Originally Posted by F16Driver (Post 468403)

Miser,
This will step on toes but, flying a multi-crew aircraft(most of the time) is way easier than flying a single seat fighter, hitting the tanker at night in the wx, leading a 4-ship and other mission packages into the AOR, fighting and defending against air and ground threats, dropping ordinance on target on time danger close to troops in contact, than having to fight your way back out and land out of approach to minimums. Navy guys have to come back to a boat!!!

Originally Posted by FlyFastLiveSlow (Post 469169)

I won't comment on which one is easier or harder, but they are definitely different. There's a reason their aren't any heavy pilots on the Thunderbirds and any fighter pilots flying AF One. If I was hiring pilots, I'd pick the ones that had the most experience that most closely relates to the job description. That said, none of us were born pilots and have been taught what we do--and therefore should be able to expand into different types of flying.

Originally Posted by Fourgoslot (Post 503182)

It's flying with a smile, not brain surgery. I was a Thunderbird and a good friend of mine flew Air Force Two. I'm pretty sure either one of us could handle smiling, shaking hands, have a conversation then take off and land. I would imagine they hire the personality more than the experience...within reason of course.