User Panel
Posted: 7/23/2013 1:37:33 PM EDT
Really?
"Fighter pilots were once considered such glamorous gigs that Tom Cruise played one in the hit Hollywood movie, "Top Gun." But now, three decades later, the U.S. Air Force is experiencing such a dire shortage that it's guaranteeing a $225,000 signing bonus -- $25,000 a year for nine years." |
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I would sign it, after adding : "no fucking drones/UAV's" to the contract
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What, no leather jacket?
In the 80's they offered $7,000 a year and a leather jacket. ( if IRC, it might have been more money, I did not take it) |
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Maybe they should bring back enlisted pilots; I know many that would do that for regular pay.
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Analysts point to the wage disparity between the military pilots and those working in the private sector. As the Los Angeles Times reports, it takes 11 years of service for a fighter pilot to achieve an annual salary of $90,000. The median wage for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers, however, stands at $114,200, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The new signing bonus is aimed to level the playing field. View Quote That LA Times reporter is an idiot. Add another $25,000 to the pilot pay for flight pay and housing allowance. And subtract about $75,000 from the airline pay for a few years depending on the company. |
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What, no leather jacket? In the 80's they offered $7,000 a year and a leather jacket. ( if IRC, it might have been more money, I did not take it) Most people would PAY to fly a F-15 In the beginning yes, after 16 years of AF bullshit, not so much. The problem was in the 80's, they offered ths bonus to commit for another 7 years, the problem was that if you did not take it, it tubed your career. It was punitive. The choice was commit another 7 years or get out. Guess what happened. Guess what will happen again. Eta. Take whatever you do now and would you sign a piece of paper saying you are legally committed to not leaving for another 9 years, and you are subject to endless deployments away from your kids, for up to a year each time. |
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Really? http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/23/air-force-fighter-pilots-signing-bonus/?test=latestnews&ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058 "Fighter pilots were once considered such glamorous gigs that Tom Cruise played one in the hit Hollywood movie, "Top Gun." But now, three decades later, the U.S. Air Force is experiencing such a dire shortage that it's guaranteeing a $225,000 signing bonus -- $25,000 a year for nine years." View Quote Dupe |
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In the beginning yes, after 16 years of AF bullshit, not so much. The problem was in the 80's, they offered ths bonus to commit for another 7 years, the problem was that if you did not take it, it tubed your career. It was punitive. The choice was commit another 7 years or get out. Guess what happened. Guess what will happen again. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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What, no leather jacket? In the 80's they offered $7,000 a year and a leather jacket. ( if IRC, it might have been more money, I did not take it) Most people would PAY to fly a F-15 In the beginning yes, after 16 years of AF bullshit, not so much. The problem was in the 80's, they offered ths bonus to commit for another 7 years, the problem was that if you did not take it, it tubed your career. It was punitive. The choice was commit another 7 years or get out. Guess what happened. Guess what will happen again. Yep, I get it. Must be a tough choice to make anyway. |
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In the beginning yes, after 16 years of AF bullshit, not so much. The problem was in the 80's, they offered ths bonus to commit for another 7 years, the problem was that if you did not take it, it tubed your career. It was punitive. The choice was commit another 7 years or get out. Guess what happened. Guess what will happen again. Eta. Take whatever you do now and would you sign a piece of paper saying you are legally committed to not leaving for another 9 years, and you are subject to endless deployments away from your kids, for up to a year each time. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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What, no leather jacket? In the 80's they offered $7,000 a year and a leather jacket. ( if IRC, it might have been more money, I did not take it) Most people would PAY to fly a F-15 In the beginning yes, after 16 years of AF bullshit, not so much. The problem was in the 80's, they offered ths bonus to commit for another 7 years, the problem was that if you did not take it, it tubed your career. It was punitive. The choice was commit another 7 years or get out. Guess what happened. Guess what will happen again. Eta. Take whatever you do now and would you sign a piece of paper saying you are legally committed to not leaving for another 9 years, and you are subject to endless deployments away from your kids, for up to a year each time. If only there was some type of officer that we could use, who could focus more on flying and less on bs. Hmmm...... |
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Yep, I get it. Must be a tough choice to make anyway. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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What, no leather jacket? In the 80's they offered $7,000 a year and a leather jacket. ( if IRC, it might have been more money, I did not take it) Most people would PAY to fly a F-15 In the beginning yes, after 16 years of AF bullshit, not so much. The problem was in the 80's, they offered ths bonus to commit for another 7 years, the problem was that if you did not take it, it tubed your career. It was punitive. The choice was commit another 7 years or get out. Guess what happened. Guess what will happen again. Yep, I get it. Must be a tough choice to make anyway. I will add that the pilots that signed the commitment got the shitty assignments because they could not vote with their feet. |
