Fighter Pilot Longevity ?
Certainly, the risks in RAF FJ flying during the 70's and 80's were considerable and will have made the average life expectancy pretty dismal. In the late 80's, I roughly calculated that the average RAF FJ squadron had been losing one Cat5 every 3 years and, half of those accidents involved crew deaths. 
Also, I don't take much notice of the quoted survival rates. I personally knew quite a few mates who died in-service of medical conditions. One stat that I do not see is the survival stats of full flying career aircrew, not greasy pole types, the NCO Aircrew and Officers who hold operational flying appointments till age 55+.
OAP
Also, I don't take much notice of the quoted survival rates. I personally knew quite a few mates who died in-service of medical conditions. One stat that I do not see is the survival stats of full flying career aircrew, not greasy pole types, the NCO Aircrew and Officers who hold operational flying appointments till age 55+.
OAP
It certainly seems so.
What proportion of jet fighter pilots went on to the airlines, I wonder? That seems a thoroughly unhealthy sedentary job.
The piston-engine pilots of wwii mostly moved on to other things and often didn't fly again.
What proportion of jet fighter pilots went on to the airlines, I wonder? That seems a thoroughly unhealthy sedentary job.
The piston-engine pilots of wwii mostly moved on to other things and often didn't fly again.
I have 2 neighbours who fit this bill.................
one in early 80's, wear a colostomy bag, in good health, smokes but keeps active only only gave up manual paying work 2-3 years ago.
Other redunancy / retired 2-3 years ago, uses my recycle bin every 2 weeks and half to 3/4 fills with alcohol cans (plus what he puts in his own), not there a lot so don't care, doesn't read, just about active and has no purpose or feels like he has none, 20 plus years younger than other guy.
Sadly I think I know who will go first.
And No taking to neighbour with alcohol prob is not going to happen as those including family who have tried have been told to F OFF and mind own business.
Talked to an elderly priest I know today whose dad as an RAF Pilot, WW2 definitely and he left service at 55 and struggled to find any purpose to his life after that.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Took redundancy from the RAF at 30, medically retired from commercial flying at 56, now 70, and feel fitter and happier than I have ever done. It's all in the mind, then the body will follow.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
A close friend of mine with an air service background, if you get my drift, was pensioned off by his company at age 64 as he had serious medical problems. His workers thought he wouldn't last a year. 12 years later he is still battling. He did have a charity job but his main raison d'etre is cruising and taking care of his spouse. He has not got long to go and is taking each month one at a time. His target is August.
Others think that drawing their pension fulfills life's dreams.
I am now older than my father and grandfather before me but need another 21 to pass my GGF but only 10 to beat his father. That is my goal
Others think that drawing their pension fulfills life's dreams.
I am now older than my father and grandfather before me but need another 21 to pass my GGF but only 10 to beat his father. That is my goal
Had one of both. Son first, maybe I was was at my virile FJ peak. Flew FJ until 50, now 64, still no bad effects, but by the grace of god.
I remember at Gutersloh in about 1975, a number of people checking out a Lightning cockpit in white suits. After using a geiger counter, they jumped out very quickly.
Never had any results and assume it was the few luminescent switches.
I remember at Gutersloh in about 1975, a number of people checking out a Lightning cockpit in white suits. After using a geiger counter, they jumped out very quickly.
Never had any results and assume it was the few luminescent switches.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
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I don't think it is just for retired officers, I think this is for retired people generally who have spent many years working.
I have 2 neighbours who fit this bill.................
one in early 80's, wear a colostomy bag, in good health, smokes but keeps active only only gave up manual paying work 2-3 years ago.
Other redunancy / retired 2-3 years ago, uses my recycle bin every 2 weeks and half to 3/4 fills with alcohol cans (plus what he puts in his own), not there a lot so don't care, doesn't read, just about active and has no purpose or feels like he has none, 20 plus years younger than other guy.
Sadly I think I know who will go first.
And No taking to neighbour with alcohol prob is not going to happen as those including family who have tried have been told to F OFF and mind own business.
I have 2 neighbours who fit this bill.................
one in early 80's, wear a colostomy bag, in good health, smokes but keeps active only only gave up manual paying work 2-3 years ago.
