Basic questions about military aviation
- Thread starter qazqazq
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Hacker15e
Who am I? Where are my pants?
Not so much. Unless you mean that fighter pilots, like ALL USAF pilots, are a dying breed.
Otherwise, there are still fleets of operational fighter aircraft that need a constant supply of new bodies to keep them flying.
Although new entries into fighter aviation have been pretty slim over the last 3 years or so, don't take that to mean what you state. Hell, if that were the criteria, then the "breed" should have been dead in the early 90s when guys were completing UPT and getting banked. Or maybe in the mid 90s when the bottleneck was in the ascessions pipeline (like '95 when there were only *97* pilot slots in the entire nation).
The reality is, this has just been another one of the twists and turns of the USAF's pilot production system.
The latest two T-38 classes (10-03 and 10-05, I think) are both significantly larger than what has been seen the last several years. Instead of 4 or 5 students per class, they're now flights the size of 14 or 15 students.
The "new" bigger class sizes are apparently here to stay for the time being. The AF knows it needs to keep T-38 trained pilot production going as the F-35 will eventually be on line.
So, while not everyone in those bigger classes will be going to fighter cockpits immediately out of SUPT, it DOES mean that those graduates will likely have a shot at getting to a fighter at some point in their career.
I predict the rebirth of the old "fighter crossflow" boards in 4 or 5 years once the F-35 starts to come on line. Regardless of what airframe pilots are in, having a T-38 background is going to be the ticket into getting to the F-35.
Reports of the death of the fighter pilot are greatly exaggerated.
Low_Level_Hell
Well-Known Member
I dunno I just can't see manned aircraft going away until will come up with some very robust AI. I don't think its much beyond any significant country's Electronic Warfare capability to render UAV's useless.
bunk22
Well-Known Member
Exactly, as of right now, the Navy does not select anybody out of flight training to fly their UAV's...thank goodness. I haven't heard anything about it changing anytime soon either.
rpfeif
Well-Known Member
From what I have read from open sources it sounds like bandwith is becoming an issue. It sounds like you can dedicate only some much time and space on the satelites for UAVs. See the MC-12W. Can any operational pilots, verify this?
Bandwidth availability is indeed an issue, along with some other problems with it.
Hacker15e
Who am I? Where are my pants?
The MC-12 is not a reaction to some bandwidth limit with the RPV force. If that were the case, they would not still be producing Reapers by the dozen at the same time.
The MC-12 is intended for a different mission than the RPVs currently execute.
rpfeif
Well-Known Member
Thought I read something in Aviation and Space Weekly saying that it was intended to fill some of the ISR voids that existed because of the limited capabilities of UAVs. But I might of misinterpreted it or just don't fully understand the whole picture, trying to learn the business of Naval Aviation.
Hacker15e
Who am I? Where are my pants?
While there's probably some truth to that, the part of that statement that should be emphasized is the "limited capabilities of UAVs".
The MC-12 does stuff that's different than the traditional ISR mission.
The Fez
Analog Millennial
This is probably the most important question to start out with. Up until I started working towards a UPT slot, I wanted nothing but fighters. I was lucky to work with pilots from a variety of backgrounds while working with Predators, which helped me to realize that every aircraft has its advantages and disadvantages. Fighters are great for "yanking and banking" and employing ordnance, but they're a ton of work even outside the cockpit. Heavies will let you go globe-trotting to your heart's content, but you'll primarily be straight and level at altitude (generally speaking). UAV's (yeah, I said it) let you do a lot of pretty cool behind-the-scenes work in the AOR, then go home to a six-pack and mama. Conversely, you'll get no respect from the pilot community. AF helicopters will get you some incredible low levels and some of the secret squirrel stuff, but you're going to take some hits and 180 KIAS is about the fastest you'll ever see.
BL, every airframe has its ups and downs. Don't get your heart set on any one plane. Instead, figure out what each platform does and rank them in order of which ones you think you'd enjoy flying. You're going to work your tail off just to get to UPT, where you're going to work even harder until you've passed your airframe's training program. Then, there's even more work to do as you become proficient in the plane while learning the ropes of whatever job you get assigned to at your unit. It's a long road that is NOT for the faint of heart. Hope this helps.
bunk22
Well-Known Member
I believe there is nothing wrong with having goals. If a guy wants fighters, I think that's good motivation to get him or her through college and flight school. Just know, even with good grades that one may not achieve their goals. I wanted tactical jets from the get go, got the grades but was drafted into the E2/C2 community. So goals can get screwed up and then success becomes not doing what you want but what you have to do. Looking back, I have no regrets, still flew off carriers and had a great time.
Now having been flying for many years now, an IP in primary to boot, I've seen studs change their mind. The moment some pull g's or go upside down, their priorities change. A very good friend of mine wanted jets, fighters from the beginning as well. We went through NRTOC together, started flight school together and the moment he went upside down and pulled more than 1 g, he hated it. He became a helo pilot and was very happy to do so. Straight and level was how he liked to fly...even helo's were a bit much for him.
So start out with goals and if they don't work or change, that's fine. It happens all the time. Nothing wrong with it.
Now having been flying for many years now, an IP in primary to boot, I've seen studs change their mind. The moment some pull g's or go upside down, their priorities change. A very good friend of mine wanted jets, fighters from the beginning as well. We went through NRTOC together, started flight school together and the moment he went upside down and pulled more than 1 g, he hated it. He became a helo pilot and was very happy to do so. Straight and level was how he liked to fly...even helo's were a bit much for him.
So start out with goals and if they don't work or change, that's fine. It happens all the time. Nothing wrong with it.