but can any Jet pilot honestly hold up their hand and say they haven't paid for one.
Yes
Go to Africa, learn to fly real planes, get good hands on time, have a blast while doing it, and if u survive to 1000hrs then u should do well when u want to join the airlines. Left UK 8 yrs ago, now on DC8 (i know, a bit old, but 4 lovely engines), and a king air when i want to go for a flip down the coast, nothing better for scaring fishermen. There is a thread in here re bush jobs, and the chap that went to maun, there are lots of jobs out here, u just need to hunt for them.
Cheers