Military Test Pilot
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: England
Age: 33
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Military Test Pilot
Hi all,
Have been reading through the various TP threads, but did not see any military specific threads.
Hopefully i will be studying Aeronautics and Astronautics (MEng) at Southampton, and following that I am planning i hope to join the Fleet Air Arm or the RAF. (I am aware that Southamptons UAS is based at Boscombe Down, so hopefully I can gain some more of an insight there.) However, is the military the best route for becominc a Test Pilot (and if so, which service would be best), or is it something I should aim to do after completing military service?
(I do all ready have a PPL and some glider flying, so im not a complete wannabe)
Many Thanks
S
Have been reading through the various TP threads, but did not see any military specific threads.
Hopefully i will be studying Aeronautics and Astronautics (MEng) at Southampton, and following that I am planning i hope to join the Fleet Air Arm or the RAF. (I am aware that Southamptons UAS is based at Boscombe Down, so hopefully I can gain some more of an insight there.) However, is the military the best route for becominc a Test Pilot (and if so, which service would be best), or is it something I should aim to do after completing military service?
(I do all ready have a PPL and some glider flying, so im not a complete wannabe)
Many Thanks
S
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Certainly the military path is the 'normal' route to the TP world, especially in the UK (almost without exception). There are more RAF TPs than RN or Army TPs... take that as you will (there are, after all, more RAF pilots than RN or Army pilots).
The engineering degree route will certainly help (although it is not a pre-requisite) and the UAS world is a fine place to start a miltary flying career, IMHO.
I remember going to my UAS interview and stating that I was interested in becoming a TP... it was knocked by one of the QFIs on the panel. I ignored his knocking - haven't looked back since. It is a fascintating area in which to work, if it suits the individual. It is ceratinly not the 'Right Stuff' world of jumping into your hot pursuit ship and blasting off to set a new airspeed record (not in this country at least) but, for those with a genuine interest in aircraft and why they work (and sometimes don't), allied to a fair degree of intellectual curiosity and tenacity, it is a fine career (or vocation).
My advice would be to keep your options as open for as long as possible and see where life takes you. If you end up in the military and are still interested, then go for it!
Good luck, whichever way you go.
The engineering degree route will certainly help (although it is not a pre-requisite) and the UAS world is a fine place to start a miltary flying career, IMHO.
I remember going to my UAS interview and stating that I was interested in becoming a TP... it was knocked by one of the QFIs on the panel. I ignored his knocking - haven't looked back since. It is a fascintating area in which to work, if it suits the individual. It is ceratinly not the 'Right Stuff' world of jumping into your hot pursuit ship and blasting off to set a new airspeed record (not in this country at least) but, for those with a genuine interest in aircraft and why they work (and sometimes don't), allied to a fair degree of intellectual curiosity and tenacity, it is a fine career (or vocation).
My advice would be to keep your options as open for as long as possible and see where life takes you. If you end up in the military and are still interested, then go for it!
Good luck, whichever way you go.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Philadelphia PA
Age: 73
Posts: 1,835
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
You might also consider transport or something other than fast jet flying as the types you want to fly for several reasons - more flying, and less competition when you apply...
You would have to apply after you have got the required qualifying hours,type,assessment of ability,in any Service,etc then the selection process takes place,depending on the number of `spaces` available,and how you do in the qualifying tests ,plus the interviews..
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: The World
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The MEng will stand you in good stead and is a good first step. From exiting uni to graduating as an experimental tp is a long hard road. Some tips:
- Experimental test pilot training is very expensive. Generally only governments have test pilot schools and can afford to train test pilots (admitedly NTPS excluded) Therefore, if you want to be a tp, the military route is the most achievable by far.
- The basis of a good military customer test pilot - because that is what the military employs test pilots to do - is an above average, experienced front line pilot with credibility. It is going to take you a while to get to this point and you need to park the tp ambition (park, not abandon) until you get to this point. Nobody wants to meet a first tourist with 200 hours who thinks that he is going to be the next Chuck Yeager. Strive to be an outstanding front line pilot, respected by your mates and the execs and let the rest follow.
- Not sure how much you will see on SUAS; if you can get a holding post at Boscombe Down once you are in the Service - the Squadrons always need willing bodies - and this will give you a really good idea of what it is about.
Good luck
- Experimental test pilot training is very expensive. Generally only governments have test pilot schools and can afford to train test pilots (admitedly NTPS excluded) Therefore, if you want to be a tp, the military route is the most achievable by far.
- The basis of a good military customer test pilot - because that is what the military employs test pilots to do - is an above average, experienced front line pilot with credibility. It is going to take you a while to get to this point and you need to park the tp ambition (park, not abandon) until you get to this point. Nobody wants to meet a first tourist with 200 hours who thinks that he is going to be the next Chuck Yeager. Strive to be an outstanding front line pilot, respected by your mates and the execs and let the rest follow.
- Not sure how much you will see on SUAS; if you can get a holding post at Boscombe Down once you are in the Service - the Squadrons always need willing bodies - and this will give you a really good idea of what it is about.
Good luck
