Do you get to choose what plane you would want to fly if you were to enlist in the Airforce?

Question

also what are the steps to become a Pilot in the Airforce? i am trying to get ideas about carrers and the Airforce is a job that i might want to pursue.

Answer 1

First, you need to do a LOT more research as to how the military works.

Enlisted do not get to fly in the USAF. All pilots are officers and for that you need four years of college. If you want to be a pilot, go to college and get a degree, preferably a science or engineering degree.

Or join the Army. The Army used warrant officers to fly their copters. If you do good as an enlisted guy, they will send you to school and promote you.

Second, at rate things are going, the F22 and JSF are going to be the last manned fighters. The next generation is going to be a combination remote/computer controlled like the UAVs in Iraq.
If you still want to fly, plan on flying the tankers, transports or perhaps the last of the heavy bombers. (I think the USAF has around 100 of the B52s, 60 of the B1s and 20 of the B2s still around.)

Third, usually the way the pilot slots go is like this. The top graduates from the Air Force Academy get to pick what they want to fly. Then those with less good grades get to pick. Then whatever is left over gets farmed out to the ROTC program students. Top grads first, then the rest. The bottom of the pile of pilot candidates get assigned the crud stuff, such as the old KC 135 tankers....

Answer 2

NO...

First, Enlisted don't fly as pilots... only as Aircrew. Only Officers fly as pilots. Others have giving you information about officers training.

Second, Your scores and evaluations during training determine the aircraft you fly... ALONG with your body shape and size... some tall or short people aren't SAFE to sit in an ejection-seat !!

Third, it's all determined by the "needs of the service": where does the Air Force need pilots or Aircrew.

God knows I enlisted in the Navy in 1985, had a guarantee to AW A-school and Aircrew... that meant (I thought) a return to my home-town flying in P-3 Orions !! GOD knows the recruiter swore up and down that was it !!

Ooooops... missed that little clause: I could swim too well !! I was sent to Rescue Swimmer School ALSO and ended up in Helicopters: "saving Goose and Maverick" for my first tour !!

Answer 3

Besides the intellectual capacities you will also need excellent physical capacities - esp. eyesight. In fact, I'd recommend you have a thorough eye exam right now with a Dr. of Opthamology who has an M.D. after his name...(not an optician). Get the specific requirements from a recruiter.

You may as well know now before you go further if your eyesight is up to par. I know people that didn't make it in bc of "lazy eye," or other issues.

Answer 4

Most zoomies don't fly in aircraft. They wash them, direct them, paint them, fuel them, maintain them, and load them. The officers do the fighting and with the cost of aircraft they are very picky who they let fly them. Apply the USAFA in Colorday Springs, CO. Take the tests, pass the physical, and if you get accepted there are four years of intensive schooling. About half of the graduates get to fly. The other half get into other duties.

Answer 5

Talk to a recruiter. First off you need a 4 years degree, then you have your height and weight requirements, and health and eye sight requirements. I would talk to a recruiter in regards to the next step or your career counselor at school.

Answer 6

No, not at all. You take what is given you. If you could pick your plane, then we'd have a ton of fighter pilots and nothing else.

Answer 7

no, you don't. the air force is a branch of the u.s. military as you will soon find out. what did you expect, executive jet service?

Answer 8

no...they select your plane based on appitude tests...get a degree in aeronautic or engineering and you will make it fine

Answer 9

no, they choose everything for you.