so i've been blessed by a very supportive family and i've been given the oportunity to fly in a helicopter and a plane. my personal preferance (and what i feel more comfortable in would be the helicopter)
my question is: What is the deciding factor when it comes to what you fly for the navy? do you have any input or is it done off of skill/test scors/physical capabilities?
1777... Lots of good numbers there. Having been also blessed to participate in flying in and around USN aircraft. I would say select the best damned pilot you can get to drive the thing. These metal monsters tend to fall out of the sky at the most inappropriate times. Helos, they are wonderful inventions, just like the hummingbird, not intended to fly, or obey the laws of physics. Ordinary jets, a motor cycle with steroids, extensions called wings and a set of training wheels called landing gear. I REALLY liked the metal monsters with four or more prop engines, Recips ?, any way the ones with the whirling thing that can take your head off in an instant. Just a joke, son, the USN birds will get you there and back and the drivers are the absolute best. You are in good hands, just like All....
Originally posted by 17779030: so i've been blessed by a very supportive family and i've been given the oportunity to fly in a helicopter and a plane. my personal preferance (and what i feel more comfortable in would be the helicopter)
my question is: What is the deciding factor when it comes to what you fly for the navy? do you have any input or is it done off of skill/test scors/physical capabilities?
Deciding factor is mastering the basics first. That is... becoming a Naval Officer. After that... your aptitudes will determine which aviation community you'll have a slot in. I b'lieve 'all' Aviators begin with basic fixed wing tho. Also... 'Needs of the Navy' come first.
I beleive it is still true that everyone starts as a fixed wing guy and that to a big degree how well you do, academics and airmanship determine where you fall on the pecking order. The first guys pretty much get jets. I imagine that if you are up there and you wanted to be a rotorhead of turboprop guy (P-3/C-2/E-2) you could go for that but not many do.
That being said fix wing fying ability or lack there of do not readily translate into rotary wing flying ability. I am not sure about the Air Force but the Army does not even bother with it, they put guys in helos from day one at FT. Rucker.
There was a movement about 10 years ago to ID guys that would be flying H-60's and send them through the Army's Blackhawk pipeline rather than "wasting' all that time in Pensacola flying fixed wing aircraft.
We've had commercial pilots, Dutch F-16 drivers, and even some rated civilian helo pilots rotate through Rucker that struggled with in primary. That being said they probably had it easier most of the time especially in say.. instruments.
Fixed wing training is a benefit in most cases and we Army pilots wish we had it like you folks. Just gotta break stuck wing drivers of turning with the pedals or being 15 degrees nose up on a roll-on .
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