CaptainMark

JUST GET BACK IN THE KITCHEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i kid..i kid....good luck with whatever u do...but flying airplanes while getting shot at does not seem like fun to me...

fiveninerzero

I definately have not flown with any female fighter pilots, but I have worked with and interacted with them, mostly on the ground while doing the ALO gig.
I've also had the occasional female voice on the other end of the radio (air end) during CAS missions.
Now my career field is closed to women, but ALO's are primarily advisors to ground forces, therefore there are no gender restrictions; In fact, my current boss is a female Strike Eagle WSO.

They passed the law a loooong time ago allowing women to fly fighters! You don't see many female fighter pilots simply because most chicks aren't interested, or have the attitude or premonition that they will not suceed.

If you are qualified, stong-willed, and dedicated I don't see why you couldn't do it. I'm going to reiterate the strong-willed part. You may have men that doubt your ability because of your gender, but there you have the chance to prove that you are a better pilot than them!

I've had crappy ones, and fantastic ones, but I'm sure it wasn't because she was a woman.

TankerBob

If your talking to Guard units, they are so damn picky (pointy nose units) they tell everyone to go heavies. I know alot men that they told the same thing too.

Good luck, go for it and shop around. Here is something else to think about. Right now, everyone in the Guard is getting over manned with pilots, even heavies. They may be saying this to you because your chances of getting picked up and actually becoming a military pilot may be better at a heavy unit. Just a thought.

41DS

I know women on both ends of the good/bad spectrum. I also know guys on both ends of the spectrum. Some of the women are just like the guys and fit in great both flying and not flying and then some of them don't. Same goes for some of the guys. The best women fighter pilots that I have known are the ones that don't make it a big deal that they are a fighter pilot and just go about thier job and do it.

Blackhawk

The problem with the Navy and the Air Force was that they made a VERY big deal about the "first women" selected to fly "combat" aircraft. These women then were put under microscopes- any failures or flaws were probably magnified. There are/were also some who did not want women there and were going to make sure they knew they really did not cut it. Plus, since the brass had made a big deal about these women being selected, there was suddenly pressure on the brass to make sure the women did NOT was out.
The Army actually introduced women to "combat" aircraft (Cobras, Apaches, KWs), before the Navy and Air Force, but with zero fanfare. My wife was one of the first women to fly her aircraft, and the first female to command a unit of that type. The press was actually kept away from her change of command. They were told that the press did not normally come to a change of command, why should they come to this one.
You will find that most pilots really don't care what your cup size is (well, okay, so we may care), but they are more interested in how well you fly and learn. There will be a few that will try to show you up and prove that women don't belong. Oh well. Most of the male pilots don't like these guys anyway.
Yeah, hang with the boys when TDY. But understand that there is a time to walk away and "let the boys be boys." Trust me. Walk away BEFORE things get ugly.
I disagree with the comment about not having kids. You can do so if you want, just understand that your time periods for procreation will be limited. My wife promised her boss that she would try very hard not to get pregnant while in command. Would not look good for her to wave goodbye while everyone else went off to war. We waited until she was in staff positions before doing so.
As far as women not being "aggressive killers"... well, those guys have not met my wife at the wrong time of the month. She was actually one of the best shots in her unit, and she reminds me all the time that if I mess around with FAs there will not be any messy divorce. We have a 9mm, she knows how to use it, and she figures she can be out in less than 5 years with good behavior. Crime of passion, you know.
If it is what you want to do, do it.

planecrazyjenn

Thanks guys...that helped clear things up. About the kids thing...when our female pilot had kids, it really caused a lot of trouble - especially because it was right before a deployment. I understand the lack of flying during pregnancy, and how that translate into time off and $$ to retrain afterwards. I'd personally rather have kids before going off to UPT. There's still 2 years before I'm really able to put in the application package anyway...and I'm very lucky to be married to another military member...so he understands what my career goals include. Some pilots say it's smarter to do it before, while others say it's not. I'd really hate to not get selected over something like this.

Tanker, that is another thing to consider as well...the competetiveness of a fighter unit, and the thinking that heavies are "easier" if you will, although I wouldn't classify it as easy in any way whatsoever. A lot of units are still hiring at least one per year, and are slated to for the next few years...but with BRAC, and the changing ways of the military you never know what will happen.

