There are guys like that. But there are also a lot of guys like me who said prior to flight school, "oh, I want jets" based on nothing other than it looked cool. Then, while actually learning how to fly in primary, realized that flying jets would not be really enjoyable to me for a number of reasons - didn't like aerobatics, loved the low-flying stuff, met and talked to pilots from each of the communities (learning about their various cultures) etc, and decided helos would be a much better fit for me.
When I started flight school, I wanted jets. Not sure why. I don't think I even really knew the mission of all the aircraft back then. "Jets" eventually devolved into "Tailhook," which I started calling "Anything that lands on a ship, besides helicopters." By the time I hit Primary, I was interested in tailhook and maritime—just not helicopters.
My roommate has always wanted helos (his dad was an H-3/60F/60H commander), and it eventually started to rub off on me. Training at Whiting Field meant watching and hearing helicopters spinning around all day. I know it really just depends on whom you ask and what you make of things, but the helicopter IPs I spoke with in my training squadron seemed to be the happiest with their jobs (which, as a blank-stared ensign bobbling through Primary, is pretty much the only meaningful type of feedback I had to work with at this point). I was doing my instrument check with the XO and, after I had passed it and we were just setting up for an approach back home, we spent the rest of the time chatting about helicopters. He told me he wanted jets in flight school but would never take back his career as a 60 pilot (my Advanced onwing would tell me the same thing some months later). Those sorts of conversations make an impact on ye, the know-nothing ENS/2ndLT. My decision was nailed in by the time I was through with Primary (and, luckily, helicopters are currently the only thing you can put for #1 at a Whiting Field selection and almost
definitely get, despite your high/mid/low NSS).
Now I'm in Advanced having
way more fun with the basic stuff than I ever did in Primary. I'm excited for
everything. Nearly every training location, platform, station and mission excites me. It's funny how big the leap of faith can be when you're filling out your preference sheet—especially when your NSS gives you a wide range of options—but this was a bullseye.
Saturday-morning coffee and AirWarriors makes for verbose and rambling posts.
In short: Go learn to fly, love it as much as you can, and pick goals based on a bigger picture than Top Gun. You might be surprised with your dream sheet. (
Source: Excited ensign who is still some months away from winging and isn't through the shit yet but is feeling pretty damn great about flight school)