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Quoted: Quoted: What, no leather jacket? In the 80's they offered $7,000 a year and a leather jacket. ( if IRC, it might have been more money, I did not take it) Most people would PAY to fly a F-15 The bonuses are for the crap they have to endure when on the ground. ETA Good friend used to fly A6s. He said when the cost on the ship outweighed the fun in the air, he got out. |
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I felt like that for 10 years too. And then you realize you can't fly it forever, in fact you can't even fly it for a 20 year career. Pilots get all kinds of non-flying jobs. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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If I had the skill set, I would do that forever. I felt like that for 10 years too. And then you realize you can't fly it forever, in fact you can't even fly it for a 20 year career. Pilots get all kinds of non-flying jobs. It's important that every aviator be pressed into filling their staff squares even if they don't want to command. |
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It's important that every aviator be pressed into filling their staff squares even if they don't want to command. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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If I had the skill set, I would do that forever. I felt like that for 10 years too. And then you realize you can't fly it forever, in fact you can't even fly it for a 20 year career. Pilots get all kinds of non-flying jobs. It's important that every aviator be pressed into filling their staff squares even if they don't want to command. Of course. And having been an IP at the RTU, the majority of guys that come off a 4 year staff back to the jet are worthless with a stick in their hands. Staff is detrimental to having an effective fighter force. Eta. But we both knw that if you don't want a command, the AF doesn't want you. |
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If they took guys my age, and waivered some previously nogo medical things, I'd consider doing it.
The signing bonus would pay off my med school student loans. It wouldn't cover the alimony if my wife found out I left medicine to follow my childhood dream. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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If they took guys my age, and waivered some previously nogo medical things, I'd consider doing it. The signing bonus would pay off my med school student loans. It wouldn't cover the alimony if my wife found out I left medicine to follow my childhood dream. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile View Quote Join a guard unit. Part time flight doc, sit in back seat and learn not to puke. |
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I'd come back from retirement to fly drones/UAVs, especially if it was one of those fly it from CONUS gigs. In a heartbeat. ETA - I'd need a "no ascot" clause. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I would sign it, after adding : "no fucking drones/UAV's" to the contract I'd come back from retirement to fly drones/UAVs, especially if it was one of those fly it from CONUS gigs. In a heartbeat. ETA - I'd need a "no ascot" clause. Think about it, you could either retire recall or bring retirees back as contractors or GS to fill all the drone pilot requirements from the US freeing up all those aviators to deploy. Maybe attach them to maneuver units as FACs. |
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In the beginning yes, after 16 years of AF bullshit, not so much. The problem was in the 80's, they offered ths bonus to commit for another 7 years, the problem was that if you did not take it, it tubed your career. It was punitive. The choice was commit another 7 years or get out. Guess what happened. Guess what will happen again. Eta. Take whatever you do now and would you sign a piece of paper saying you are legally committed to not leaving for another 9 years, and you are subject to endless deployments away from your kids, for up to a year each time. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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What, no leather jacket? In the 80's they offered $7,000 a year and a leather jacket. ( if IRC, it might have been more money, I did not take it) Most people would PAY to fly a F-15 In the beginning yes, after 16 years of AF bullshit, not so much. The problem was in the 80's, they offered ths bonus to commit for another 7 years, the problem was that if you did not take it, it tubed your career. It was punitive. The choice was commit another 7 years or get out. Guess what happened. Guess what will happen again. Eta. Take whatever you do now and would you sign a piece of paper saying you are legally committed to not leaving for another 9 years, and you are subject to endless deployments away from your kids, for up to a year each time. This man speaks multiple truths. <------ not a fighter pilot (or anything close ), but occasionally worked with them. |
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I fucking tried to be a pilot, but noooooo.... now look at them.
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I'd take the job WITHOUT the bonus.
If the AF would take me even though I'm short on a few qualifications they really want. No four year degree. 48 years old. Waiver me on these things and I'll report to flight training as soon as you've got a slot open. |
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If they let pilots actually fly planes instead of flying a desk, this wouldn't be happening. You'd be surprised at how little an Air Force pilot actually flies.
