USN Primary and Beyond Study Advice

[ShaneThompson99]

Primary and Beyond Study Advice


Hey guys hope you’re all doing well,

Just to be quick and to the point here -How much time do SNA’s have between training to practice chair flying and other things after API? Is the schedule sort of like college in that you have a test after a few weeks?

Last question, I’m a private pilot going to instrument rating, what’s the difference in navy flying and my current civilian flying? What part of civ flying should be monitored prior?

Thanks a lot guys,

(P.S. no, “it depends” doesnt count )

 

[picklesuit]

There is enough time to train. The syllabus is written for 85% to pass.
As for civ to mil, I can’t speak to differences, but the one advantage I saw in my students with prior time was a bit of a better handle on comms.

 

[HAL Pilot]

It can change for each person based on unspecified factors.

 

[Birdbrain]

Speaking from personal experience, meaning no prior flight time and only Navy flight training (IFS/API, Primary, I-Jet), you have adequate time to chairfly. You just have to make the time for it.

 

[Hopeful Hoya]

It's a lot of boom and bust. There will be weeks were you're only scheduled once or twice with plenty of time to study/golf/goof off, but then there will be weeks where you're double pumped every day and struggling to find time to study. You'll get pretty good with time management and anticipating when you're about to get crushed so you can stay ahead of the curve when crunch time does come.

 

[Meyerkord]

It's a lot of boom and bust. There will be weeks were you're only scheduled once or twice with plenty of time to study/golf/goof off, but then there will be weeks where you're double pumped every day and struggling to find time to study. You'll get pretty good with time management and anticipating when you're about to get crushed so you can stay ahead of the curve when crunch time does come.

I couldn't agree more. Flight school is 100% or 0% and there's not much in between. But you get used to it and learn to manage it.

I’m a private pilot going to instrument rating, what’s the difference in navy flying and my current civilian flying?

There will be similarities and differences. The early stages when you're first learning how to fly will look pretty similar to civilian flying. Touch and goes, stalls, basic air work, etc. Instrument flying in flight school consists mostly of practicing holding and shooting practice instrument approaches. The big differences are when you starting doing aerobatics and formation flights.

 

[ShaneThompson99]

I couldn't agree more. Flight school is 100% or 0% and there's not much in between. But you get used to it and learn to manage it.


There will be similarities and differences. The early stages when you're first learning how to fly will look pretty similar to civilian flying. Touch and goes, stalls, basic air work, etc. Instrument flying in flight school consists mostly of practicing holding and shooting practice instrument approaches. The big differences are when you starting doing aerobatics and formation flights.

Thanks man, I’m getting my aerobatic and spin recovery ratings too. Do you believe that may help? For myself I would say it helped me retain a tolerance of my stomach after doing it a bunch.

 

[Meyerkord]

Thanks man, I’m getting my aerobatic and spin recovery ratings too. Do you believe that may help? For myself I would say it helped me retain a tolerance of my stomach after doing it a bunch.

If you get airsick, then building a tolerance will probably help, but I wouldn't say it's necessary. Most people were able to pick it up once they did it a few times, and you don't do more than a small handful of aerobatic flights during primary. Even if you select a pipeline that goes into more advanced aero/BFM/whatever else, you'll be doing things "the Navy way" and it might not match up with what your civilian training taught you.

From what I've seen, having prior flight experience in general will give you a leg up as you progress through the syllabus, but I wouldn't go out of your way to get special aero/spin ratings. Do it because it interests you. The Navy will teach you how to do things their way once you start flying their aircraft.

 

[ShaneThompson99]

If you get airsick, then building a tolerance will probably help, but I wouldn't say it's necessary. Most people were able to pick it up once they did it a few times, and you don't do more than a small handful of aerobatic flights during primary. Even if you select a pipeline that goes into more advanced aero/BFM/whatever else, you'll be doing things "the Navy way" and it might not match up with what your civilian training taught you.

From what I've seen, having prior flight experience in general will give you a leg up as you progress through the syllabus, but I wouldn't go out of your way to get special aero/spin ratings. Do it because it interests you. The Navy will teach you how to do things their way once you start flying their aircraft.

Yeah exactly, I’ve been doing aerobatic because it’s a ton of fun. 4 flights in I actually had realized it would be beneficial in the future, but I’m prepared for a lot of new things to learn and bad habits to break. ??

 

[Meyerkord]

I’ve been doing aerobatic because it’s a ton of fun

I envy your stomach, lol. I always got airsick and it sucked, but it's still a lot of fun

 

[ShaneThompson99]

I envy your stomach, lol. I always got airsick and it sucked, but it's still a lot of fun

Hahaha I still get a little woozy sometimes

 

[Swanee]

Thanks man, I’m getting my aerobatic and spin recovery ratings too. Do you believe that may help? For myself I would say it helped me retain a tolerance of my stomach after doing it a bunch.

Don't go spend money on getting those rating and endorsements unless it's something that you genuinely want to do and you're doing it to have fun, not to think it will give you a leg up in Primary. Prior flight time and ratings can help, but both of the former airline dudes in my primary class didn't make it to earning their wings.

The syllabus is designed to take someone from 0 time in airplanes and turn them into a military pilot.

And for the love of everything holy, if you do get these ratings, don't ever say, "Well in my previous experience we did it...." because no one fucking cares- and you're missing the point that you were wrong.

FWIW I got my glider rating with the soaring club in Pensacola. It was fun, and I still fly sailplanes today.

 

[ShaneThompson99]

Don't go spend money on getting those rating and endorsements unless it's something that you genuinely want to do and you're doing it to have fun, not to think it will give you a leg up in Primary. Prior flight time and ratings can help, but both of the former airline dudes in my primary class didn't make it to earning their wings.

The syllabus is designed to take someone from 0 time in airplanes and turn them into a military pilot.

And for the love of everything holy, if you do get these ratings, don't ever say, "Well in my previous experience we did it...." because no one fucking cares- and you're missing the point that you were wrong.

FWIW I got my glider rating with the soaring club in Pensacola. It was fun, and I still fly sailplanes today.

You got it