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#1
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going AF?
I'm a CFI and am looking at going into the AF to fly. What are my
chances of getting a jet as opposed to the good old C-130? I'm wondering because I am going into this at a relatively older age than most of the jet guys do. I've heard also if you don't have vision of 20/20 or close too it you will most likely end up with a prop plane. Any truth to this? Of course this isn't official policy that I can see, but these are the rumors I'm hearing. -24 years old -20/50 vision, correctable to 20/20 -white (1st thing recruiter asked if I was Hispanic or non-Hispanic...) -male Thanks! |
#2
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"AKav8r" wrote in message m... I'm a CFI and am looking at going into the AF to fly. What are my chances of getting a jet as opposed to the good old C-130? I'm wondering because I am going into this at a relatively older age than most of the jet guys do. I've heard also if you don't have vision of 20/20 or close too it you will most likely end up with a prop plane. Any truth to this? Of course this isn't official policy that I can see, but these are the rumors I'm hearing. -24 years old -20/50 vision, correctable to 20/20 -white (1st thing recruiter asked if I was Hispanic or non-Hispanic...) -male Thanks! Well, I'm not 100% sure, but I do believe that not having perfect or better than perfect vision (regardless of correction) is an almost instant disqualification from fighter jets. I don't think that also applies to cargo planes/tankers, etc. |
#3
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What are my
chances of getting a jet as opposed to the good old C-130? If your question is comparing fighters to heavies, I'd say its 4 to 1 (in favor of flying a tanker or cargo as opposed to a fighter). This is based solely on a discussion I had a few years ago with an ol' BUFF pilot, then serving as a T-38 IP. Your chances of getting a bomber are about 5 to 1 (in favor of getting a non-bomber). I've heard also if you don't have vision of 20/20 or close too it you will most likely end up with a prop plane. Any truth to this? None, your vision has zero impact on you assignment (or at least it shouldn't, SUPT grads are no longer picking their assignments like we did in the 90's, they're being assigned to them. Maybe Ed or Walt can give us some insight on what discussions are involved behind closed doors when the IPs pick the students assignments?) BUFDRVR "Stay on the bomb run boys, I'm gonna get those bomb doors open if it harelips everyone on Bear Creek" |
#4
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Thomas J. Paladino Jr. wrote:
"AKav8r" wrote in message m... I'm a CFI and am looking at going into the AF to fly. What are my chances of getting a jet as opposed to the good old C-130? I'm wondering because I am going into this at a relatively older age than most of the jet guys do. I've heard also if you don't have vision of 20/20 or close too it you will most likely end up with a prop plane. Any truth to this? Of course this isn't official policy that I can see, but these are the rumors I'm hearing. -24 years old -20/50 vision, correctable to 20/20 -white (1st thing recruiter asked if I was Hispanic or non-Hispanic...) -male Thanks! Well, I'm not 100% sure, but I do believe that not having perfect or better than perfect vision (regardless of correction) is an almost instant disqualification from fighter jets. I don't think that also applies to cargo planes/tankers, etc. While there are vision requirements for Air Force pilots, none of them apply differently between fighter, transport, or other type aircraft. I've met fighter pilots who wear glasses, and lots of non-fighter types who have 20/20 or better vision without them. There are no special vision requirements for any specific aircraft that I have ever heard of during my 12 years in the Air Force, 9 of them flying (C-130s at present). Mike |
#5
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Ever consider the Navy?
