OP: I know exactly what you are talking about. I try not to spend to much time here.

The original question asked "approx what percentage of the posters on here are actually Professional Pilots ?".

That must include anyone who earns his/her living from flying topdressers, meatbombers, helicopters, airline, aeroclub instructors, military, freight, biz jet/piston, etc.

Add those up and I think the percentage would be significant.

captjyns:
You raise a very interesting point. It is certainly one that has engaged me since becoming a PPRuNe member. I am a retired ex military and civil pilot, but have posted predominantly on the military forum. That is because of the numerous threads there relating to fatal airworthiness related military air accidents (Sea King, Chinook, Hercules, Nimrod, Tornado, etc). Despite the revelation that the Airworthiness Authority (aka the MOD) has issued Controller Aircraft Release to at least one knowingly Grossly Unairworthy type which has in turn been granted a Release to Service into the Royal Air Force, little or no reaction has followed from "Professional" aviators, pilots or otherwise. That particular type suffered a fatal air accident within months, killing 29 with no survivors. The Accident Inquiry, conducted by the operator, ignored airworthiness as a probable cause, and upon review the pilots were found to be Grossly Negligent. 17 years later this "Finding" has at last been quashed. Airworthiness though has still not been questioned as a possible cause. A system where Authority, Investigator, and Operator are one and the same would seem to be a nonsense, and a dangerous nonsense at that. That system remains in place, but is of little concern to the "professionals" it would seem. To answer the OP's question; who knows, and what difference does it make anyway?

well, one poster said something about 5% and i think its pretty close when the question refers purely to actual people who are employed as a pilot and do this as a full time job. but thats not a problem, quite the opposite. and thats of course does not mean that these 5 % always know best when a discussion rises.

talking e.g engines with an real engineer who works for an overhaul facility or a manufacturer we can be sure that he has a far more knowledge about this stuff than a pilot and its interesting to learn from such people when being interested in knowledge about details.

thats simply because as a pilot i do not need to know in details what and how happens inside a turbine - i just need to know how to operate this thing.

.

http://pixelixir.files.wordpress.com...copy.jpg?w=630

Here's a pic from my last trip...believe me?

Seriously, I was on Pro Pilot World for 5 minutes where you have to show proof of pilot's license to join the forums, that place was the worst. Horrible.