Are helicopter pilots superior flyers or jet fighter pilots?

Question

Such as Black Hawk pilots and F-15 pilots? Is there rivalry between the two at all?

Answer 1

Depends upon the pilot, not the machine. The primary quality of a good pilot, for any aircraft, is the ability to make sound judgments, always plan ahead, stay focused, and continually generate new back-up plans. This skill set is transferable to any form of aircraft.

After that, it's a matter of mastering the aircraft so it performs in accordance with your will. That's a matter of training and practice.
I'm just a simple balloonist, but I've met a lot of balloon pilots that are also rated for both fixed-wing and rotorcraft. There may be some rivalry, but all pilots love to fly, and I've never met one that didn't want to log hours on a new machine.

Answer 2

The equipment operates differently. Both can do obsured things with their machines though. For instance fighter pilots can fly for miles within a few feet of each other at over the speed of sound. Guys with black hawk helicopters "land" with half the chopper hanging off a cliff or building so the troops can get off. Apache pilots fly over 120 mph just over tree tops at night. Jet pilots can pull over 9 times the force of gravity with their gear.

It's harder to control a helicopter than a jet (which requires one hand and both feet), but it's probably easier to land a helicopter than a jet, especially at night with rough seas.

Answer 3

There is friendly rivalry between fixed wing and rotary.
Comparing the skills though is like comparing apples to oranges. They aren't really interchangeable.

While the helicopter pilot is happy to have the fighter there to keep enemy planes off of his back, I have never met a fighter pilot who refused a ride out of a bad situation because the helicopter wasn't "sexy" enough.

Answer 4

They tend not to mix much ,no rivalry. Who's better? Both can be equally chalenging. We have lost more Helicopter crews in combat than fixed wing lately. Life at treetop level is a lot rougher than 20K ft. in the clouds. Actually I would say the best pilots are nether. They are the AV8B Harrier Marine pilots.It's one of the hardest planes around to fly.

Answer 5

I've never been in a jet but the pilots that I have been flying with in the Army have never let me down. It takes a lot of skill to hold something flying in one place. so I would say except for Harrier Jet pilots they have it pretty easy. My money is with helicopter pilots.

Answer 6

Yes, there is indeed rivalry. And there is between services, between pilots of different aircraft; fixed wing vs rotary, bomber vs fighter vs transport.

It is all good fun and makes everybody better in the long run.

Personally, I feel that helo's are much more difficult to fly than fixed wing. If you disagree, look for the autopilot in a helicopter.

Answer 7

Fighter pilots are the best pilots in the military.

Helicopter gunship pilots who fly Apaches and Super Cobras are usually the best among helicopter pilots.

Answer 8

No, they are two completly different skill sets, neither is superior. As for a rivalry between the two? If there is they must have REALLY boring lives. I think what you might see is a just for fun rivalry for bets for drinks and stuff.

Answer 9

Helicopter pilots are more prone to catastrophic accidents. There are more of them and they are more exposed.

Special Ops pilots are the best.

Answer 10

Helicopter pilot = cab driver

Fighter pilot = race car driver