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Is it true that the best pilots get to fly the F-22 and second best pilots fly other fighters and the rest of them fly cargo and tankers?
I have talked to an F-22 pilot at the airshow and he said if a 2nd lieutenant wants to fly the F-22, he has to get straight As in the AF Academy and otherwise, he has to fly other fighter jets like the F-16 or F-15 for many years and it is still very competitive to be a fighter jet pilot for AF Academy graduates. So usually did fighter jet pilots get better marks and grades than cargo, tanker, and support plane pilots when they were in the AF Academy?
Re: Is it true that the best pilots get to fly the F-22...
Not true. High marks will give you your choice of what you want to fly. So if you want to fly the F-22 make sure you get to the top 1% of your class. Same goes if you want to fly say the KC-135.
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It's difficult to make broad generalizations about the attitudes and beliefs of all F-14 Tomcat pilots, as individuals may have had different experiences and perspectives. However, it is true that the F-14 Tomcat was a highly capable fighter jet and was widely regarded as one of the most dominant and effective planes of its time.
Many F-14 pilots were proud of their aircraft and their training, and saw themselves as part of an elite group of aviators. The plane's advanced technology, long range, and sophisticated weapons systems made it well-suited for a variety of combat scenarios, and the pilots who flew it often pushed the plane to its limits.
That said, it's important to note that all branches of the military have highly trained and skilled pilots, and there is a great deal of respect and admiration across the various services. While there may have been some friendly competition or rivalry between different types of planes or units, it is not accurate to say that one group of pilots is inherently better or more skilled than another. Each branch and each aircraft has its own unique strengths and capabilities, and all serve an important role in the defense of the country.
The AIM is not regulatory so there is not really any absolute rules to go by. The AIM does give procedures which should be followed but some pilots do not. In many cases they make it harder for the rest of us who do follow the AIM procedures. I was watching a YouTube video yesterday where a group of "supposedly" accomplished pilots flew a C172 from DAB to CDK. These hotshots proceeded to fly a 10 mile straight in to Cedar Key, not even apparently looking for NORDO traffic, thus ruining the trip as far as I was concerned.
FGO to the RAF recruitment office and they will explain everything but you are still very young and reading your piece I think maybe very na?ve You cannot in this world just pick out the bits of jobs you want to do and expect company's RAF etc to tailor make jobs for you especially as you only want to use the RAF to save money!
Becoming a commercial pilot does not *require* a college degree. And many folks are out there crop dusting, performing aerial photography, even teaching flying - all without a higher degree (and some probably without a high school diploma). However, it is NOT the path I would recommend. The higher up the ranks you climb, the more likely any particular institution (whether airline or other) is to want one - even if it really is not directly related to your flying work. With lots of entry level applications, it is just an easy way to weed out the bottom tiers. This is especially true of the airlines.
Also, do not forget that every commercial pilot flies at the risk of their Class II or Class I (the latter required for ATP "airline" flying) medical. I highly recommend that all pilots have a "backup" life plan for the day when they are no longer able to fly commercially.
There are two traditional routes to flying - military and civilian. The military will pay for you to learn to fly, and it is an excellent opportunity and career. But, you have to be accepted by them - and that means good physical and mental condition. And they are most likely going to want to see that you are on at least a path towards a college degree (ROTC, for example). Of course, they are also going to want a long-term commitment from you as well.
Civilian is usually "pay your own way" - at least for the beginning. You can get a pilot's license by working the drive-thru window at McDonalds (to pay for flight school), but it's a tough way to do it. And merely having a license is not enough - you need lots of hours (preferably in jets) to get hired by the major airlines. So that's a lot of time at low wages and strange times - or pay for more of your own training.
Lastly, some airlines do offer ab initio training (training from the beginning), but that is usually foreign (non-US) airlines offering jobs for their own countrymen. Lots of applicants, for a relatively few slots.
Bottom line: Flying is a wonderful career, but like anything else worthwhile - it takes lots of time and effort. If it is something you want to pursue, then don't be afraid of working long hours at perhaps multiple jobs to earn enough money to start getting your license. And then more hours and strange times at relatively low wages to make it into the airlines.
Flying becomes a passion if it's what you're meant to do. Once you take that first lesson you will never see an airplane again without yearning to be in that front seat. You should go up for an introductory flight at your local airport and see how it goes. You can get a sport pilot certificate to start if you want. It's cheaper and would meet the needs of most any recreational pilot.
You need a college degree and then join the military or go to a military college like the USAF Academy. They will put you through all the pilot training.
Students and certificated pilots both are required to remain current and to have a check ride (flight review with an instructor) every 24 calendar months. The ones you're seeing are probably going out to the practice area to practice their flight maneuvers. If a pilot doesn't practice regularly his or her skills can deteriorate rapidly.
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