Retire to ass-n-trash minus the ass?
No thank you.
I've realized recently that military pilots fall into two categories:
1) Those who fly to fight, and
2) Those who fight to fly.
I'm not dis'ing all of you type 2 pilots out there; it's just that I don't get it.
So post-Navy, how does one do option 1? Or more specifically, how does a Navy dude do option 1?
Do you mean type 2 as those who fight the idea of flying, or fight to fly at every opportunity?
I chose a catchy symmetry of language over precision. What I mean is that, while I love flying, it is a means to an end (the mission). That doesn't mean I'm killing people 24/7 or maybe at all during a military career, but that I could and would if necessary. That includes ASW, @Gatordev, a mission I recently chose to keep doing over the sexier overland stuff. When the Navy tells me I'm done flying, I'll be happy to keep contributing to the mission (as long as it's not as a flag ppt beeyotch).
OTOH, I've flown with many good pilots who treat the mission as a means to keep flying. These are the folks who chase "the show" and other "pure" flying jobs post-Navy. (see hell dudes who think to sideflare is divine and tactics are for losers).
I chose a catchy symmetry of language over precision. What I mean is that, while I love flying, it is a means to an end (the mission). That doesn't mean I'm killing people 24/7 or maybe at all during a military career, but that I could and would if necessary. That includes ASW, @Gatordev, a mission I recently chose to keep doing over the sexier overland stuff. When the Navy tells me I'm done flying, I'll be happy to keep contributing to the mission (as long as it's not as a flag ppt beeyotch).
OTOH, I've flown with many good pilots who treat the mission as a means to keep flying. These are the folks who chase "the show" and other "pure" flying jobs post-Navy. (see helo dudes who think to sideflare is divine and tactics are for losers).
I see. Well I'm type 2 (for the love of flying in itself, not as a means to get to the show), and I don't get how people don't get that. But to each their own.
I'm floored when I hear my peers say that they won't fly anymore when they get out (professionally or recreationally) because of the reason "flying is 'boring'." Or that they hate flying around just to get current because they're not doing anything tactical. If you want to be tactical go be a SEAL, or even a SWO. They are tacticians. What's the point of getting in an airplane if its a means to an end of being tactical when you can do that so many other ways? I'll stop, I already said to each their own.
*I do understand that the function of our aircraft is warfare. I am on board with that. That doesn't change my previous sentiments about doing this for the love of flight. Just wanted to clarify that I wasn't naive.
Something I presume you understood before you took your oath of office.The only problem I have is that they put wings on my chest and then tell me to go spend over half my career doing something other than flying.
We all knew that before taking the oath, some to a greater extent than others. But,Something I presume you understood before you took your oath of office.
Wow this thread sure pivoted...
I'm one of IKE's type 2 aviators, I stay in the game because I love the flying, and the variety of experience I get. Some of the ground stuff is fun and interesting, but I wouldn't be very happy if I knew I was done flying. For now at least- this is "the show" for me.
That said, although I'm not a helo guy, I sure wouldn't want to ferry people around the sandbox as a civilian job. Airlines sound vastly more appealing, even with a couple of years at regionals in the mix.