The way the air force works is as described with aircrew steadily progressing from one type to another or sideways to staff jobs.

This is in contrast to some civil operators where they see no economic benefit in training old pilots to a new aircraft and also training new pilots to replace them on the old type. They simply dump the one and recruit the other, which was what happened when Heavylift binned the Belslow.

Right now, at 21, the OP is definitely in between. Unlikely that he would be streamed Tornado (?) and too soon for Lightning so there is really only one FJ option.

Happened quickly for the puffer jet crews....... 2 months IIRC

Pontius
 

Not too soon for F35 by any stretch. If someone has yet to start IOT they are very much in the bracket for F35. Whether we send first tourists there or send them via Typhoon is a policy decision further down the line but we have (experienced) guys already in the States flying F35. JPs will be sure to follow in the not so distant future.
BV:8

If I was selected and passed all the training, I certainly wouldn't complain about flying the Eurofighter! I saw it during its first public display year in 2005 at Shoreham and have been fascinated by it ever since.

The F-35, while it looks cool, is it a good aircraft? The guy who designed the A-10 and the F-16 has ripped it and Lockheed Martin to bits, as have a few other sources. Apparently, it can't turn as fighters should so it would be dominated by other 5th generation fighters that the Russians and Chinese are equipped with and there's loads of other things wrong with it. Is there anybody on here with experience who can confirm any of that?

T93 I'm sure this thread will help; http://www.pprune.org/military-aviat...then-what.html

IG, thanks, but that's a massive thread that will take some time to get through. What's the jist of it?

I already have the stickies in here to finish reading which are a bit more important so can't commit to that thread... yet. :)

T93,

I wouldn't bother dude. It's 254 pages of debate trying to answer if it will be "Cancelled, then what?" and its still hasn't (and won't).

Is it worth £200 million though?

The government are constantly moaning about money and we apparently don't have any but they're prepared to spend £200 million on each aircraft. If I remember correctly that is more than double the cost of a Typhoon and the feedback I'm getting from research, and having seen it myself in flight, is that it's a pretty bloody good bit of kit which acted well against being shot at in Op Ellamy and turns well. So is it really £120 million better than the Typhoon?