Changing platforms once Active Duty
Hey everybody!
I wondered if anyone has insight into whether it's possible/how common it is for an active duty pilot to switch platforms from heavies to fighters...I'm guessing that if it's possible, it's something that happens once you're pretty well established as a pilot?
Thank you!
William M
Hey William. While Air Force pilots do have the opportunity to swap airplanes from time to time, the transition you're talking about is fairly rare. The main reason is that a heavy pilot does not require T-38 (fighter) training before heading off to learn their specific airframe (C-130, C-15, KC-135, etc). So in order for that person to switch over to fighters, they would have to go back through a flight school program to successfully complete T-38 (soon to be T-7) training. Several people I've known in my career who were heavy pilots attended Test Pilot school, and they were able to fly all kinds of aircraft, to include fighters! But it would be uncommon for a heavy pilot to permanently swap to a fighter aircraft in the middle of their Active Duty career.
Once you're commitment to the Active Duty Air Force is up, there's absolutely nothing stopping you from applying to any/all squadrons regardless of what you flew...as long as you're a rated pilot you're eligible! Each hiring cycle, squadrons typically have a Transition Course (TX Course) available for their rated hires. So if you're a total bada$$ heavy pilot looking to get out of Active Duty and switch to the ANG/AFRC...put those networking skills to use and sell the squadron on why you'd be the best/perfect/long-time fighter pilot fit to their position vacancy!
SMAX That makes a lot of sense that the training doesn't line up. I'm glad to have that info in my back pocket. Thank you so much!
William, the only transition I have seen in AD is the opposite direction: fighters to heavies. Some people back in the day who flew A-10s in units that were getting closed were offered C-17 slots. So exceedingly rare.
A permutation, however, is that there are a lot of airlift/tanker pilots who go back to UPT to teach in the T-38. So kind of a fighter-esque transition. How that looks in the future with UPT 2.5 grads (only T-6 experience) is TBD.
Smack-Meier got it, thanks!
Smack-Meier Valid and great point. I forgot about that opportunity!
Smack-Meier Yeah i flew with several former Hawg drivers when I was a C-17 load they had some awesome story to tell. We also got a lot of guys who didn't pass IFF/B-courses. I guess they still wanted the Hud and stick #fighterofAMC