Thanks again for the responses. I appreciate it.

fr8rcaptain

OK, I'll bite. I was a single seat fighter guy. When I was active duty, women fighter pilots were JUST beginning to enter the fray. Personally, I didn't care what was in your pants if you were flying on my wing, just as long as you knew your job and did it! But I wasn't niaive, I sure wouldn't want to be the FIRST woman fighter pilot in the USAF. It was certainly a mans fraternal organization.

Time will tell, as women fighter pilots assimilate and integrate. Hopefully you would be recognized for your abilities, not your sex. I never flew with a woman fighter pilot, but I sure flew with some marginal male fighter pilots.

If you WANT to fly the high performance fighter, in a complex and demanding mission on a global scale, go for it! You'd be doing something very few people in the world could do. If you want to build time and fly heavies from point A to B, then do that instead. I've done both, and the most rewarding flying was my F-15 time (and I'm certainly not talking about $$ here).

Good Luck.

Deuce130

I've flown with many female pilots in the SOF -130 world and have, for the most part, been impressed with them. One of my best IPs was a chick, as well as one of my best copilots. I've also flown with females from other crew positions who've all done well. Now, however, let's get to female fighter pilots. My last job was working at the Weapons School. I couldn't help but notice that I never saw a female fighter pilot WUG. Or a female fighter WIC IP. I mentioned that to some bros and they all said the same thing - there are some really good female fighter pilots out there ... BUT .... no great ones. Now, before anyone gets too worked up, I'm just the messenger and I fully realize the same is true for the men. Lots of good ones, few great ones. I think the first chick T-Bird is a good first step, but until there's a universally recognized World's Greatest Fighter Pilot who also happens to be a woman, I think there's going to be a glass ceiling in the fighter world. When you're giving a briefing at the WIC, Red Flag, or the squadron bar, you HAVE to be able to command the room. I think sometimes female fighter pilots have trouble doing that, it seems. And, in a world where he who talks fastest and loudest is often considered the rightest, that's a difficult obstacle to overcome. I'm all for women flying fighters or anything else, but I'm also in favor of honest discussion on the topic. Any fighter guys have input on this?

TonkaF16

Sik Please...

DeauceC130 and Hacker both have scorable bombs; the quote above is unqualified at best.

I'm not starting anything here, but if you lead a discussion with "I am not ..." then let someone who actually is qualified speak to the issue before you throw gas on the fire.

Jenn,

I'm a 2,000 fighter guy and a WIC grad. Just like hacker said, no one cares if you take a pee in the urinal or stall #2, BE CREDIBLE by knowing your weapons system, know your threats, and by all means as a new wingman in the squadron never pass up the opportunity to shut the f#@*k up and listen to those that have been there a while. I say this to ALL new fighter pilots not just a young female aspiring to be one.

If you have a chance to fly an airplane that will to mach 2+ and pull nine G's then by all means DO IT. The window of opportunity to strap on (no pun intended) a fighter is brief ans may slam shut before you know it, I would hate for you to look back on your flying career and ever say, "I wonder how it could have been if I ...”

BL:

Work hard
Excel at being a wingman; scheduler, safety officer etc (grow where you are planted)
Don't be an EEO complaint waiting to happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No one will talk to you in a social setting if they are afraid a simple misspeak will end that way
DeuceC130 made an excellent point, the military and the flying community promote those with LEADERSHIP and a big part of that is stage presence. If you expect to go anywhere in the fighter world it is absolutely essential that you have what it takes to stand on the stage at a Red Flag and be credible.

Best of luck, PM if you would like specifics about units etc.

OBTW, I am a married father of two, prior enlisted crew chief, never went to the academy, and still have never had a door closed in my face. Let's lose the stereo types already, this is America anyone can do anything

A positive and tenacious attitude goes a very long way. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle of a Gaussian distribution offlying skills, it's work ethic and attitude that is the real differentiator.

Kick butt,

Tonka

planecrazyjenn

Hey thanks again yall. Definitely reassuring. I'm definitely one who takes great pride in knowing aircraft and weapons systems. As a crew chief, obviously it's hard to employ this knowledge in any other fashion outside of maintenance. But, mind you, I am the only female crew chief with my squadron...and firmly believe that it's not about gender, but about how you do your job.

Good stuff!