Who're the best pilots?
 

Here's a controversial one....who's the best 'stick and rudder' guys out there? Here's the list:
Airliners
Single-pilot IFR
Flight Instructors
Bush Pilots
Ag Pilots
Mustering Pilots
Military jocks

No ego trips OK. One vote only. The mustering guys got my vote.

Define 'best'.
I can fly a 747 better than a crop duster driver, and vice-versa. We usually get trained for hte job we're supposed to do, and our natural talents, such as they may be, let us blend over to other tasks.
I, for example, can order take-away food like no other pilot I know. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

It is a well known fact that THE BEST are the ones that work for QANTAS mainline.....

The best pilots have all retired. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Without question........ag pilots

Hmm, how to judge who's the best? Well first I'd want to have some pretty extensive experience of operating in each of your categories, so as to understand the unique demands of each....Then I'd have to have flown with a pretty broad cross-section of drivers in each category to be able to make any kind of judgement about their collective flying ability...And then I probably wouldn't bother anyway 'cause it's all getting too hard... <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Well from my experience in the flying game I would have to go with Ag. pilots as far as stick and rudder skills goes.

For fling wing it would have to be Heli logging.

................
:) The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no. :)

Bob Hoover <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Unanswerable - each type of flying has it's own specific knowledge, skill, attitudes areas which can be used to make relative assessments within a group, but not across types of flying - and only a few gifted souls excel in one/more types of flying - they do exist and I have met them - for my money, the "best" pilots in any field of aviation are those with "eyes in the backs of their heads", ie, those who anticipate problems and thereby minimise them - and who remember that no matter how good you may think you are or others may tell you you are - the earth is always ready to rise amd smite you - in fact it could be argued the very concept of a "best" pilot is itself contrary to safety = complacency - we are all trying to be "the best" - and safety lies in the "trying" part - I guess that's what professionalism is about? So the "best" pilots are (maybe) those who in their chosen field of aviation always STRIVE to be the best knowing that as a specific goal that is not achievable, because no-one will ever know it all.

those whose # of landing = # of take-offs?

A toss up between a PNG Chopper pilot ..or Tom Cruise . <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Best "stick and rudder" pilots? None of the above.

The best at pure aircraft handling are the accountants and lawers who fly serious Competition Aerobatics on the weekends.

There is no question about who make the best pilots.
Simulator Technicians !!!!! We can fly any type of aeroplane, every day, anywhere, any Wx and walkaway. No problem! After all, how many pilots are endorsed on more than one type/family at one time?

Ha Ha Ha!!

Kind regards,

TheNightOwl.

There is one Chief Pilot that I know of in PNG,who has got around in the past saying that he is one of the best pilots in PNG (In the top 10, were this top 10 list comes from, bets the hell out of me). Some people just think there $h!t does not stink ! But I tell you what, it would not suprise me if I heard one day that he has ended up in the side of a big rock. He should know better, there is Twin Otter parked at the bottom of a rock not far from where the company is based. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Glider Tug Pilots could beat most of the list!

TicketyBoo.

I would have to agree without any doubt at all with TheNightOwl. You and I go back some years mate,as you say always nice to walk out of the BE-JESUS-BOX and endorsed on all types.

the best....................well no doubt bout it at this point in time any way

Kenny Chapman flying the Erricson Skycrane & all the other pilots flying the water bombing aircraft in the horrendous NSW bushfires

My hats off to these guys & girls

& a belated one to the rescue crews during the ill fated S2H back in 99

Just my 2 cents worth

Hang glider pilots, if still living....

Female/Lady f.o's <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

I have seen some of the best Pilots in each of those categories - and also some of the worst. Who is to say that a particular Airline Pilot would not fly an Ag Plane better than a particular Ag Pilot with same currency on type (and vice versa)?

So, I think that the question being asked should have been who is the most current Stick and Rudder Pilot, and the answer to that is obvious.

Gentlemen
Interesting as this thread is it really doesn't have much to do with D & G issues.

I am moving it to Non Transport issues.

It is easy to get into the habit of just checking out our local patch, there are many very interesting forums worth trolling when it gets slow on D & G.

If you use the full resources of PPRuNe as I do you will learn heaps about other fascinating parts of this wonderful industry and the aviation world in which we work.