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I'd take the job WITHOUT the bonus. If the AF would take me even though I'm short on a few qualifications they really want. No four year degree. 48 years old. Waiver me on these things and I'll report to flight training as soon as you've got a slot open. View Quote Dude, trust me, at 48, you will be dead of a heart attack pulling through 7 Gs on the way to 9. Under G, typical blood pressure at heart level is 800/600 to achieve 90/50 at the brain to stay awake. That is not a typo. |
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Why is the AF having this problem and not the other services is my only question?
here is the one service that literally revolves around the fighter pilot community, but they can't lead them or retain them without throwing gobs of money at them. what gives? |
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Why not set up the pilot system that the Army has? Warrant officers do the bulk of the flying, but commissioned officers go to flight school and get to fly for a few years so that they appreciate the need for maintenance and understand how to employ a company\battalion\brigade of aircraft, then BAM crush their spirits, stick them behind a desk and make them feel lucky to get enough hours to keep their flight pay.
The other option would be to set up a career track for aviation officers that doesn't require them to do all the shit work that every other military officer has to do. But that'd just make me more jealous of the AF than I already am, so fuck that. |
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Quoted: Dude, trust me, at 48, you will be dead of a heart attack pulling through 7 Gs on the way to 9. Under G, typical blood pressure at heart level is 800/600 to achieve 90/50 at the brain to stay awake. That is not a typo. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: I'd take the job WITHOUT the bonus. If the AF would take me even though I'm short on a few qualifications they really want. No four year degree. 48 years old. Waiver me on these things and I'll report to flight training as soon as you've got a slot open. Dude, trust me, at 48, you will be dead of a heart attack pulling through 7 Gs on the way to 9. Under G, typical blood pressure at heart level is 800/600 to achieve 90/50 at the brain to stay awake. That is not a typo. I'm aware of that. Multiply G by BP. An interesting observation about pilots is that those who have naturally high G tolerance typically run higher than "normal" average BP. However, it's not the heart that generates higher BP numbers during high G maneuvers, it's the force of gravity placing pressure on your body and all the fluids within it. It's a hydraulic systems equation. It IS more stressful on the heart at high Gs, but it's due to the additional force required to overcome intravenous friction, in order to achieve blood flow. Friction within the blood vessels is what the heart has to work to overcome but I don't know what the difference in friction is between 1 and 7 G conditions. I don't have those numbers. My cardio conditioning is excellent, BTW. Good strong ticker, tested and certified. Hell, even with that presumed limitation I'd be perfectly happy to fly a tanker or cargo aircraft. I just like to FLY, end of story. CJ |
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Why is the AF having this problem and not the other services is my only question? here is the one service that literally revolves around the fighter pilot community, but they can't lead them or retain them without throwing gobs of money at them. what gives? View Quote IMO it is 2 things. The personality that is drawn and probably required to function in the airborn battle environment and the culture of the AF. The AF does NOT have combat effectiveness as a core everyday focus. |
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Give them 3 years, then they'll get pulled for ALO duty and be on an Army Fort so fast their head will spin. - that or flying UAVs.
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Really? http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/23/air-force-fighter-pilots-signing-bonus/?test=latestnews&ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058 "Fighter pilots were once considered such glamorous gigs that Tom Cruise played one in the hit Hollywood movie, "Top Gun." But now, three decades later, the U.S. Air Force is experiencing such a dire shortage that it's guaranteeing a $225,000 signing bonus -- $25,000 a year for nine years." View Quote Well yes, being a Navy Fighter pilot IS glamorous. Air Force Fighter pilot, not so much apparently. |
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Quoted: Well yes, being a Navy Fighter pilot IS glamorous. Air Force Fighter pilot, not so much apparently. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Really? http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/23/air-force-fighter-pilots-signing-bonus/?test=latestnews&ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058 "Fighter pilots were once considered such glamorous gigs that Tom Cruise played one in the hit Hollywood movie, "Top Gun." But now, three decades later, the U.S. Air Force is experiencing such a dire shortage that it's guaranteeing a $225,000 signing bonus -- $25,000 a year for nine years." Well yes, being a Navy Fighter pilot IS glamorous. Air Force Fighter pilot, not so much apparently. |
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They should just merger the AF back into the Army and be done with it. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Really? http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/23/air-force-fighter-pilots-signing-bonus/?test=latestnews&ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058 "Fighter pilots were once considered such glamorous gigs that Tom Cruise played one in the hit Hollywood movie, "Top Gun." But now, three decades later, the U.S. Air Force is experiencing such a dire shortage that it's guaranteeing a $225,000 signing bonus -- $25,000 a year for nine years." Well yes, being a Navy Fighter pilot IS glamorous. Air Force Fighter pilot, not so much apparently. No kidding. Not sure why the USAF wanted to compete with the Navy anyway |
