Female vs. Male Fighter Pilots?

Question

Do female fighter pilots have any physical advantages or disadvantages compared to male fighter pilots?

I know, probably a stupid question...but men and women do have some physiological differences, so I'm covering my bases.

Clarification: I'm specifically referring to PHYSICAL advantages/disadvantages. Not saying men or women are "better" as pilots. I'm working on a novel that involves a female fighter pilot, and I want to make sure I'm approaching it as realistically as possible.

Answer 1

There are some very good female pilots, as good as anyone, in general.

Things that help women: they have some physiological advantages in handling high g environments. They have more tendency to listen to good advice. They don't tend to make ego driven decisions at critical moments.

Things that help men: spacial awareness, aggression, competitiveness, physical strength. It is much much easier for men to muscle up, especially aggressive men... who can also suffer from the red mist and get shot down while their testosterone is flying the plane... badly.

If you don't think strength is an advantage then take a look at the bull necked wonders that fly fighters, it is rather important to be able to swivel your head round with a bone dome on while pulling six or seven g. The controls themselves don't take high strength, but it's very useful to have the muscle to continue breathing too.

I think it would be a very foolish male fighter pilot who would 'expect' to be able to beat a female fighter pilot merely because she's a woman. There are enough women who don't follow the stereotypes to ensure that anyone who makes such foolish assumptions will end up looking like a jackass one day.

Answer 2

I read a few of the responses to this question and I'm completely baffled by them. Some people, based on an intelligent question, chose not to answer the question directly but to attack the character of the person asking?? What the @#$$? What's the matter with you people - why is everything a crusade...just answer the question and stop turning it. Now on to your question I agree that BOTH male and female circumcision are unneccesary and pointless. The major difference between your scenarios is the fact that boys are forced to have a circumcision because he's an infant and is unable to make a choice for himslef ( this is the part that really bothers me), the woman, and yes she's a woman, makes her own choice to have a procedure done. So in the context of your quesiton, I think that a Female circ. if the woman choses to have it done is fine, but it needs to be HER choice.

Answer 3

The Israeli's have many female pilots, a few are aces even.

I can think of very little that would make a difference. Some men might have more muscle mass, but in today's electronic cockpit with assisted systems, they would be pretty equal.

Answer 4

It would be a fairly even result. Gender does not give any benefits. You are down to the individuals capability.

There is however one factor that might be of interest. Much of the help in performing under G-loads is given by the G-Suit. In most airforces, they have g-suits designed for men, which would put women at a disadvantage. Wrong design could result in a difference of about 2.5 G-s less than the male endurance in extreme combat maneuvers. If properly designed g-suits are used, if the woman pilot is physically strong with good neck muscles, they have an even playing ground.

Answer 5

No they do not. Good pilots do a good job of orienting themselves and the aircraft in three dimensional space. Good fighter pilots do this and also do an excellent job of employing the aircraft as a weapons system. Doesn't matter whether they are male or female.

God Bless

Answer 6

I think a man would have the advantage before. Since men generally have more muscle mass than women, they would be able to take more Gs manouvering in a dogfight, allowing them to fight longer. Dogfights can really tire a person out, but I don't think there are many dogfights anymore. Now, about all air combat is done far away with missiles, so I think men and women are about even.

Answer 7

Neither gender has an advantage when it comes to the physical aspect. With today's "fly by wire" airplanes it comes down to pilot training and personal skill.
However it does fall upon each individual's physical conditioning to allow them to handle the high stress level placed on a pilot who has to pull high G's.

Answer 8

My thoughts on this matter are simple, although men are usually physically stronger than women I don't know if it would take any more strength to fly a jet with all the controls and fly by wire and such. I'm not sure but I don't think g-forces are any different for either so I think equal would be my answer.

Answer 9

no, with practice and good training female is as good as male pilot. might be better because their carefulness. maybe just because the numbers of female pilot is much smaller, it seems like they are not good enough to break male's domination.

Answer 10

Actually, I seen on Discovery Channel where Women are more physically suited as far as they tend to be shorter stature, so the heart is closer to the brain, helping to keep blood flowing to the brain to prevent black-outs.