How do you get into fighter Pilot School?
To get into fighter pilot school, you must first meet the strict requirements set by the US Air Force, including earning a bachelor’s degree, meeting officer qualifications, attending officer training school, passing initial flight training, and passing undergraduate pilot training. Becoming a fighter pilot requires a tremendous amount of hard work, dedication, and perseverance, with only a small percentage of applicants being selected for this highly competitive and prestigious program.
Understanding the Requirements
Getting into fighter pilot school is an extremely challenging and competitive process, with each year only a handful of candidates being selected out of over 1,000 applicants. The journey to becoming a fighter pilot begins with earning a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a science-related field, and maintaining an overall GPA of at least 3.4. Prior flight school training is also a plus, and applicants must achieve qualifying scores on the AFOQT exam, meet all requirements, and pass a selection board prior to age 33.
Frequently Asked Questions
What disqualifies you from being a fighter pilot?
You can’t be colorblind, you must have 20/20 vision, and you can’t have a history of allergies or other conditions that include asthma and hay fever. When standing, you must have a height between 5’5” and 6’4” and, when sitting, you’re required to be between 34 to 40 inches tall.
Is 25 too old to become a fighter pilot?
No, there is no maximum age for fighter pilots on active duty, and everyone takes an annual flight physical — if you pass the flight physical, you can fly.
Does it cost money to be a fighter pilot?
The cost of training a basic qualified fighter pilot is generally quite high, ranging from $5.6 million for an F-16 pilot to $10.9 million for an F-22 pilot.
How much do fighter pilots get paid?
The average salary for a fighter pilot is $129,809 per year in the United States, which is 19% higher than the average US Air Force salary of $108,307 per year for this job.
How often do you fly as a fighter pilot?
The average fighter pilot will fly approximately 200 hours each year or 350 during deployment years.
Do you need 20/20 vision to be a pilot?
To hold a first or second-class medal certificate, Federal Aviation Regulations require a pilot’s vision to be 20/20 or better, with or without correction, in each eye.
Can you be a fighter pilot without going to college?
A four-year college degree is usually required to become a military pilot, and courses in engineering, meteorology, computer science, aviation law, business management, and military science are especially helpful.
Can you become a fighter pilot with no experience?
One of the biggest benefits of the Guard and Reserve is that you only apply to the units that you want to join, and you can be hired with no military experience to fly the A-10, F-15C, F-16, F-22, or F-35.
What is the hardest thing to become a pilot?
The hardest things to become a pilot include getting into “school mode“, learning “radio talk“, decoding textual weather, understanding aerodynamics, learning regulations, navigating the National Airspace System, and understanding aircraft systems.
What is the height requirement for the Air Force pilot?
The Air Force did away with their standing height requirements in 2020, which limited pilots to a range of standing heights between 5’4″ to 6’6″, and now uses an anthropometric screening process that matches physical attributes with suitable aircraft.
What branch has the best fighter pilots?
The answer to this question depends on who you’re talking to, as each branch of the military has its own talented and highly trained fighter pilots.
What is a topgun pilot?
TOPGUN, or the “Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor” program, is an instructional course loaded with schooling, training, and tactics development, held at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development center.
How much do F-16 pilots make a year?
The average annual pay for an F-16 pilot in the United States is $99,206 a year, which works out to be approximately $47.70 an hour.
Can pilots make 300K a year?
At most major airlines, pilots can expect to make over $300K per year once they reach the rank of Captain, which usually happens after about 10-15 years of experience in the cockpit.
Are fighter pilots in high demand?
The 19th Air Force’s goal is to train 1,500 new pilots in fiscal 2024, and the overall pilot shortage remains at around 2,000, roughly the number it has been for the last several years.
What is the retirement age for fighter pilots?
The maximum retirement age for pilots is currently 65, mirroring the international mandatory retirement age set by the International Civil Aviation Authority.
How much do beginner fighter pilots make?
Newly commissioned officers earn a base pay of just over $3,600 monthly, while a more senior officer with ten years would receive closer to $8,250 monthly.
Is there a pilot shortage in the Air Force?
The Air Force is facing a pilot shortage of around 2,000 people, which has persisted for years, making it more difficult for the service to fill its pilot training programs.
Can you be a pilot with glasses?
Yes, you can wear glasses and be an airline pilot, as perfect uncorrected vision is not a requirement to be a pilot or an air traffic controller. Glasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery are all acceptable ways to correct visual acuity problems.