Jane, your question approaches fallacious reasoning. Do you presume that there is an optimal phsychological type?
There isn't.
Psychological Characteristics Ideal to Military Aviators
There are a variety of characteristics that successful aviators share, but there are significant variations in psychological profile of successful military aviators. You get a mix of the old "Type A" and "Type B" in any ready room. If you didn't, you'd have non trivial problems and friction.
What are the mimimum characteristics common to all?
Is that your question?
There are a few I've noticed over the years that seem to be universal ...
1. Self confidence
2. Passion for learning/finding out/understanding
3. Ability to compartmentalize
4. Ability to learn quickly
5. Ability to use inference
6. Ability to memorize facts in an orderly fashion
7. Ability to listen effectively
8. Ability to multi task
Each of these manifests itself differently in behaviors in a given individual, but those characters of mind are commonly successful.
Ideal?
Be just like me.
