Being an F18 pilot and an airline pilot at the same time gives you an
interesting and different perspective. Unlike others, at my airline
(North West Airlines) they do not have a history of hiring Single Seat Naval
Aviators and as such we are definitely in the minority.

On every trip when you first sit down next to a guy, the first volley of
questions in getting to know each other always includes "what is your
background?" Based on 3 years in the airline industry, I have recently
decided to stop telling guys that I am a Naval Aviator and an F18 pilot. You
might be asking yourself, why would anyone do that? There are 3 reasons.

One ..... Because everything that the uninformed population knows about
Naval Aviation they got from the movie Top Gun. A credible and reliable
source of information if there ever was one.

Two ..... Because when I tell guys that I am an F18 pilot, the machismo and
bravado that immediately comes from the left side of the cockpit becomes
somewhat intolerable and I am forced to sit and listen to stories for the
next 4 days that go something like......"Mike, did I tell you about the time
when I landed my C5 on a 15,000 foot runway with only 30,000 pounds of
fuel in the tanks, with the weather at mins......and oh, oh yeah, did I say it was
at night." You gotta be sh----n' me!!!

Three ..... Because, in their state of curiosity, invariably questions get
asked about what flying the F18 is like and what this business of Naval
Aviation is all about. It is in my futile attempts to answer these question
that I have finally decided that it is impossible to do so. How can anyone
possibly explain Naval Aviation?

How do you explain what it has been like to have seen the entire world
through the canopy of an F18 like a living OMNIMAX film? How do you explain
what it is like to fly an engineering marvel that responds to your every whim of
airborne imagination?

How do you explain the satisfaction that comes from seeing a real target
under the diamond on your HUD (Heads Up Display) disappear at the flick of
your thumb?..... on time.

How do you explain cat shots......especially the night ones?

How do explain the exhilaration of the day trap? the NIGHT trap?

How do you possibly explain finding yourself at 3/4 of a mile, at night,
weather down, deck moving, hyperventilating into your mask, knowing that it
will take everything you have to get aboard without killing yourself?

How do you explain moons so bright and nights so dark that they defy logic?

How do you explain sunrises and sunsets so glorious that you knew in your
heart that God had created that exact moment in time just for you?

How do you explain the fellowship of the ready room where no slack is given
and none is taken?

How do you explain an environment where the content of a man's character can
be summed up into two simple 4 word phrases.......

"He's a good s--t" or "He's a f----n' idiot."

How do you explain the heart of maintenance professionals like Rudy and
Frank who's only enjoyment comes from taking care of our young sailors and
providing us with "up" jets to execute our craft?

How do you explain the dedication of our young troops who we burden with the
responsibilities of our lives and then pay them peanuts to do so?

How do you explain the type of women who are crazy enough to marry into
Naval Aviation, who endure long working hours and long periods of separation
and who are painfully and quietly forced to accept the realization that they
are second to the job?

The simple fact is that you can't explain it. None of it. It is something
that only a very select few of us will ever know. We are bonded for life by
our proprietary knowledge and it excludes all others from our fraternity.

As I will, no matter where you go or what you do, you should cherish that
knowledge for the rest of your life.

For when I am 90 years old sitting on my porch in my rocking chair and
someone asks me what I have done with my life. I will damn sure not tell
them I was an airline pilot, but rather I will reach into my pocket, pull
out my Blue Dolphin money clip and tell them I was a Naval Aviator, I worked
with the finest people on the planet, and that I was the Commanding Officer
of the Blue Dolphins.

Maybe I should shoot my self.
I can NEVER TOP THOSE STORIES
I am on my way out to get some ammo.

Hey Sailor......You might take some of your time and see
who dorks airliners more, civilian or Military background.
Your research might help you from blowing your horn so loud.

I would fly anywhere, anytime, with a experienced Civilian pilot

long before sitting next to some "big head" like you.

By the way How long have you wanted to fly civilian.
You do it every week now.

Here, I thought there was an intelligence test for pilots?

Seems a few have slipped through the cracks. Major inferiority complexes, too.

How can simply “relating” a story about one of our current nation’s heros net so much vitriol and hatred? How can it be ME with the “big head”, when I was only the messenger? How do idiots like this ever upgrade?

Proven fact: military aviation only takes the top 10% of the cream of the nation’s crop. ANYONE can be a “Peter Pilot” . . given enough money and time. These two guys prove the old adage, I first heard over 30 years ago from an enlisted Naval Pilot, SMC Ralph Cairns: “If you ain’t a Navy Pilot. . you ain’t ******!

What the hell have you bitter yokels ever done for your country? I gave 28 years!

So sorry Cap. Drew.
I thought YOU were the "big head"
I did not catch that you were relating the story from another person
But............. I still feel the same way about that guy.

It's guys with that attitude that I can't stand.
They probably drive a Hummer and have a small penis also.
I my self have NO BUSINESS in a high powered military aircraft.
Nor do I WANT TO.

On the other hand when they "come across" to the Civilian side,
they need to remember that we DO NOT.

1. Drop any bombs
2. "punch out"
3. pull 6 "G's"
4. shoot at anybody
5.land on a tiny slippery runway in the middle of the ocean
6. Really care to hear that you did all the above.

Everybody took a different road to get to the airline cockpit.

But when I get long winded stories about how great someone
is I just want to puke.

Its all attitude with me.
show me your good, I dont need to hear it.
Nuff said

A lot of guys who are military have issues with those who aren't and vice versa, well children, its all good, bashing around WX all night long single pilot in a Caravan will teach you a thing or two, so will trying for the deck in a 40 foot swell, but please have some respect for the fact that the guys in the pointy jets are hanging it out for you, and everybody else,giving it all for that ideal called America, end of rave.

I must've completely misread Captain Drew. Somehow, I found his related experiences enviable... until I read your posts, av8r4aa. Thanks for keeping me straight. Now, I'm now back in my own enviable world of jealous cynicism, completely unappreciative of those "big heads" and the lifetimes they've given in honorable service to preserve our nation's freedoms. Inspiring indeed.

Well...it's a lot like seeing an Omnimax film. 1970s technology. Whew!
We have disappear rays now? Cool!

The F/A-18 has autoland capability. Who else knew that? You know, my heart gets pumping when I shoot a no sh1t Catt III autoland at night. I imagine your night traps are something like that only much more so.

It must be exciting.

You see your pupils diolate at night effectively letting in more light. Dim objects appear brighter.

We have all seen beautiful sunsets.

I don't know...Huge egos maybe?

The world is not black and white. This concept is lost on some people. You get it don't you?

Rhetorical question

Rumsfeld should go.

Abusive fathers and low self esteem. HEY DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER. YOU ASKED!

I have tremendous respect for military aviators and military troops in general. I know it takes a special skill set to pilot an F-18 to a pitching deck. I also know everyone has strengths and weaknesses. (Duke Cunningham was a Navy ACE.) Point is, your skill and lots of luck got you where you are today. Your character will take you home. I tend to be more impressed by people’s character.

Are we able now to judge a person's character by a single forum post? If so, what does yours say about you? It reads with a tone full of sarcasm, disrespect, and condescension. Was that really your intent?

Whew! for a sec there I thought I was gonna have to sit thru a bunch of C5 stories!

Nope, never said that.

That sounds about right. I am pretty jaded by this career by now.

I gather from the original post that the guy is pretty full of himself. The point of my post is that he is not soooo great that he can not relate to his crew. I mean this guy sounds like, "I have done so much and seen so many special things and am such a select person, I can not possibly relate my life to you mere mortals." Give me a break! Maybe that was not his intent. If not, his intent escapes me.