Coffin corner, I guess you have a point.
However, if we really have to talk about the "right time" as you call it, I would say in the 20s: in addition to become a pioneer, you could become a fighter pilot during WW2, then a super constellation pilot in the 50s, then a jet captain in the 60s before retirement.
But definitely not after 2007, for different reasons I already explained on pprune (energy price).
I could be wrong, but for me starting your training in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014... that's all the same: hard time to come. Some interesting career path remain if you include light aircraft and bush flying though.
Last edited by KAG; 25th Apr 2011 at 06:18.