Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Military Aviation
Reload this Page >

How much of being a fighter pilot do you believe is genetic?

Military Aviation A forum for the professionals who fly military hardware. Also for the backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground. All armies, navies and air forces of the world equally welcome here.

How much of being a fighter pilot do you believe is genetic?

Old 10th Feb 2019, 13:41
  #61 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 1,093
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
Oh dear, Fighter pilot and Jaguar in the same sentence 😁
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!
Brian 48nav is offline  
Old 10th Feb 2019, 16:50
  #62 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Baston
Posts: 3,196
Received 415 Likes on 191 Posts
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.
langleybaston is offline  
Old 10th Feb 2019, 17:01
  #63 (permalink)  
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 80
Posts: 16,777
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
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!
i stand by the facts. Sticking a 'winder on a Jag or Harrier does not a fighter make..
Pontius Navigator is offline  
Old 10th Feb 2019, 19:09
  #64 (permalink)  
TLB
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"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"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
TLB is offline  
Old 10th Feb 2019, 19:45
  #65 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Texas
Age: 64
Posts: 7,126
Received 314 Likes on 202 Posts
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"?
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.
Lonewolf_50 is offline  
Old 10th Feb 2019, 20:52
  #66 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Darwin, NT, Australia
Posts: 784
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
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.
CoodaShooda is offline  
Old 11th Feb 2019, 22:09
  #67 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Perth
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
Very true, imagine getting up to that stage and finding out you just can't handle anymore, would be quite frustrating.
quantify is offline  
Old 11th Feb 2019, 22:10
  #68 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Perth
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
Wow, thanks for the insight, you must be a very proud father
quantify is offline  
Old 11th Feb 2019, 23:41
  #69 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Far West Wessex
Posts: 2,577
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
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.
LowObservable is offline  
Old 12th Feb 2019, 07:56
  #70 (permalink)  

"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: England
Age: 77
Posts: 4,131
Received 215 Likes on 62 Posts
there needs to be more research on fighter pilots in general
I think I might know a couple of young ladies who would be happy to oblige
Herod is offline  
Old 12th Feb 2019, 09:49
  #71 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Moscow region
Age: 65
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
IMHO, ORAC made a wise comment above under post #58.

In critical situations, with extreme motivation and tonns of perspiration
those 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.
A_Van is offline  
Old 12th Feb 2019, 10:02
  #72 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,457
Received 2,593 Likes on 1,098 Posts
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.
Well at least in a Landrover
NutLoose is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.