How much of being a fighter pilot do you believe is genetic?
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Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
Oh dear, Fighter pilot and Jaguar in the same sentence 😁
Handedness can be a disadvantage. Chief Forecasters at Bracknell CFO who were left handed were very unpopular because their work position was to the right of the Deputy and they perforce had to analyse, annotate and scribble on one chart. The ideal [I never saw it] was right hand Chief, Left hand Indian. Nobody had the whit to change seats.
Not to mention the totally colour blind chief, who, faced with colours red, blue and purple for fronts etc, routinely marked his crayons thus, only to have them b*ggered by a colleague with wrong labels.
As if the job were not impossible for lesser mortals anyway.
Not to mention the totally colour blind chief, who, faced with colours red, blue and purple for fronts etc, routinely marked his crayons thus, only to have them b*ggered by a colleague with wrong labels.
As if the job were not impossible for lesser mortals anyway.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
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Originally Posted by Brian 48nav
Had a word with the Off-spring yesterday, and he said ' Tell PN bloody cheek - Didn't you mention all my hours on Mirage 2000 and Gripen?' These ex-single seat guys can be a bit sensitive if they suspect a nav' is taking the p1ss!
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"Mommy, when I grow up, I want to be a fighter pilot."
"You're going to have to make a choice son ... you can't do both"
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Contrary to popular opinion, the average fighter pilot is actually capable of feelings such as love, caring, tenderness and sharing. It's just that these feelings don't include anyone else
"You're going to have to make a choice son ... you can't do both"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contrary to popular opinion, the average fighter pilot is actually capable of feelings such as love, caring, tenderness and sharing. It's just that these feelings don't include anyone else
Originally Posted by quantify
That means there's no way for that individual to further learn and improve? How and why do you think this is, due to mental stress deterring performance or "not having the right stuff"?
As the father of a fighter pilot, I was going to say that genetics are unlikely to be an issue. 
Then I reflected on his brother and sister's performances in the FA18 sim without prior flying experience and how his daughter gained her first sim-Mig kill at the age of five, compared with my PPL inspired sim disasters.
I am am forced to conclude that genetics could be involved but, in my case, it was recessive.
Then I reflected on his brother and sister's performances in the FA18 sim without prior flying experience and how his daughter gained her first sim-Mig kill at the age of five, compared with my PPL inspired sim disasters.
I am am forced to conclude that genetics could be involved but, in my case, it was recessive.
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Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50
I think that you might be forgetting the tax payer in this equation. If you can't learn it in the amount of time (to include the extra time flights when one hits a hicccup) then the tax payer is not required to indulge anyone in their dream of being a fast jet pilot. Each nation and each service has a methodology on identifying weak points and finding out if they are a temporary set back or a case of "can't handle further difficulty." This has all been learned the hard way: In Blood.
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Originally Posted by CoodaShooda
As the father of a fighter pilot, I was going to say that genetics are unlikely to be an issue.
Then I reflected on his brother and sister's performances in the FA18 sim without prior flying experience and how his daughter gained her first sim-Mig kill at the age of five, compared with my PPL inspired sim disasters.
I am am forced to conclude that genetics could be involved but, in my case, it was recessive.
Then I reflected on his brother and sister's performances in the FA18 sim without prior flying experience and how his daughter gained her first sim-Mig kill at the age of five, compared with my PPL inspired sim disasters.
I am am forced to conclude that genetics could be involved but, in my case, it was recessive.
Back when G-Loc was both lethal and a bit of a mystery, I recall someone remarking that the ideal fighter pilot was a short female with large glutes, who smoked and grunted a lot.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
there needs to be more research on fighter pilots in general
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IMHO, ORAC made a wise comment above under post #58.
In critical situations, with extreme motivation and tonns of perspirationthose who may not be genetically ideal may be the best of the best.
IIRC, the average age of the British pilots ("The Few") who defended the country against "Goering aces" in 1940 was about 20. And I assume there was no thorough and timely psycho-medical selection at that time. But they won.
Even in sport, where genetics really matters, there are many examples of that kind. E.g., there is African dominance in medium and long-distance running now. Looks understandable taking into account the anthropometry of Ethiopian and Kenyan guys (thin like sticks, etc). But interesting that only 3 or 4 outperformed British Seb Coe during last 35+ years since he set his fantastic record on 800 m back in early 80's. Or Russian Vladimir Kutz in 50's - he looked more like a boxer or power lifter, but thanks to outstanding training finally became a world and Olympic champ.
In critical situations, with extreme motivation and tonns of perspirationthose who may not be genetically ideal may be the best of the best.
IIRC, the average age of the British pilots ("The Few") who defended the country against "Goering aces" in 1940 was about 20. And I assume there was no thorough and timely psycho-medical selection at that time. But they won.
Even in sport, where genetics really matters, there are many examples of that kind. E.g., there is African dominance in medium and long-distance running now. Looks understandable taking into account the anthropometry of Ethiopian and Kenyan guys (thin like sticks, etc). But interesting that only 3 or 4 outperformed British Seb Coe during last 35+ years since he set his fantastic record on 800 m back in early 80's. Or Russian Vladimir Kutz in 50's - he looked more like a boxer or power lifter, but thanks to outstanding training finally became a world and Olympic champ.
Originally Posted by Herod
So was I.
Don't be so sure. A pilot I respected greatly was on the Queen's Flight. Sadly he is no longer with us, but at the commemoration service, a Gp Capt was there, representing the Duke. Neither he nor the Duke suffered fools gladly, so I wouldn't be surprised if Phillip is a pretty good rotary driver, within the constraints of his official duties.
Don't be so sure. A pilot I respected greatly was on the Queen's Flight. Sadly he is no longer with us, but at the commemoration service, a Gp Capt was there, representing the Duke. Neither he nor the Duke suffered fools gladly, so I wouldn't be surprised if Phillip is a pretty good rotary driver, within the constraints of his official duties.