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Quoted: No kidding. Not sure why the USAF wanted to compete with the Navy anyway View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Really? http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/23/air-force-fighter-pilots-signing-bonus/?test=latestnews&ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058 "Fighter pilots were once considered such glamorous gigs that Tom Cruise played one in the hit Hollywood movie, "Top Gun." But now, three decades later, the U.S. Air Force is experiencing such a dire shortage that it's guaranteeing a $225,000 signing bonus -- $25,000 a year for nine years." Well yes, being a Navy Fighter pilot IS glamorous. Air Force Fighter pilot, not so much apparently. No kidding. Not sure why the USAF wanted to compete with the Navy anyway |
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No kidding. Not sure why the USAF wanted to compete with poorly imitate the Navy anyway View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Really? http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/23/air-force-fighter-pilots-signing-bonus/?test=latestnews&ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058 "Fighter pilots were once considered such glamorous gigs that Tom Cruise played one in the hit Hollywood movie, "Top Gun." But now, three decades later, the U.S. Air Force is experiencing such a dire shortage that it's guaranteeing a $225,000 signing bonus -- $25,000 a year for nine years." Well yes, being a Navy Fighter pilot IS glamorous. Air Force Fighter pilot, not so much apparently. No kidding. Not sure why the USAF wanted to compete with poorly imitate the Navy anyway Fixt. Naval aviation is best aviation. |
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I'm aware of that. Multiply G by BP. An interesting observation about pilots is that those who have naturally high G tolerance typically run higher than "normal" average BP. However, it's not the heart that generates higher BP numbers during high G maneuvers, it's the force of gravity placing pressure on your body and all the fluids within it. It's a hydraulic systems equation. It IS more stressful on the heart at high Gs, but it's due to the additional force required to overcome intravenous friction, in order to achieve blood flow. Friction within the blood vessels is what the heart has to work to overcome but I don't know what the difference in friction is between 1 and 7 G conditions. I don't have those numbers. My cardio conditioning is excellent, BTW. Good strong ticker, tested and certified. Hell, even with that presumed limitation I'd be perfectly happy to fly a tanker or cargo aircraft. I just like to FLY, end of story. CJ View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I'd take the job WITHOUT the bonus. If the AF would take me even though I'm short on a few qualifications they really want. No four year degree. 48 years old. Waiver me on these things and I'll report to flight training as soon as you've got a slot open. Dude, trust me, at 48, you will be dead of a heart attack pulling through 7 Gs on the way to 9. Under G, typical blood pressure at heart level is 800/600 to achieve 90/50 at the brain to stay awake. That is not a typo. I'm aware of that. Multiply G by BP. An interesting observation about pilots is that those who have naturally high G tolerance typically run higher than "normal" average BP. However, it's not the heart that generates higher BP numbers during high G maneuvers, it's the force of gravity placing pressure on your body and all the fluids within it. It's a hydraulic systems equation. It IS more stressful on the heart at high Gs, but it's due to the additional force required to overcome intravenous friction, in order to achieve blood flow. Friction within the blood vessels is what the heart has to work to overcome but I don't know what the difference in friction is between 1 and 7 G conditions. I don't have those numbers. My cardio conditioning is excellent, BTW. Good strong ticker, tested and certified. Hell, even with that presumed limitation I'd be perfectly happy to fly a tanker or cargo aircraft. I just like to FLY, end of story. CJ Naturally high G tolerance does not come from higher blood pressure. It comes from fitness, muscle strength and G conditioning.. During the centrifuge training I could sit relaxed under sustained 5 G and have a normal breath and conversation. My blood pressure sitting at rest was 100/60 During high G, the force of G does not make the blood pressure 800/600 at heart level it is the straining maneuver and the heart that increases the blood pressure to 800/600. Without the straining maneuver, the blood pressure at heart level would be zero because all the blood would be in your feet. Ok a little bit of exaggeration there. Either way the blood pressure in your heart is 800/600 and the heart has to be able to handle it and still overcome the pressure and pump blood to the brain. The AF doesn't like to talk about it but a good chunk of what is classified as GLOC is actually heart explosion, and that is in 20 and 30 year olds. Eta. In a population of extremely medically healthy people. |
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What, no leather jacket? In the 80's they offered $7,000 a year and a leather jacket. ( if IRC, it might have been more money, I did not take it) Most people would PAY to fly a F-15 |
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