vs big jets is uniquely different...being one with the jet vs managing inertia. There both good--but different, and I'd choose the small jet experience again...you can always fly something big, slow, and heavy when you're old, fat and gray (hey, I resemble that remark...ok, I'm bald not gray).
The real question is what are you doing between takeoff and landing--that's the mission. If the highlight of your day is talking about the approach you shot down to mins on a foggy day, and that's the most excitement you want...well then maybe a figher is not for you. There are lots of cool missions: C-130s do some very tactical, in the weeds missions, C-5s do a little more long hall. Examine the mission and do something you're exicted about. Shoot for what you want, but love what you get!!
Dudes and dudettes,
Bolter and others have given a pretty accurate representation of what to expect in the ops world ("the real world"). There are a few things that have changed in the recent past that should be mentioned.
Quick history for perspective - '98 grad - UPT @ Columbus - F-16s @ Hill AFB - T-38 IP @ Laughlin - Test Pilot School(TPS) @ Edwards.
The AEF cycle remains the same (18 months), however the PCS and deployment lengths have changed. You can expect to stay at whatever base you get out of RTU for 4 years (instead of 3) due to lack of funds and force structure changes to save $. Also, the standard deployment is now 120 days (vs. 90). Based on that, you can expect to deploy about 8 months (possibly 12) out of a normal assignment. These numbers are representative of units in the AF that are needed to fight and win the wars (Fighter, Bombers, Tankers too...). Whether or not you fly, if you're on the pointy end of the spear (doing something flying related - mx, intel, fuels, logistics, etc), you should expect to deploy. Even if you're not on the pointy end, you will deploy in support of the guys doing the job.
The airlift assets are tasked on a very different schedule that is much less predictable. In the past few years, C-17/C-5/C-130 crews have been deployed as much as 250 days a year! These deployments are in support of OIF, OEF, etc and last about 2-3 weeks at a time. The crews will return home for about a week (sometimes less, sometimes more) and then the cycle repeats - all year long.
The AF is reducing personnel over the next ~4 years by 40,000 airmen. Most of these are non-rated positions. If you are in touch with any recent graduates, more than likely either one of them or someone they know has been involuntarily separated due to down-sizing. Some are getting severence pkgs but I wouldn't count on any compensation.
Now, when it comes to your AFSC - you have to be happy about getting up in the morning and going to "work." I still grin every time I say "work" because the AF pays me to fly multi-million dollar airplanes - that's not work, that's fun! Being the only thing that decides whether or not to unleash the fury of WCMD (wind corrected munitions dispenser) on a line of advancing troops or taking another airplane out of the sky with an AMRAAM is a responsibility that the AF entrusts with only the best. Flying fighters is the most challenging and rewarding thing that the AF has to offer. With that priviledge comes great responsibility and yes, it takes lots of time in the books. But, everytime you light the AB on takeoff and you're there alone to make those decisions, every bit of time you spent in preparation was well worth it!
In test pilot school (an opportunity available to everyone after ~1000 hours of flying time under your belt - and a strong academic background), I've had the opportunity to fly ~25 different planes in less than a year. There are challenges of flying every different kind of airplane out there - including the Goodyear blimp! By far, the most fun I've had in an airplane is when you're screaming along at 10 miles a minute, looking up at the terrain you're hiding behind, pop over a ridge and rain 4000 lbs of TNT on your target - solo! There is no other job in the AF like it!
The opportunites on the horizon for your class are outstanding. The F-22 is now operational and going on its first overseas deployment. The F-35 has accomplished a handful of flights and is due to be operational in about 5 years. The capabilities of these airplanes are unbelievable! Flying the most advanced aircraft in the world is an opportunity that is open to each of you considering pilot training.
If you've ever had the suspicion of whether or not you'd like to fly, you simply must give it a shot. You can always elect to do something else once you've started. (A word of caution though - recent pilot training students that have quit were immediately released from the Air Force due to the downsizing I mentioned earlier).
Good luck on the assignments and check 6!
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