Are you implying the "best" is defined as fighter or bomber pilot? When I was interested to join the AF, I had no interest in those two tracks. I was hooked into airliners, and I liked the KCs, the refuelers, the cargo Globemasters, the planes that were like airliners. I don't care that they don't do bombing missions, I'd be fine with transport and refuel. But I don't think that should have me labeled as someone who isn't striving to be the top and best at what I do. Not everyone wants to go into the miltary flying position to be a bomber or fighter pilot. So would you call me someone who isn't driven, not bright, etc.?
If you had included my next sentence in the quote you used, you could answer your own question.
I said people are happiest when they have goals and challenges that could be surmounted. If they try and fail, they are not happy.
I didn't say if you were a heavy-driver (hypothetically) you weren't trying to do your best in that role...your words; not mine.
But for some reason, you found the fighter role either not suited to you, or perhaps, beyond your reach. 'Not suited' could mean not wanting to devote decades to constant study, to scathing criticism from your 'friends,' to physical ailments like neck/back pain, hemorrhoids, hearing loss, and a wrinkled face from always wearing an oxygen mask, to minimal free time for family, friends, etc. It means you decided to attain the best elsewhere: family, free time, travel, physical health, more flight hours, etc.
It could also mean you 'didn't want to kill people.' I've seen this in two T-38 students and it infuriates me. If you are interested in military flying, it means you accept the stark reality that whether you are the guy pulling the trigger, the guy delivering the gas, or the Cargo guy who brought the bombs to your base,
everyone has a hand in 'killing people.'
I don't know your reason, nor do I need to know. I do find it curious that you found it necessary to mock-bash anyone with an interest in fighters ("Oooh, a shiny fighter").
Your implication with that taunt is that a real professional pilot would want to do what you were interested in.
I didn't imply nor define 'best;' the military services
did say that flying fighters is more difficult. Both the Air Force and Navy say you have to perform to a certain level in Primary training to be considered for the possibility of a fighter (or bomber in the Air Force). Not everyone can do it. It doesn't always have anything to do with being bright or driven. It isn't always about how smart, but rather, how quick: mental agility.
When I fly airliners, I bring that same attitude. I want to do the best I can do. And yeah, if I can show the Captain up on his landings, that's fun too. But I'm glad I had my run in fighters, too. I learned a lot more about flying there....and about myself.
shy (
comparative shier or
shyer,
superlative shiest or
shyest)
- Easily frightened; timid. a shy bird.
- Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach. He is very shy with strangers.
- Cautious; wary; suspicious
- Reticent
Not so sure about your screen-name.....
To get this thread back on-course: I believe that if Gulfstream Girl were given an unusual attitude in the sim of 40 degrees up; 135 degrees of bank, and airspeed south of 100 kts, she would crash, regardless of how much altitude she had to start with.
But most Air Force or Navy-trained pilots would know what to do, even with only 250 hours.