I was finally able to find the article in the Navy Times from 3 1/2 years ago. I know that they are a bit old but imagine they have not changed that drastically. The biggest variable would be S-3's going away. They only had numbers for the total number of aviation rated officers in each community so I did the basic math and used standard crew numbers (Prowler had around 750 total, 25% being pilots = 188 pilots). I know that it is a bit of a rough number but I found that helo pilots accounted for about 42% of all pilots in the Navy and about 29% of all NA's and NFO's. So, it is somewhere in between the 25% I thought (it was a total aviation officer number that I saw) and the 60-80% that some people were saying.
With the S-3's going away, P-3's contracting and helos expanding, I can see how the number will rise in the next few years. I would love to see the projected numbers for the next 5 years. I am still a little wary of 60% but I can see how it can happen. An interesting side note related to this, does anyone realize how few helo Admirals there are in the Navy? Not too many, and definitely not that many when compared to their percentage of total pilots. It will be interesting to see if and when that changes.
I can post the numbers I used if people want.
With the S-3's going away, P-3's contracting and helos expanding, I can see how the number will rise in the next few years. I would love to see the projected numbers for the next 5 years. I am still a little wary of 60% but I can see how it can happen. An interesting side note related to this, does anyone realize how few helo Admirals there are in the Navy? Not too many, and definitely not that many when compared to their percentage of total pilots. It will be interesting to see if and when that changes.
I can post the numbers I used if people want.
:icon_smil .. but MAN WAS IT FUN TO BE THERE!!!!! No thrill in the world like being at a sporting event like college basketball championships. Whether you were a jock, a stoner, a book nerd... that night... you were outside partying, going nuts!!!Thousands and thousands of kids. Its a sight I will never see again! Sad... Go Terps 
