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Young&dumb ANG pilot select looking for advic

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Young&dumb ANG pilot select looking for advic

Old 08-11-2017, 12:13 PM
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Default Young&dumb ANG pilot select looking for advic

I was recently selected by the 199th in Hawaii to fly F22s in the ANG. I am extremely excited to serve my country and doing it in this capacity and in this location is an absolute dream. I am asking for any advice this board is willing to offer. I'll be the first to admit I've got the blinders on when it comes to this opportunity and I am looking for some advice and help in taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture of my overall aviation career - there's a lot of danger in not knowing what you don't know.

What can I be doing now, during the 6-12 month lull before OTS, to better myself and further my career as both an officer and pilot?

What are things you wish you had known or started doing earlier in your career?

Is there anything in particular I should know regarding my future airframe in relation to how it can affect my overall aviation career? (e.g. does the multi time count toward requirements, etc.)

Are there any particulars I should be aware of now when it comes to preparing for a career with the airlines in the future? I'm not sure this is the eventual route I want to go and it's a long time away from now, but I don't want to dismiss the airlines while I'm young just to be kicking myself in the future.

Any other aviation items I should consider? I love flying and want to make the most of this and any other opportunities, and hopefully help/serve/train others along the way.
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Old 08-11-2017, 01:00 PM
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1. Get in the best physical shape of your life.
2. Read up on basic flying stuff...aerodynamics, powerplants, etc.
3. Forget the airlines for now. Concentrate on being the best Air Force officer you can.
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Old 08-11-2017, 01:27 PM
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First, congrats on your selection. Obviously you're fired up and rightly so.
Originally Posted by kukailimoku View Post
I was recently selected by the 199th in Hawaii to fly F22s in the ANG.
Not to pour cold water on this whole thing too much, but let's try to keep things in perspective. You were selected to attend OTS, UPT (UFT, whatever they call it now) and IFF. Upon successful completion of all that training, THEN train to become an F22 pilot. So, you've got a few milestones to reach before you're flying F22s in the ANG.

I would suggest you focus on the near term goal of successfully completing OTS before you worry about the next phase. Keep doing that as you move through training. Wasting much time on the F-22 phase of your training at this point isn't going to be productive. You've got some very busy years ahead of you before that even becomes a factor.

Originally Posted by kukailimoku View Post
What can I be doing now, during the 6-12 month lull before OTS, to better myself and further my career as both an officer and pilot?
Take care of yourself. Make sure you're in top physical condition and avoid doing things that might risk your medical clearance as an AF pilot. If you have your PPL, maybe fly a small amount to remain current and comfortable in the aircraft. Don't go crazy as there will be a point where an abundance of civilian hours probably won't really help. If no PPL, at least get someone to take you through initial solo. If you can get into an acrobatic capable aircraft, spending a few hours training on some basics probably will help you.

Originally Posted by kukailimoku View Post
Is there anything in particular I should know regarding my future airframe in relation to how it can affect my overall aviation career? (e.g. does the multi time count toward requirements, etc.)
Dude, if you're worrying about meeting hiring minimums for an airline job at this stage of the game, you have got your priorities totally out of whack. I don't know what the 199th does about "seasoning" for new guard babies, but my guess is you are going to spend at least the next 5 years minimum doing nothing but trying to become the absolute best F-22 pilot you can be. That will be a full time job and will get you to the point where you probably won't kill yourself or someone else. Full time fighter pilots (whether active duty or ANG) take YEARS after finishing initial training in their weapon system to be a fully capable, experienced and lethal addition to their squadron. Once you have a set of AF wings on your chest, that needs to be your one and only mission.

Many part time ANG fighter pilots have 10+ years of experience and thousands of hours flying their fighter before they become traditional guardsmen flying part time. It's because of that experience that they are able to leave the cockpit for a few weeks, fly an airline job and then return with some capability to bring their A-game to the fighter.

So, just a word of caution. Don't be in too big a hurry to put any other priorities ahead of becoming the best officer, then student pilot, IFF pilot and fighter pilot you can be for the foreseeable future.

Good luck.
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Old 08-11-2017, 01:28 PM
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Don't worry too much about airlines for now. Flying a twin-engine fighter in the guard (especially one with high curb appeal) will set you up just fine for the airlines, both in terms of resume and network. Yes, the multi-time counts.

At some point you'll probably want to look at civilian time building since it could take many years of military flying to meet airline flight-time thresholds. But you can worry about that once you run out of active-duty status flying opportunities.
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Old 08-11-2017, 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Adlerdriver View Post
So, just a word of caution. Don't be in too big a hurry to put any other priorities ahead of becoming the best officer, then student pilot, IFF pilot and fighter pilot you can be for the foreseeable future.

Good luck.
Thank you very much for the advice and insights. I do want to apologize if I gave off any tone of this not being my priority, as it is my only one and will be my only one for the next 12 years (hopefully 20+). Just wanted to get some insights from the airline pilot forums.
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Old 08-11-2017, 02:00 PM
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Originally Posted by kukailimoku View Post
Thank you very much for the advice and insights.
You're welcome. Keep us updated on your progress and make sure you have fun. This will be an amazing experience. For many years to come you have one awesome job. You get to live, eat, and breathe aviation and get paid for it.
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Old 08-11-2017, 02:22 PM
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Originally Posted by kukailimoku View Post
Thank you very much for the advice and insights. I do want to apologize if I gave off any tone of this not being my priority, as it is my only one and will be my only one for the next 12 years (hopefully 20+). Just wanted to get some insights from the airline pilot forums.

Don't worry about it. At least you're smart enough to ask questions.

Be aware that aviation is a small world, and your part of it is even smaller. Assume that anything you say online can be attributed to you.
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Old 08-11-2017, 02:30 PM
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F-22 ANG? What a great deal. Congratulations.

Improve your SUPT odds? Get some instrument training and aerobatics time. The more comfortable you are in those areas the easier you'll transition into USAF flying. Don't worry about becoming an expert, just get more used to it.

Starting in T-6's departures and arrivals are often VFR overlays on SID's and STAR's. That's why basic instrument experience helps.

Guys with more time tend to do ok but it's not a guarantee. Everyone has to perform to the standards. Thinking that experience equals an automatic pass is a good way to wash out.
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Old 08-11-2017, 03:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Sliceback View Post
Get some instrument training and aerobatics time.

Starting in T-6's departures and arrivals are often VFR overlays on SID's and STAR's. That's why basic instrument experience helps.

Thinking that experience equals an automatic pass is a good way to wash out.
Thanks. Just loaded up the FAA Instrument Flying & Procedures Handbooks...that should keep me busy for a while.

Any specific maneuvers I should focus on for aerobatics? I have some initial training but haven’t dived too deep.
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Old 08-12-2017, 04:32 AM
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I was you about 13yrs ago, except heavies not fighters. Here is what I did....

1)Hit the gym. AMS (I think its all OTS now???) day one is a PTtest. USAF PT tests aren't that bad, but you have to past or you go home.

2)Don't think about flying, you will get plenty of that really really soon. I wouldnt pay for any ratings.

3)get a low stress job if you aren't currently employed. I waited tables. Best job I have ever had. I was single and got more action there then my 4 years at an SEC college! Training is stressful. It is designed that way. Relax now.

4) take money from #3, max out Roth IRA (EVERY year), and pay off any debt.
You will thank me for this later, I promise.

5) get enlisted in your unit and burn up all the UTAs you will miss in training. Pick the brains of the guys fresh out of training. See what they would have done differently.

Good luck!
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