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Enthusiast Joined: Jun 22, 2005 Posts: 34 Status: Offline

One of my good friends and fellow ROTC grads is currently at ENJJPT and he started last January and will finish next January. Now he got my interest because I will be attending ENJJPT next March and he mentioned that there may be one, maybe two, F-22 drops for his class.

He also mentioned that by the time I come around (which is still a long ways a way and a LOT of work), that there could be as many as 5, maybe 6 F-22 drops. Now this is all from what he heard and he told me, so no one go crawling up my a$$ because this isn't true or something like that, it's just what I heard and I am awfully excited. I guess from what he said, while the F-22 program wants a good share of experienced pilots, it is about time to get the young, fresh-out-of-UPT folks in the Raptor seat.

I think TC works over at the 43rd at Tyndall, maybe you can shed light on if you have heard anything or seen any new butterbars? Anybody else know anything?

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Enthusiast Joined: Jun 22, 2005 Posts: 34 Status: Offline

Oops, I didn't see this topic in future pilots section. Would one of the moderators mind deleting this and I can post this on the other thread? Thanks.

Hey ENJJPT nominee, have heard much about you around here. I put in for Euro-Nato when I was in ROTC, had a real high composite, never got selected, but eight others did and are no more. They all got out or were asked to leave, why? Huh, don't really know. They were all Sierra Hotel at ROTC, but when it came to getting in reality, things somehow didn't work out.

With all the cooperation you've been getting, you seem as though people like you! This is a good sign, keep up the good work. Don't get too disappointed if by chance you get 16's, 15's or Warthogs, whiskeythud, life is good, even if all I fly these days is an S-2B. It's a Pitts Special.

Enthusiast Joined: Jun 22, 2005 Posts: 34 Status: Offline

Well I have learned to shut up and listen sometimes, and I have also learned that people often go home early from ENJJPT for not making the cut even though they may have been a good cadet, it all matters when you get there. I will say that while excited, it's going to be HARD. And as for a/c, anything pretty fast will do.

Good for you whiskeythud! Since you'll get a good head start in 37's as will everyone else, and you, with some 16 time; just make sure you study and do get together and be a unit with other students. Shutting up is important.....

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 20, 2005 Posts: 1035 Status: Offline

The 27th FS commander here at Langley said that only experienced F-15 and F-16 pilots were being considered for certification into the F/A-22.

--Check

That's what I had been thinking "checksixx", I just hope "whiskeythud" does good, and is happy no matter what he gets, I think he deserves a shot at the best!! And best to both of you.

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 20, 2005 Posts: 1035 Status: Offline

Sorry...I ABSOLUTELY hope you get into it! Meant no offense.... Smile

--Check

How about in 6 or 7 years down the road? How many raptor drops are there expected (or the AF hopes) to have per class?

btw, good luck with ENJUPT Whiskeythud, I wish you the best of luck, a -22 slot would be sick man!

I really want to get one of those slots too (If I make it into USAFA, I'll be graduating 2010). Good luck to you too, whiskey.

The final number of production Raptors isn't set in stone either. So if the AF brass is able to wield some magic and get the fleet's numbers up, it could be sooner than 6-7 years that you could see guys getting slots right out of UPT. Just my 2 cents..

Whiskeythud,

While my data is about 6 months old, I can tell you that as of end of last year the first Raptor slots were fragged for FYO8. What that means to you is you would need to be going to Tyndall (Raptor FTU) sometime around Oct 07 - actually you would have to go to IFF in FY08 then Tyndall soon after completing the IFF program. Having said that, the quotas and timeline seem to change frequently - in '02 the first Raptors Lt's were supposed to go through in FY05. It obviously did not happen.

The biggest thing is to do your best in UPT and press on from there - whatever you may fly. Also, tell your congressman to buy more Raptors - 'cause the more we have the more pilots we need. Idea

(How's that for amazing logic?)

Elite 2K Joined: Jan 14, 2004 Posts: 2812 Status: Offline

WhiskeyThud,

Sorry it took me so long to respond to your post, as I was the one you originally asked. I'll try to clear some things up here.

First, no brown bars flying Raptors yet. Won't happen for a long time either. I don't think they'll make the FY08 date that we all know the Academy toads were hoping for.

Secondly, Allen gives good advice. Don't make Euro-NATO such a big goal that you knock yourself out of the program completely. I've known a few ROTC/Academy kids that were so wrapped up on getting a ENJJPT slot that they ended up screwing up somehow, and not only lost that, but a chance at UPT altogether.

Finally, if and when you do make it, take any jet you can get. Don't get so wrapped up in a hypothetical goal, that you wind up unhappy with what you get. If you get an Eagle slot, enjoy the HELL out of flying Eagles! Same goes with flying Vipers, or Warthogs. Just have fun with whatever you end up flying. Then, as soon as you get the chance, apply for a Raptor slot (if that's still what you want at that point).

I wasn't with the 43rd, although I did a lot of support work for that unit, as they are the only current Raptor squadron at Tyndall. I worked for Lockheed Martin, but I left that job about a month and a half ago, for something that has better hours and pay.

But, I'm close enough to going back into the AF with my new B.A. that I can smell it. It'll most likely be OTS for the kiddo.

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

TC wrote:

Finally, if and when you do make it, take any jet you can get. Don't get so wrapped up in a hypothetical goal, that you wind up unhappy with what you get. If you get an Eagle slot, enjoy the HELL out of flying Eagles! Same goes with flying Vipers, or Warthogs. Just have fun with whatever you end up flying. Then, as soon as you get the chance, apply for a Raptor slot (if that's still what you want at that point).

Interesting, so if I end up flying Eagles or Warthogs, I can still have a shot at flying Vipers? I know that this is a F-22 pilot slot thread, but I just had to ask this question.

The current Thunderbird #1 (his name escapes me atm) is certified in all 3 fighter Air Frames of the USAF. Flew A-10s in Desert Storm and then switched to F-15s. He picked up Vipers when he became a Thunderbird. So yes I assume there is always a chance of being assigned a new air frame. If you want to start something first and then end flying Vipers though, the easiest way I can think of is to pull tail, work hard and get a Thunderbird position.

-Aaron

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