Enjoy

simple,the best pilot is the one who has the most fun.

anyone who gets a nose bleed at 500'.

Mr Hanky and Sub-SonicB said it all. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Todays 'best' pilot may just be tomorrows accident.

<img src="eek.gif" border="0">

[ 04 January 2002: Message edited by: G.Khan ]</p>

I'm gunna go with the mustering pilot (bet you cant guess what I do for 1100 hrs a year) and I might add that I get scared and nose bleeds over 500 feet and I really hope that I dont end up as tomorrows accident..........but by jingo's you wanna see what I can do with an airplane. :) and before all you sad sacks get on my case, I am very profesional..its my living and I am fortunate enough to do leagally what most of you pilot fella's (and non fella's) would like to do when noone is looking.

Considering I was one, i'm gonna have to say Tug Pilot. I flew a Pawnee though and seeing what an Ag-jock can do with one of those, I might change my mind to Ag Pilot......Oh, I dunno it's all to hard <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Glider pilots; you have to follow the tug (not lift the tail up and kill them), fly efficiently (stick and rudder/ needle and ball/ keeping the string in the middle), aviod hitting hills, each other at very close distances; look for more lift then land every time with no engine to bail you out if you cock it up a bit...

yp

---

"It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill" -Wilbur Wright

The BEST pilot would not consider him or herself to be the Best pilot - because they would constantly be striving to improve and be a better pilot.

Not out of any competitive or comparitive sense (because that is where many inherent dangers lie) but out of a sense of self improvement and spiritual satisfaction. There's never any room for smugness or self satisfction until you've finished your flying for the day and can look back on it (and even then you'll find a million things you wished you'd done better).

There was a great article the other week on <a href="http://www.avweb.com" target="_blank">www.avweb.com</a> about being an airplane pilot versus being an airplane driver. Excellent read.

I think nzer has come closest, because the "best" pilots are .......

OLD pilots.

If your moustache/beard is NOT gray, then you can NOT be in the "best" category. All the rest of y'all are "wannabe's". :) :)
dAAvid -
edited 'cause someone moved the "T" key on me
<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[ 11 January 2002: Message edited by: AA SLF ]</p>

Anybody who spends a lot of time hands-on, has a deep interest in how their machine works, has never repeated a mistake, and will listen to anybody who seems to have something useful to say.

I once went on a 2 hour ferry trip with an experienced man with about 20 times my hours and at least that much times my experience. At the end of the trip, he insisted on sitting down and discussing what we had BOTH learned from the flight. That's as good way of telling a good pilot as I know, whatever they fly.

If you're talking pure stick and rudder skills, I'd put my money on competition pilots. Whether it's a glider pilot getting the last ounce from a thermal, an aerobatic pilot flying manoeuvres to the nearest foot or degree, a microlight pilot stopping in a 100m box deadstick from 1000ft - anybody having to compete against others on their skill is going to reach the best level of stick and rudder skill.

And no, I'm not a competition pilot, I'm mostly a test pilot. But nonetheless, that's what I think - test piloting skills lie entirely elsewhere.

G

[ 11 January 2002: Message edited by: Genghis the Engineer ]</p>

We are all only as good a

The superior beings are to be found in the Military - see their forum for proof!
<img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Sorry PC went tech.... <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

We are all ONLY as good as our last flight..... <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

Mmmm...not much agreement. I guess we all know who's the worst. Hopefully, most of these are in Guantanamo or soon will be.

Hard to say. Each category has it's own skills. In my career, I have flown gliders, various military aircraft, general aviation aircraft, v.large civilian jets, taildraggers, microlights, motorgliders, have instructed on taildraggers, flown competition aerobatics, done glider towing...

.... hey, it must be me!

Sorry Dan,

You seem to have missed out severely on rotary qualifications.

Next! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Never been in the left hand seat, but those who get you down in one piece are pretty damn good!!

Thats my prognosis!

The best pilots must be the Australians.They will tell you so themselves ad nauseum!

The best pilots are those that get the most out of their equipment.

When I skydive I am the equipment.

I fly my body.

Therefore I am the best pilot, apart from the birds, time to close this thread I think now the answer has been established.

I heard that skydivers do need help with the landing though as their own equipment isn't very efficient at arresting a rate of descent.... <img src="eek.gif" border="0">