Maximum Height

[TroyWarrior]

Does anyone know what the maximum height to join the navy is? I know for aviation its 78"; is it 78", 80", or higher for non-aviation.

 

[snake020]

Without looking at the regs, there is an Ensign at my schoolhouse that is 6'10". He played basketball at the boat school.

 

[JWL]

I thought 6'10" would be way too tall for any job in the military. How would such a person serve on ship, especially subs?

Speaking of height, would 6'4" or 6'5" be too tall to fit into the cockpit of an F-18 or F-22? I know that standards depend on how one fits in the cockpit regardless of height.

But, nevertheless, is a 6'5" pretty much unheard of for a fighter pilot? I've heard that someone that tall and who wants aviation may have a better shot with helos? True?

 

[Rockriver]

A search for "anthropometric measurements naval aviation" produced the following results. While the links may not include the most current data, I think they will give you an overview of the measurement process, familiarize you with terminology, and help you develop some good questions to ask an officer recruiter. It's not all just about height.

David Robinson entered the Navy at 7'1", but he had some unique talents.

https://www.thebalance.com/naval-aviation-pilot-qualification-3356606
https://www.netc.navy.mil/nascweb/anthro_/index.htm
http://www.netc.navy.mil/nascweb/anthro_/files/3710.9D.pdf

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I thought 6'10" would be way too tall for any job in the military. How would such a person serve on ship, especially subs?

Speaking of height, would 6'4" or 6'5" be too tall to fit into the cockpit of an F-18 or F-22? I know that standards depend on how one fits in the cockpit regardless of height.

But, nevertheless, is a 6'5" pretty much unheard of for a fighter pilot? I've heard that someone that tall and who wants aviation may have a better shot with helos? True?

Did you ask your OR this question?

 

[nugget81]

I know of at least three dudes that are 6'5" or taller that all fly F/A-18s or F-35s. Not sure how they do it as I'm 6'2" and I barely fit.

 

[Rockriver]

With really tall guys I think it is all about sitting height. Maybe if they're low, they're good to go. I am 6'1", but sit tall in the saddle. The first time I flew a Phantom I thought the seat adjustment was broken because I couldn't get low enough to reach back over my head and grab the upper ejection handle. As long as I flew that airplane I never even considered the upper handle as an viable option because I couldn't have pulled it without leaning forward. I suspect that if I had made an issue of it at that point in my training, flight surgeons would have gotten involved and I would have found myself flying something with a roomier cockpit. I just kept my mouth shut.

 

[Griz882]

I have a buddy who was the opposite...quite short. I think he must have been the most confident guy in flight school because he knew could only end up in one ship, the AH-1!

 

[JWL]

Jim Wetherbee was the tallest astronaut at 6'4" . I read that he flew the F-18 prior to his selection as an astronaut candidate. However, this was back in the 80s. I do not know if standards and/or cockpit designs were different back then.

 

[JWL]

A search for "anthropometric measurements naval aviation" produced the following results. While the links may not include the most current data, I think they will give you an overview of the measurement process, familiarize you with terminology, and help you develop some good questions to ask an officer recruiter. It's not all just about height.

David Robinson entered the Navy at 7'1", but he had some unique talents.

https://www.thebalance.com/naval-aviation-pilot-qualification-3356606
https://www.netc.navy.mil/nascweb/anthro_/index.htm
http://www.netc.navy.mil/nascweb/anthro_/files/3710.9D.pdf

The firs link is helpful. It appears that above 6'2", one would generally have a hard time fitting into a fighter. When the document states that candidates over a certain height could probably be candidates for "props", does that mean helicopters as well as other turboprop craft? I assume that there is more room in a turbop craft than a fighter?

 

[cookie_monster]

I hope I can fly the "strike" pipeline being 6'3"...

 

[Uncle Fester]

I assume that there is more room in a turbop craft than a fighter?

No; it's that props don't have ejection seats that would chop off your legs in an ejection if they're too long.

 

[JWL]

I hope I can fly the "strike" pipeline being 6'3"...

Strike is F 18?

What have you heard from an OR or any other reliable source about the possibility of someone your height getting fighters (of course, that's assuming all other qualifications such as eyesight, academics, etc have been met)?

Thanks.

Thanks.

 

[JWL]

[QUOTI see="Uncle Fester, post: 870785, member: 14483"]No; it's that props don't have ejection seats that would chop off your legs in an ejection if they're too long.[/QUOTE]
Ahh..I see..thanks.

 

[Lui]

Navy Standards
"
3. Height waivers for applicants above 80 inches or below 57 inches are not authorized.
4. Height eligibility will be based on the height documented on the MEPS physical. Rounding up to the next whole inch is not authorized"

Hope this helps.