Military Pilots?

[RockyMt]

Originally Posted by Busy Little Shop

True... props make me hot... jets leave me cold...

Who else going to the Reno Air Races Sept 14???

Larry, who'd a thunk you'd love V-12's!? I've only seen the Reno races once, but if you've never been, GO! (before the nanny state shuts it down for "our own good"!)

-Rocky-

[Furious Styles]

Originally Posted by mantis_nyc

Canada has an Air Force?

Dude! I might have to put this in my Sig... it really made me laugh out loud! Funny chit!

Well... its a serious commitment.
I'd put it this way. Make sure you know WHY your going. Doing it 'cause your old man did might be reason enough... but I think you really have to look a bit deeper.
Good luck... no matter what you decide.

[imported_ICEMAN]

I grew up with a die-hard fighter pilot ambition only to have a heart murmur bust my bubble.... I could hear any aircraft around town and tell you which plane it was.... had my own encyclopedia of planes and all that.... so I totally understand the need for speed thing... BUT here is the ironic part.... now that I look back at my life, I am glad I didn't join the air force.... it still would have kicked ass, but the whole politics of it, and the brainwashing they HAVE to do, to get you ready to die for your country seems silly now....

If you like to follow orders and kiss up it is great... my Dad was in the air force, but couldn't kiss up for his life and suffered the consequences, getting passed over for promotions.... FLYING is fantastic... it is all the crap that comes with the air force life, that may not be so good.

Why not, do some private flying? Do aerobatics and stuff if you are looking for a rush.... or go join an international airline and go see the world. My brother-in-law flies a 747 and has seen the whole world.... not great for family life, but cool anyway... all depends on what you really want from life?

[roadkill]

Originally Posted by Old Fart

My uncle was a Brig Colonel in the USAF.

Brigadier Colonel? In whose air force?

[Area 51]

Originally Posted by RockyMt

I've only seen the Reno races once, but if you've never been, GO! (before the nanny state shuts it down for "our own good"!)

-Rocky-

Oh, you must mean the nanny state that seeks to control what your partner does with her fertilized egg, or the books that are in your library, or how or when you die, or what you and your doctor choose for medicine. Who are the real nannies? And since YOU brought it up, who increases the national debt, who increases the size of government, who prefers boys to women, who are the biggest hypocrites of all?

"They" is primarily the Christian Coalition of America. You know, Ralph Reed, etc. Honestly, it's been about two years since I saw a documentary on this so I can't say exactly what their status is now. Apparently, membership in the CC has dwindled and new leadership has changed direction but I assume, that only two years later, the core nuts are still at work. This is documented stuff, with training manuals and everything. They originally targeted some specific towns in New England, tried to take over city government and school boards. The idea was to start at a grass roots level with the smartest, nicest people you could imagine, then to move them on up the ladder. But it's not my job to track the nuts activities or to educate you, if possible .

I've never been to the Reno races because I work the grape harvest every friggin' year and it pisses me off. I love those Mustangs.

[Area 51]

Originally Posted by Busy Little Shop

True... props make me hot... jets leave me cold...

I agree, with one excpetion. Ever since I was a kid I've wanted a BD5J. I'm on my wife's Apple so can't post a photo:

Juan Jimenez' BD-5J Microjet

[JD¹³]

Originally Posted by imported_ICEMAN

If you like to follow orders and kiss up it is great... my Dad was in the air force, but couldn't kiss up for his life and suffered the consequences, getting passed over for promotions.... FLYING is fantastic... it is all the crap that comes with the air force life, that may not be so good.

Why not, do some private flying? Do aerobatics and stuff if you are looking for a rush.... or go join an international airline and go see the world. My brother-in-law flies a 747 and has seen the whole world.... not great for family life, but cool anyway... all depends on what you really want from life?

I don't think you have to kiss up so much as just follow the rules to a T, mind you I could be wrong. I'm a very personable guy, I get along with everyone. The thing that will suck is the bureaucracy that comes with working for a government, but I'd get that anywhere. However, with that government bullshit comes a pretty damn good paycheque.

I'm an adrenaline junky, on top of riding motorcycles I also snowboard pretty heavily. I've been into inline skating, skateboarding, downhill mountain biking, bmx....... I'm a huge XGames wannabe I guess the attraction of the Air Force is the speed, the G, the rush. I've been the backseat of an F18 before and it is nothing like anything I've ever experienced. A superbike of even the highest caliber feels pedestrian in comparison to 44,000lbs of thrust out the back of an F18 at full burner. Call me Ricky Bobby, I wanna go fast.

I grew up kind of hating on the military, it's like I was sick of it because it was all I knew as a kid. But my dad retired and went commercial and I've done the traveling and seen the world, and I want to keep doing that but commercial flying is boring to me. I think I've gotten over my unfounded hatred of the military and see it now as a pretty good opportunity to have some fun playing with really expensive equipment, and getting paid well to do it.

