too old?

[105viking]

how old is too old to become an aviator in the armed forces?

additionally, would a 3000 hour civilian ATP stand any better chance of getting a flying position over somebody who is not a pilot?

regards,
105viking

 

[Draginass]

1. It was 27 1/2 a few years ago. It may have changed slightly.

2. Probably not. More interested in you education and leadership qualitites than your number of flying hours. However, you would smoke through flight screening and probalby UPT, assuming you could learn jets and formation. The guys I knew in UPT that had lots of civil time did very well at UPT. Interestingly enough, most asked for heavy transports, vice fighters.

 

[pilotyip]

Navy Application

If I remember right back in the early 70's you lost points on the Navy application if you had more than a private ticket. But you might make that up with knowledge gained in the aviation field. I had about 30 hrs when I went into the Navy in 1965, had soled, that was about it. On my first flight I made what I thought was a pretty good landing , my IP chewed me out royally, about being a GD civilian and don't you ever land an airplane like that again, my mistake I flared, and landed in the first 1,000', Back then it was set a nose attitue, control descent with power and drive it into the ground in the first 500' I never flared another landing until I started flying the P-3. So you made have to unlearn some flying habits if you into military flying. Also check other military posts on this board they adress, when you join the miltary you do jon to fly, in 11 years of active duty I only had around 2800 hours, 900 of that in 6 months of flying Vietnam. You join to serve your country.

 

[Vinman]

I can give you some limited info on my position so far. I am going to be 30 in Feb and will be finishing up Officer Training School (OTS) with the USAF in a little under 2 weeks. I will then need to start Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) prior to my 30th. I have about 3800 hrs and an ATP. Both helped my blow away the tests that are required to get a pilot slot coming in. As far as how it will help me in UPT, I don't know. I kind of have a feeling, like previously stated, that I will have to unlearn some things, and I will also have to learn the "military" way of doing things. Best of luck in what you decide.