Would a civilian aircraft license make me a better candidate for AF/Navy aviator selection?

Jamie Tran — Sat, 02 May 2020 12:06:21 -0400

PS : My dream is to fly F-35s and I'd want to know which branch will give me the highest chance of flying the F-35 ????

Response by LT Brad McInnis made May 2 at 2020 1:46 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Sat, 02 May 2020 13:46:53 -0400

This question has been asked numerous times here because it is a popular topic and there is a lot of good info from all types of pilots in those responses. Recommend you search the forum and find those questions. Not busting on you, just want to make sure you get the info you want/need and offering an alternative! Have a great day.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2020 4:40 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 May 2020 16:40:06 -0400

About 1 in 10 Marine flight students will get a jet assignment, and of them, there are still a lot of Hornet and Harrier slots. I suppose with those odds, being able to pilot a piston-engined Cessna might give you an edge in the T-6 for the first 3-5 lessons. Then it’s time for instruments, spin training, aerobatics, and formation flight. Then you do all that in a T-45, plus four-plane formation, low-level high-speed navigation with only a map and stopwatch, bombing, strafing, tactical formations, aerial gunnery, dogfighting, and aircraft qualification. THEN your grades will decide if you’ll get F-35s. Still...if getting that 40 hours of piston time while doing mostly private pilot maneuvers might give you an “edge,” I suppose it’s worth it.

If you’re just looking for the easier route, go Air Force. Their pipeline is about 50 hours less to get your wings, AND you don’t have to fly off a boat in order to get your wings.

Response by CW4 John Patterson made May 3 at 2020 11:41 PM

CW4 John Patterson — Sun, 03 May 2020 23:41:45 -0400

Having demonstrated the tenacity to stick with the course of instruction and pass the written and practical tests may indicate to a selection board that you have potential. Bear in mind though, rarely is anyone turned away from civilian flight training so long as they can get a medical certificate and pay for the lessons, tests and checkride(s).

I know that as a military flight instructor I groaned a little on the inside when I learned one of my incoming students had their Private ticket punched. Often these students were of the opinion that they “already knew how to fly” and just needed to learn the tactical stuff.

It’s actually much easier to train somebody from scratch than it is to fix/modify/replace whatever training they already have.