Here's a picture I took on final coming into Hong Kong this spring:


Or:


Now which one looks more exciting to you?

[cheekybloke]

My initial advice would have been to go for it but after reading your last post I'm not so sure mainly due to your motivations with the main one being craving excitement and being an adrenalin junkie.
You'd be piloting a multi million dollar/pound piece of high tech machinery and be responsible for not only your life but also any troops you'd be supporting and your fellow pilots chances are now if you join up you will face combat situations and peoples lives will depend on you remaining calm and making the right decisions rather than chasing excitement.
Maybe you'd be better looking for a job racing or stunting aeroplanes.
Not trying to get at you just trying to give my honest opinion, but you need to look at your motivations real life isn't a film.

[duckdawg]

Originally Posted by roadkill

Brigadier Colonel? In whose air force?

he musta meant bird ...

[imported_ICEMAN]

Originally Posted by cheekybloke

My initial advice would have been to go for it but after reading your last post I'm not so sure mainly due to your motivations with the main one being craving excitement and being an adrenalin junkie.
You'd be piloting a multi million dollar/pound piece of high tech machinery and be responsible for not only your life but also any troops you'd be supporting and your fellow pilots chances are now if you join up you will face combat situations and peoples lives will depend on you remaining calm and making the right decisions rather than chasing excitement.
Maybe you'd be better looking for a job racing or stunting aeroplanes.
Not trying to get at you just trying to give my honest opinion, but you need to look at your motivations real life isn't a film.

+1 to that.... not being stupid here, but how old are you? I feel old saying this to you, but I have been through the phase where flying a fighter was just plain... COOL!!! Unfortunately life is a little more complicated than that.... being in the military, does require you to put your life on the line for others... ready to do that?

[RockyMt]

Nothing like an internet search for employment recomendations from people you don't know.......
(seriously though, good luck in whatever ya choose, remember yer young, so therefore you are "a few mistakes high" in flying jargon) Even if you enlist and serve 8 years and change yor mind, you still have served your country, gained valuable life experience, and still have time to begin a totally different career path.
Cheers,
-Rocky-

[JD¹³]

Originally Posted by cheekybloke

My initial advice would have been to go for it but after reading your last post I'm not so sure mainly due to your motivations with the main one being craving excitement and being an adrenalin junkie.
You'd be piloting a multi million dollar/pound piece of high tech machinery and be responsible for not only your life but also any troops you'd be supporting and your fellow pilots chances are now if you join up you will face combat situations and peoples lives will depend on you remaining calm and making the right decisions rather than chasing excitement.
Maybe you'd be better looking for a job racing or stunting aeroplanes.
Not trying to get at you just trying to give my honest opinion, but you need to look at your motivations real life isn't a film.

I was joking around a bit with my last post. Trust me, I know how serious the role is. I know how demanding it would be both mentally and physically. I know that there is the chance I may go to war and take lives. And I accept all of it.

Originally Posted by imported_ICEMAN

+1 to that.... not being stupid here, but how old are you? I feel old saying this to you, but I have been through the phase where flying a fighter was just plain... COOL!!! Unfortunately life is a little more complicated than that.... being in the military, does require you to put your life on the line for others... ready to do that?

I'm 23, and yes.

[irishaggression]

Originally Posted by Area 51

I agree, with one excpetion. Ever since I was a kid I've wanted a BD5J. I'm on my wife's Apple so can't post a photo:

Juan Jimenez' BD-5J Microjet

hey im right next to grapevine where they park that thing imma have to go check it out. I fly in an rv8 from time to time. Its enough to get some jollies

the f18 pic is very nice JD

[imported_ICEMAN]

Originally Posted by JD¹³

I was joking around a bit with my last post. Trust me, I know how serious the role is. I know how demanding it would be both mentally and physically. I know that there is the chance I may go to war and take lives. And I accept all of it.

I'm 23, and yes.

Good on you then! Go for it and chase your dream.... at least you will have a hell of story to tell when you are 50!

[bafflebrain]

Hey JD, I was on the verge of going down the same path many years ago but I could not pass the 20/20 vision. I don't thing it has changed that much so you got to keep in mind a few things.

It will take many years to complete all 4 phases to become a fighter pilot. During which you and your on/off base behaviour will be under scrutiny.

Its a long shot to get to be selected for fighter pilot training in the Canadian Forces. It is a longer shot to be selected for operational duties in a CF-18. This includes not only the physical aspect but also your mental prepareness.

You'll get very little air time in the CF-18; much less than the National Guard weekend warriors in the F-15. There are only 80 CF-18 so that pretty much sums it up.

The questions to yourself are, are you willing to give everything else up, your attitude included, for this and what would you do if you don't end up passing fighter pilot training. If you're prepared for those you are prepared to go down this road.

Knowing you I think you got a pretty good shot. Who know, if you're still in with military flight by 2017, you may end up in a CF-35