R / John "AKav8r" wrote in message m... I'm a CFI and am looking at going into the AF to fly. What are my chances of getting a jet as opposed to the good old C-130? I'm wondering because I am going into this at a relatively older age than most of the jet guys do. I've heard also if you don't have vision of 20/20 or close too it you will most likely end up with a prop plane. Any truth to this? Of course this isn't official policy that I can see, but these are the rumors I'm hearing. -24 years old -20/50 vision, correctable to 20/20 -white (1st thing recruiter asked if I was Hispanic or non-Hispanic...) -male Thanks! |
#6
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"AKav8r" wrote
I'm a CFI and am looking at going into the AF to fly. What are my chances of getting a jet as opposed to the good old C-130? I'm wondering because I am going into this at a relatively older age than most of the jet guys do. I've heard also if you don't have vision of 20/20 or close too it you will most likely end up with a prop plane. Any truth to this? Of course this isn't official policy that I can see, but these are the rumors I'm hearing. -24 years old -20/50 vision, correctable to 20/20 -white (1st thing recruiter asked if I was Hispanic or non-Hispanic...) -male 24 is in the window, especially if you just got out of college. CFI doesn't count for anything, but you can translate that into excellent scores in the aptitude test, and going through the part-task trainers (switchology, etc). When I was in, if you wore glasses, or had a record of being unconscious, you were asked to step out of the line, and they took you to the maintenance officer :-) Don't know what they do today, as most fighter pilots wear night-vision goggles, and they probably can be focused for your vision, and during daylight, a lot of them use binoculars (I say a lot, but the helo shootdown in Iraq shows that many also don't). The USAF has a lot of heavy jets. Most are pretty boring though, and you should learn to knit or something, as you orbit for 15 hours, while the C-130 guys actually fly straight-line for 15 hours (unless you're in a combat C-130). |
#7
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#8
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Ed Rasimus wrote:
[snip] The concern with age isn't a factor at 24. Max age for selection used to be 26.5 and max for entry to training was 27.5. Waivers were occasionally possible for older. Right now, he's heart of the envelope. Ed, the age limit has gone up to 29.5 at application and 30 by entry into SUPT. I'm 29 and have an active application in at the moment. You can also get a one time age waiver after 30, but most persons receiving that are active duty applicants. Real factor is college grad and getting a slot in a commissioning program. With low requirements there are few "after graduation" opportunities for a pilot training slot. First priority is USAFA, then ROTC and finally the excess commitments get an OTS opportunity. Dare I suggest that an ANG slot for pilot training, particularly in a fast-mover equipped unit, would be the only guarantee. AFROTC and OTS are still available opportunities. With the shortage of officers as of late a 2 year ROTC course is offered. I did that while earning my masters degree. ROTC offer's a far better chance of being selected for SUPT that OTS. Also, a masters degree is always a bonus for career development, even if the current COS says that it is no longer a promotion requirement. Ed Rasimus Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret) "When Thunder Rolled" Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN #1-58834-103-8 Michael Kelly, Bone Maintainer |
#9
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AKav8r,
My advice to you would be to investigate AFROTC. While there is no guaranty of a jet slot by attending ROTC, you stand a far greater chance of being selected for pilot training than if you apply to OTS. There are two year programs and scholarships available that you can pursue as a graduate student. A masters degree is always a plus for promotions at the Lt Col and above stages of your career, even if the current COS says that is no longer the case. The age and vision aren't an issue as the current requirements are 29.5 at application, 30 by entry to SUPT, and 20/70 correctable to 20/20. Your CFI and more important the total flight time you have make you more competitive to be selected for SUPT. Getting jets versus a C-130 is a function of how well you do in training. Again previous experience in the air gives you a leg up on the competition. But don't automatically knock the 130's because they're slow and have props. They do some pretty dangerous stuff making air assaults under enemy fire, or stuff like landing in an open field in Afghanistan under enemy fire to resupply spec ops types. Definitely more exciting than flying a C-5 or a tanker. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. FWIW I'm a maintenance officer who did the 2 year ROTC program as a grad student and currently have an application in for flight training. I've been through a lot of the process OTS, AFROTC and active duty so I have no problem sharing what I picked up along the way. Cheers, Michael Kelly, Bone Maintainer AKav8r wrote: I'm a CFI and am looking at going into the AF to fly. What are my chances of getting a jet as opposed to the good old C-130? I'm wondering because I am going into this at a relatively older age than most of the jet guys do. I've heard also if you don't have vision of 20/20 or close too it you will most likely end up with a prop plane. Any truth to this? Of course this isn't official policy that I can see, but these are the rumors I'm hearing. -24 years old -20/50 vision, correctable to 20/20 -white (1st thing recruiter asked if I was Hispanic or non-Hispanic...) -male Thanks! |
#10
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Ed, the age limit has gone up to 29.5 at application and 30 by entry into SUPT. Some of our top guns today are old enough to be the father of a World War II fighter pilot. all the best -- Dan Ford email: (requires authentication) see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com |
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