Forum: Future F-16 crew

I'm sure these question have already been asked but I couldn't find any answers.

What is a typical day in the life of a fighter pilot?
Do you fly everyday?
Is there a lot of paperwork?
Does it ever get boring?

I'm just curious about the life that fighter pilots live. Thanks for the answers in advance

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I'm a crew chief not a pilot, but I can answer one of your questions.

I don't believe it ever gets boring. I used to be stationed at Luke and when I was strapping in this new student pilot on one of his first solo flights, I asked him what the mission was for the day and he told me it was practicing either formation flying or dropping bombs and that it was boring. Can't remember which.

Without missing a beat I asked him to get out of the seat and grab a wrench and I'll be back in an hour. He thought about it for a minute and said "Gee chief, you're right, this really is fun. What was I thinking".

Well, chief, I'm glad you put the kid back in his place. I've been operational in Block 50s at Misawa for the last 8 months and I'll try to give you an idea of what the operational day can be like for a Wild Weasel overseas. A typical fighter pilot day is 12-14+ hrs long. This day usually starts out either early (as in 4 AMish) or late (as in 10 AMish). If you fly, you can count on the 2.5 hrs of prebriefing prior to the flight, 1-1.5 hrs of flying, hot pit refuel, another 1-1.5 hrs sortie, 2-4 hrs of debrief (depending on the ride) and then throw in 1 hr or so for ground ops and you have the typical flying day. Then on top of that you get to do your side job which can range from scheduling to standardization and evaluation to the weapons shop to other various administrivia positions. And sometime in there, for every time you fly you need to mission plan which can range from 1 hr for a "benign" air-to-air mission to 3+ hrs for force protection rights (at the heart of the Wild Weasel). Most squadrons are min-manned right now which leads to lots of paperwork given to minimum personnel in those side jobs. That's the downer side of the job.

But, the upside is well worth it! We don't usually fly every day (especially at Misawa where the weather isn't the best). We have to fly 10 times a month (not 10 days, but 10 times) to stay current. I would venture to say that no Viper driver...especially in the Block 50 ever gets bored. There is so much to keep up to speed on, whether it's new targeting pods, new smart weapons, threat study, the plethora of things you can strap onto the machine, or yes, even keeping current on FAA and Air Force Instrument Flying Procedures and emergency procedures...it is definitely tough to get bored.

We work hard, but party hard as well.

As for myself, I venture to say that I will never be bored with my life, and I am very thankful for all the crew chiefs and techs that loan me their jet 1-3 hrs a week to train.

That was very well put sir, I have some conclusions of my own from your post on circumstances going on now versus what they were in the 80's. Thank you, and good luck in your career and Air Force longevity.

I will add some things that I'm sure others will back me up on. BTW - I'm not a fighter pilot but been around this long enough to still have some observations about fighter pilots and some things which also apply to military folks in general.

You spend a lot of time away from home and family.
Your family worries about your safety and that (plus #1) creates home stress.
Stay in it long enough and you have to see friends die.
You may be called upon to kill others.
Your actions may result in the death of innocent women and children.
Your actions may result in friendly fire deaths (fratricide).
You may be called upon to shoot down a US airliner. (Homeland Defense)
You will have to live with all of the above the rest of your life.
Most people are not fearless - they just push past it.

I could keep going but this is at least a sampling. The fighter pilots life is not glamorous as portrayed in the movies. Do they have fun? Sure! But strap a guy into a Viper going into Iraq and look in his eyes. Then look in his eyes after he comes back. All of you Crew Chiefs that have done this know what I mean. It's life and death and peacetime flying is just preparation to make sure you get the life part and the bad guys get the death part if you're ever called upon to do so. And the rest of us do our parts to make sure he has the best opportunity to do so.

I just wanted to add this bit of nuance because very few pilots will ever talk about this. It's part of their image. If you want to get a glimpse into how a fighter pilot really thinks go read the book BAT 21 (please not the movie - it was butchered).

FalconFixer - Thank you for posting, excellent points I would have liked to have made but was too afraid to. I appreciate your input on all aspects on F-16.net, you're a very intelligent crew chief, I'm surprised you're not flying, as I once tried to do but was asked to leave for the good of the Air Force. Maybe you still have a chance if you have a thought of doing so.

allenperos wrote:

FalconFixer - Thank you for posting, excellent points I would have liked to have made but was too afraid to. I appreciate your input on all aspects on F-16.net, you're a very intelligent crew chief, I'm surprised you're not flying, as I once tried to do but was asked to leave for the good of the Air Force. Maybe you still have a chance if you have a thought of doing so.

Thanks - but I just use big words and baffle them with BS. I made a decision early on that I wouldn't do that to my family. I would have been an excellent fighter pilot (have already proven to have the skills and abilities) but chose to stay on the ground for their benefit. They worry enough as it is when I deploy. I also knew that I could do more good for the AF as a maintainer and NCO than I ever could as an officer/pilot. I've turned down a few offers for commission over the years. Just never figured they could make a gentleman out of a guy who was crew chief to the core. Plus I knew my PC skills would hinder further progression as an officer. But now I can disagree with Generals to their faces (and have done so many times) and I don't have to worry about my future.

Not only that - I get to send officers off to get shot at while I'm sitting in a nice air conditioned bar looking at pretty girls.

BTW- I'm 47 - doubt our Uncle is too interested in putting me in any cockpit now.

OK FalconFixer - I see your point, I thought the grass was greener on the other side at one time, I fly, civilian, see "<a href="f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-2338.html">Best Acrobatic Aircraft</a>", will post probably this weekend, if weather is good w/pics, it's nice to hear that you're qualified but couldn't care less about becoming the a$$es they can be sometimes, isn't it?

allenperos wrote:

OK FalconFixer - I see your point, I thought the grass was greener on the other side at one time, I fly, civilian, see "Best Acrobatic Aircraft", will post probably this weekend, if weather is good w/pics, it's nice to hear that you're qualified but couldn't care less about becoming the a$$es they can be sometimes, isn't it?

There are just as many a$$es in the NCO ranks - believe me. I like the title of one of Erma Bombecks old books, "The Grass Is Always Greener Over The Septic Tank." That about sums up my philosophy of life.

It's a good one, we're starting to get off topic, good luck to you and see around the net, Sir!!!

allenperos wrote:

It's a good one, we're starting to get off topic, good luck to you and see around the net, Sir!!!

Don't ever "Sir" me - I work for a living. Very Happy

Yep - off topic. Issue recall message.....Out.

Wow, thank you everybody. I really appreciate all the replies, especially Ragin' for the in depth looks at the life of a fighter pilot. If there is anything else that anyone could give, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Forum: Future F-16 crew

The life of a fighter pilot