what will you fly

[jettison IT]

when one is in pilot training in one of our armed forces, what determines the aircraft they'll fly. ie grades, most popular, good stick, who gets fighters and who gets heavies.

[MDPilot]

Grades, including flying grades is the largest factor in class standing which determines choices of track, and later, initial aircraft assignment. Your IPs assessment of what type of flying you are best suited for is a factor too.

[bravodelta79]

Your academics, flying ability, attitude, peer ranking, and your commander's ranking weigh into your chances of getting your first pick. Also the needs of the Air Force can weigh into that as well.

From: http://www.thisgigrocks.com/

[ANG135drvr]

Baxter! I went to HS and UPT with him. You know him? Anyways goto www.baseops.net and click the becoming a pilot link.

[bravodelta79]

Ha! I don't know him. I just happened upon his site when searching for info about AMS earlier today.

[Zondaracer]

Guard and Reserve guys already know what they will fly before going to UPT. AD guys compete, first guy in class gets first pick

[Nihon_Ni]

Here's the way it works in the naval services:

#1 guy gets his first pick.
Everyone else falls under "The Needs of the Service" clause.

There are a few steps in the assignment process. The first is helo/prop/jet selection after primary. After advanced training you go through another selection process where you get your specific platform assigned: C-130s, AH-1s, F-18s, etc.

There is a minimum "GPA" to fly certain platforms (jets in general, AV-8s have a higher GPA, and EA-6Bs have specific boat grade requirements). There's always guys who try to trick the system -- get good enough grades for jets, but not good enough for AV8 or EA6 means you will get F-18s. For some guys that works, but mostly guys who try to beat the system get beat out of the program.

The best advice is to not be too picky about what you get. Whatever you end up with will be the best thing you ever flew. Even if it's "rubber dog ##### out of Hong Kong!" Sign me up for that gig!!

Rob

[skywestseth]

In the Army it is 10% grades and whatever amount of each aircraft they want on the list.

For example my buddy, did pretty decent thru the primary portion of flight school. about # 5 in his class. When he got to the day of selection it went like this...

"We have 1 Apache slot, 1 Chinook slot and 29 Blackhawk's..."

His destiny was revealed...

[calcapt]

It used to be in the Navy that it was determined by class standing. #1 guy gets what he wants, #2 guy then chooses, then #3 guy etc. Problem was, most of the top half of the list wanted the same thing leaving certain aircraft communities with guys who were at, or near the bottom of the list. The Navy then adopted "quality spread" insuring all communities equal dibs on the pilots who did well in training. In theory, if the #1 guy went to jets, the last guy on the list did as well giving the jet community "average" numbers. We always joked that you either wanted to finish first in your class or last as you were sure to get jets either way. The #1 guy (generic) always got what he/she wanted, the rest were subject to the needs of the service and assignments were given to spread quality throughout all aircraft communities. I chose fighters largely because of the excitement and coolness factor (I was young). I didn't realize that there are far better choices if one wants to build time for an airline career. I left the Navy with far fewer hours than my peers did who flew the S3, A6, P3 or E2.

[bravodelta79]

Originally Posted by calcapt

I chose fighters largely because of the excitement and coolness factor (I was young). I didn't realize that there are far better choices if one wants to build time for an airline career. I left the Navy with far fewer hours than my peers did who flew the S3, A6, P3 or E2.

Boooooohooooooo.... cry me a river.



What did you fly, calcapt?

[calcapt]

Originally Posted by bravodelta79

Boooooohooooooo.... cry me a river.



What did you fly, calcapt?

F-14s. You know you are getting old when you have to go to the museum to see the airplane you used to fly in the military. I take it you are unwilling to send any sympathy my way?

I have been unable to transition my landing skills from the Navy "fly it on the deck" method to "nice and smooth" which is the norm at the airlines. Just yesterday, as a passenger was deplaning, he looked at me and said "ex Navy I'm guessing?"

[bravodelta79]

Originally Posted by calcapt

F-14s. You know you are getting old when you have to go to the museum to see the airplane you used to fly in the military. I take it you are unwilling to send any sympathy my way?

I grew up watching Top Gun, so no sympathy here.