Forum: Future F-16 crew

Habu wrote:

Getting a pilot slot in the ANG is more difficult than the regular AF. And a fighter slot? Foggedabouit!

Incorrect. Getting a fighter slot in the Guard is difficult, but by no means impossible. Most every Viper unit in the country hires at least 1 dude a year to go to pilot training.

If you are interested in getting a fighter slot with a Guard unit, contact one of the pilots at the unit and ask them about the hiring process. I was enlisted before I got hired for UPT, and that helps a bunch. But there are a number of dudes that got hired by Viper units with no prior enlisted time at all.

Get your degree, take the AFOQT and BAT test, get as many flying hours as you can, and send your application to every Guard unit you would be interested in flying at.

TucsonVipers

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Getting a pilot slot out of AFROTC is not that difficult anymore just as long as you meet the requirements. Medically is the most difficult obviously. If you want a fighter slot then compete for ENJJPT - Euro Nato Joint Pilot Training instead of the other UPT bases. You will automatically be on a fighter/bomber track. It's a pretty sweet deal!

The cost of the jet has nothing to do with what you are assigned. Between your standing in UPT and a good Flight Commander in UPT, that's how you get your jet.

Cylon

Hey, there's a question: Suppose for a moment that you're already a fairly experienced private pilot when you enter the Academy and are targeted at being a pilot all along. Is your existing pilot rating going to be a help to you, or a hindrance? (Bad habits, at least bad in the eyes of the Academy, may have to be unlearned.)

CJ

F-16Rooster wrote:

Bilal- THats the way the Navy does it. Start in F18s and transfer to F14s if youre good enough after several years.

I actually hear that the Navy's Tomcat Jocks can fly F-14's as long as they can make the grade in the Jet training with the T-45... the Primary thing they look for when selecting a newly-winged aviator to go to VF-101 as a replacement pilot (they're not students now that they're winged) is their Carrier Quals (as the F-14 is one of the toughest birds to recover onto the deck).
It's actually a tough deal to switch aircraft when in the service, since the gov't has already paid over a million bucks to train one aviator. It's a rare thing and only happens to Test pilots (they usually have to be qualifed in more than one aircraft for versatility), and those moving up to newer Aircraft ( For example F-14 Aircrews moving up to the Super Hornet)

ram816 wrote:

F-16Rooster wrote:

Bilal- THats the way the Navy does it. Start in F18s and transfer to F14s if youre good enough after several years.

I actually hear that the Navy's Tomcat Jocks can fly F-14's as long as they can make the grade in the Jet training with the T-45... the Primary thing they look for when selecting a newly-winged aviator to go to VF-101 as a replacement pilot (they're not students now that they're winged) is their Carrier Quals (as the F-14 is one of the toughest birds to recover onto the deck).
It's actually a tough deal to switch aircraft when in the service, since the gov't has already paid over a million bucks to train one aviator. It's a rare thing and only happens to Test pilots (they usually have to be qualifed in more than one aircraft for versatility), and those moving up to newer Aircraft ( For example F-14 Aircrews moving up to the Super Hornet)

Guys thats not the way it happens. F-14 and F-18 are completely differnt tracks, they dont start off in one and end in the other. You go direct to the Turkey or Bug depending on bilet after either T-45 or T-2C (for the old guys). And its not even a matter anymore since the Turkey isnt getting any new pilots.

You may have been confused with the Harrier. Originally the Marines started letting low hour pilots into the aircraft and had alot of resulting crashes. The decision was made then to have Hornet Pilots with an alotted amount of time transfer over to the aircraft. So yeah in that case you go F-18 to AV-8B, but Ive never met a Bug driver that wanted to fly the Turkey, let alone requested it.

Lawman wrote:

Ive never met a Bug driver that wanted to fly the Turkey, let alone requested it.

Same thing can be said about Harrier drivers. It's that accident rate that the Harrier suffers from ingesting its own exhaust that scares a lot of sticks. A lot of guys who don't (and won't) fly it know it as the "Scarrier." Also, comparing he hornet's performance envelope with that of the Harrier is like comparing an Underground Mitsubishi racer against an SUV.
I think it'd be a lot simpler to keep the harrier-hopeful in the T-45 for a little more stick time and then start him with the AV-8.

And as far as I know, VF-101 is still training F-14 Aircrews and will until around this time next year. Which leaves one last year until the final F-14 Unit transitions. And even though some hornet guys wouldn't touch it, there are a few nutty proponents of the F-14 among the Navy's SNAs that would have her as their first choice of Aircraft after Adv.Jet Training. I'm guessing its for nostalgia or for a shot at being "The Last Tomcat Driver" Rolling Eyes

The whole reason for waiting on a Hornet Pilot to go Harrier was let him get some fast jet time. They put choper pilots in the aircraft when they first got it, and yeah they could hover but they had a problem with running into hills at 400 knots.

The way they got alot of pilots into the Harrier was by offering them the job when it was time to go be a GFAC. Kinda an incentive to keep your but in the air, since a Hornet pilot would probably be willing to fly anything.

I'm in the strike pipeline right now flying the T-45, and have been watching the selection process quite carefully.
The last F-14 slot went in sept 2003, and a lot of guys wanted to get one. The tomcat just looks like fun to fly(ever see one in the break) plus you are almost guaranteed rhinos afterwards.

The Harrier selection process is pretty complex. Grades out of advanced strike the good old T-2 to T-45(or Total Syllabus -TS for the new kids) are on a a scale of 20-80 based on the previous 60 students. A score of 50 is about average while a 35 is required to graduate. To get a harrier seat you need a score of at least 45. Anything below that but above 35 will get you a hornet seat. The #1 guy winging that month gets his choice, and most lads pick hornets. Good boat grades usually buy you one of the 4 annual prowler seats.

Forum: Future F-16 crew

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