Originally Posted by
UAL T38 Phlyer
Two-three years ago, the washout/dropout rate in flight screening (DA-20s at Pueblo) was 30-35%.
In T-6s, another 15-ish% would drop in the first two months. About 10% more would not make it through T-6s.
T-1 track: washouts almost unheard of. I think I heard of ONE in15 years.
T-38s: low; I'd guess 5% washout. More likely is failure to fighter-qualify (about 10-15%), or failure in IFF (about 10-20% historically). I've heard that guys are making it now that might have failed in the past due to the pilot shortage.
But the overall washout rate is more like 35-40%, not 5%.
You also have to consider that 90% of applicants are screened out before they get selected. The odds of a young kid deciding he wants to be a military pilot and actually getting there are slim.