I would tell my son to think very hard about going into the military for flying, as the selection process is very hard to get through. I would also tell my son to do his research and make sure it's a career he is ready for, because the life of a pilot can be very trying at times. Sometimes your gone for weeks at a time only to get home and find the owner just declared BK and the airplanes are getting sold, or you got sick and lost your medical, or the economy sucks and they airline is furloughing. So make sure if it's something they want to do, they have a backup plan that will actually work.

 

Helllllllllllllllllllll No.

 

Just how does someone "make sure" that it is something that they really want to do? I was sure at 18 that I wanted to be an airline pilot. Things were different then. Times change. People change.

Another point I have to make is that if someone really has a solid back up to aviation then they most certainly will use it at some point. It is almost a certainty that you will leave aviation sooner than later.

Skyhigh

 

People who I know who are reaching the military are finding UAV slots. I don't know anything about the military but is seems as though it is going largely unmanned.

Skyhigh

 

For the record, I would not encourage a young person into aviation at any level. The military would be fine though.


Skyhigh

 

You need to go onto the military forum and read some of the ACTUAL statistics about the drops and what percentage are receiving orders to unmanned platforms.

Of course it is possible for you to know everyone of those few that are going to UAVs and therefore your perception is once again somehwat skewed.

So...you won't even encourage a person to pursue flying as a hobby? I'm pretty sure I've read in other posts that you have encouraged flying for fun; as you do it yourself correct? You even instruct some of the side don't you? If you don't support young people getting involved in aviation "at any level" then you are wishing for the death of aviation.

I'm sure you just misspoke though

USMCFLYR

 

It is not going "largely unmanned". There is currently a lot of airframe growth on the UAV side, so a small handful of military pilots are getting diverted to UAV's. This then gets blown out of proportion and talked about a lot...anybody who was involuntarily diverted to UAV's either had bad luck or weak training performance.

The military has thousands of manned aircraft, but only a couple hundred large UAV's which can replace manned aircraft in certain ISR and light-attack roles.

It's going to be a while (decades) before UAV's start seriously encroaching on current fighter/attack inventories.

It is possible that fighter/attack numbers will dwindle in the years to come since the F-22/35 will not be purchased in sufficient quantities to provide a one-for-one replacement of current F-15/16/18 inventories.

But the Navy at least intends to keep the F-18 E/F to augment the F-35.

I suspect that eventually the services are going to establish separate training pipelines for UAV pilots...it's really a different animal, just like what we currently do with backseaters.

 

USMCFLYR,

I find it difficult to recommend aviation as a hobby unless the individual is financially well off or single. I frequently find myself in a position of trying to promote aviation to new flight students with a horrified spouse in the offing and I don't really know what to do about it.

I want to promote aviation but carry the knowledge that it is not all that realistic for most. Usually I answer questions as honestly and neutral as I can and let the reality sink in on its own. I don't oversell it at all and provide the harsh honest facts instead. Aviation as a hobby for a middle class family person seems selfish to me. It consumes too much of ones resources.

I realize the irony in that statement being that I am an aircraft owner, however my plane, training, and hangar have been paid off long ago. My costs are relatively slim when compared to most other hobbies that I could be doing. In addition the main reason why I own a plane is to help maintain professional credentials and currency as a pilot. I have never quit aviation but rather am forced to wait until a suitable job comes my way. My plane helps to keep that door open.

If I were to be evaluating aviation as a new hobby pilot today I certainly would not do it. The money could be put to better service by buying something my whole family would enjoy. I am a flight instructor and do actively instruct but will not let someone destroy themselves over it.

I will say that I am encouraged by light sport aviation and hope that it saves GA as we know it. Outside of that I think the sun is setting on GA and do not feel right about promoting it to just anyone as a hobby.

Skyhigh

 

I knew it couldn't be easy for you.
Good rationalization Sky.

USMCFLYR

 

Bad news dude. Nothing is going to just come your way. You have to go out and catch it.