C5onknees From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 153 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 1538 times:
Can some one give me some info on U.S. Air Force flight training? Can you pick the aircraft you want to fly? How long is it? What kind of trainer do they use for AMC airplanes? I heard from a C-5 Engineer that you have to switch Airplanes every three years. Has anyone completed AF Flight Training, and if so could you give me some info?
Dc1030guy From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 63 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (7 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1393 times:
Pilot training is a 1 year deal. It could be a few months longer if you initially start at Pensacola/Whiting Field.
USAF student pilots must first complete the first half of pilot training flying either a T6, T37 or T34. It is at this time you track select; meaning you either go to the "fighter bomber" track, "C130 C12" track, "heavy" track, or "helicopter" track. You will submit a preference to your flight commander and then depending on your class ranking, you are given a particular track.
During the last half of pilot training, for heavy pilots (AMC), you will fly the T-1 which is a Beech 400A business jet. If you are a C130 pilot, you will most likely train on the C12 in Corpus Christi NAS. However, when C130 slots are needed, T-1 students may see C130s coming to their drop.
Near the end of pilot training, you will receive a list of airplanes in your particular drop. All aircraft may be available, some may not. The aircraft available are based on air force needs. You will submit your top three preferences to your flight commander. You then will attend "selection night". It is at this time you find out what aircraft and base you will be assigned to. Fighter guys I believe only find out what aircraft and what training base they will be sent to.
I can only speak for AMC guys. Currently, the AFPC guys want AMC pilots to do two Major Weapon System (MWS) tours and an Operational Support Aircraft or Undergraduate Pilot Training Instructor tour (OSA/UPT IP). So that means one of the following three situations for your first 10-12 years of flying:
1. MWS -- MWS -- OSA/UPT IP
2. MWS -- OSA/UPT UP -- MWS
3. OSA/UPT IP -- MWS -- MWS
After that, you will most likely be given a desk job otherwise known as a staff tour. However, some people are lucky and stay in the cockpit their entire 20 years.
As an officer, after being on station for 2 years at a particular base, you are put on the vulnerable Movers List (VML). This means, by about your third year time on station, you should be looking for your next job. Most likely, you will have to move. So you can expect to move every 3-4 years if you are a heavy pilot.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11715 posts, RR: 52 Reply 2, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1319 times:
Drewfly From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 303 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days ago) and read 1293 times:
I highly suggest your read Scott O'Grady's book Return With Honor. In the first half of the book he goes into great detail about his AF Pilot Training experience.
A-10 Thunderbolt II, ugly as hell, efficient as hell, would you like to meet my boomstick?
Dc1030guy From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 63 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1287 times:
I wouldn't believe everything Scott O'Grady says or has written. From my experience, he does not have a good reputation among the fighter guys nor the SERE and Rescue guys who picked him up.
PaveLowDriver From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 1279 times:
Good call Dc1030 guy...even from a tanker mafia dude....*grin*
As one of the aforementioned "Rescue Guys" (sort of)......Take it from me that O'Grady is a world class ass-clown. Not only did he screw up by the numbers once he hit the deck, he never would have been there in the first place if he had his RWR set up as fragged. He is used as the classic example of "what not to do" in every single SERE class currently taught across the DoD>
To answer the original post though - As I told someone else on this board who was trying to get to UPT - always remember that even if you make the (relatively low) cut to get into pilot training, you're always an officer first and a pilot (or other aircrew member) second. Any monkey can be trained with enough skills to be a decent pilot....It's much harder to make a good officer. A lot of guys tend to forget that simply having a set of wings on your chest doesn't make you a de facto leader. I know a lot of dudes who have great hands, but can't lead their crew once bad guys start shootin'. On the other hand, there are guys who might not give the folks in the back the greatest ride, but whom people would follow anywhere.
Just my personal soapbox here. Take it or leave it.
Duce50boom From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 1266 times:
Pave,
I thought he didn't set up his jammer correctly but you and Dc10 are right on the money as usual; 700 hours as a wingman.....should've raised some flags there.
Ftrguy From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 358 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 1260 times:
Quoting PaveLowDriver (Reply 5): As one of the aforementioned "Rescue Guys" (sort of)......Take it from me that O'Grady is a world class ass-clown. Not only did he screw up by the numbers once he hit the deck, he never would have been there in the first place if he had his RWR set up as fragged. He is used as the classic example of "what not to do" in every single SERE class currently taught across the DoD>
I can agree with that. I went through SERE 2 yrs ago and all they did is make fun of him and say "this is what not to do." He's given a lot more credit than he deserves. Although he did avoid capture, you have to give him something for that!
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