Other redunancy / retired 2-3 years ago, uses my recycle bin every 2 weeks and half to 3/4 fills with alcohol cans (plus what he puts in his own), not there a lot so don't care, doesn't read, just about active and has no purpose or feels like he has none, 20 plus years younger than other guy.
Sadly I think I know who will go first.
And No taking to neighbour with alcohol prob is not going to happen as those including family who have tried have been told to F OFF and mind own business.
Avoid imitations
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An observation from a lurker re overall health.
As was mentioned somewhere earlier in this thread in order to have robust health you need to be both Physically AND Mentally fit - combined that's what keeps you going.
When either of those are out of balance that's when you get ill.
How many very fit and healthy males are topping themselves currently in the UK from all walks of life? From the basics I know it currently exceeds Cancers and Road deaths for most age brackets.
As was mentioned somewhere earlier in this thread in order to have robust health you need to be both Physically AND Mentally fit - combined that's what keeps you going.
When either of those are out of balance that's when you get ill.
How many very fit and healthy males are topping themselves currently in the UK from all walks of life? From the basics I know it currently exceeds Cancers and Road deaths for most age brackets.
Temp?
Was always a subscriber to the Scot kilt deal, being one.
So two fine young men now that are 50 years old, and both came about before I got into prolonged gee stuff. Was flying Deuces and VooDoos then. Even the later mudbeating tours were not that bad until getting to the Viper or my last 4 years. Whew!! 3 or 4 minutes pulling 4 or 5 gees about the same time. Then the harsh breaks with 8 or 9 gees for maybe ten seconds.
My vote for offspring is "technique"! Heh heh.
As far as longevity, my squad from USFA had 15 grads, and 11 got pilot assignments. Out of that, we had 8 make it to fighters or attacks jets, tho some had to go thru something else on the way. One had to become a Navy RIO.
We lost two of our pilots in 'nam, and two since then for medical reasons not involving the heart or being fat or..... So we are now here with 6 fighter pilots and another 4 pilots that flew heavies or helos. I would say we had pretty good genes and no small amount of aviating skill.
Gums sends..
So two fine young men now that are 50 years old, and both came about before I got into prolonged gee stuff. Was flying Deuces and VooDoos then. Even the later mudbeating tours were not that bad until getting to the Viper or my last 4 years. Whew!! 3 or 4 minutes pulling 4 or 5 gees about the same time. Then the harsh breaks with 8 or 9 gees for maybe ten seconds.
My vote for offspring is "technique"! Heh heh.
As far as longevity, my squad from USFA had 15 grads, and 11 got pilot assignments. Out of that, we had 8 make it to fighters or attacks jets, tho some had to go thru something else on the way. One had to become a Navy RIO.
We lost two of our pilots in 'nam, and two since then for medical reasons not involving the heart or being fat or..... So we are now here with 6 fighter pilots and another 4 pilots that flew heavies or helos. I would say we had pretty good genes and no small amount of aviating skill.
Gums sends..
In the early 60s at Tengah all the Javelin pilots were bald and had daughters, this was rumoured
to be due to flying at high altitude a lot. On the Canberra fleet we flew down in the weeds and
as bachelors tried our best to have neither sons nor daughters.
to be due to flying at high altitude a lot. On the Canberra fleet we flew down in the weeds and
as bachelors tried our best to have neither sons nor daughters.
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The preponderance of girl babies was noted when I was at Geilenkirchen in 1962 (Javelins and Canberras). One conjecture was that the high pitched howl of jet engines somehow affected the sperm of jet jockeys, by inhibiting production of the y-chromosome.
Mekchett01 (#34),
I've achieved that, by a handsome margin - 23 years postwar service followed by 44 years of a pension of 42% of my last pay (inc Marriage Allowance). That was followed by 13½ years Civil Service and 30 years of their pension of 16% of final salary.
The country can't afford it - pensions will have to be cut, soon - but wait till I'm gone, please !
Danny.
Mekchett01 (#34),
...Stn Cdr asked me what my career aspirations were a while back, told him to draw more in pension than I did in salary...
The country can't afford it - pensions will have to be cut, soon - but wait till I'm gone, please !
Danny.
Last edited by Danny42C; 12th Apr 2017 at 14:46. Reason: Spacing.
