Flying Lawyer…
Think you’ve rather taken my comments the wrong way… but I guess I did leave myself open to criticism. I was not suggesting that Ex mil fast jet jocks were not good (obviously they have achieved certain standards in their careers), but that there are good and bad standards from all flying backgrounds. I was purely trying to readdress the balance… slightly…
Being an ex mil pilot is not a guaranteed assurance of making sound airmanship decisions (this equates to command qualities in my book… which are really no different in a C150, Extra or a B757… the outcome should be the same… a safe flight), or a guarantee of possessing the handling abilities of an ‘Unlimited’ Aerobatic Champion.
An example might be MJ certainly not ex mil… but a truly exceptional aerobatic pilot all the same. Incidentally I think Nigel Lamb was ex helicopters?? (Military… I agree)
As for having a ‘chip on my shoulder’? Umm?? Well I’m sitting where I want to be, in a ‘quality’ UK airline (flying an aeroplane that still requires to be flown, not one that ‘trims’ itself and has a computer between the side stick and the control surface… something you alluded to I believe, handling ability is probably less important in the Airbus, take it from someone who knows!). In my spare time I have unlimited access to a truly fantastic aerobatic aircraft… I’m still trying to achieve my goal in aerobatics, I know my limitations… hopefully that will keep me safe. I do know that to do well in the discipline of competition or display aerobatics requires skill, dedication and lots and lots of practice. Airmanship is of vital importance during aerobatic flight. Being ex mil would not have altered my course in either my professional or private flying worlds… so I don’t think it’s a ‘chip’ that you see…
I just don’t like arrogance. In flying (particularly display or competition aerobatics) your background doesn’t automatically make you better than the next pilot. I have seen many private pilots (civil thru and thru) exhibiting airmanship judgments and handling skills far out classing their professional counterparts (some of whom… dare we mention it were… ex mil!)
Incidentally for the record, I’m from the civilian flying instructor/air taxi (self improver as it used to be called) background.
If you really want to trawl the depths then maybe we should discuss the backgrounds of the pilots involved in airshow incidents/accidents over the past few years… there is a common factor… I personally don’t consider this appropriate.
Anyhow you are a professional in the art of argument and as I indicated before… I know my limitations…