User:Fight0rPil0t/Fighter Pilot (Military Aviator)

See Fighter pilot

A fighter pilot is a military aviator who is trained to fly fighter aircraft and be combat –ready in various roles, depending on the airframe they fly. Some fighter aircraft are manufactured specifically for air-to-air combat (engaging other aircraft), but most are ‘multirole’ capable (able to engage and carry ordnance for both air and ground targets).

Recruitment Becoming a fighter pilot in any air force is a long and difficult process. The candidate must first become an officer in the military, then proceed through exams and screenings, finish two years of pilot training, and ultimately being posted to a squadron in the military.

Becoming an officer First off, the candidate must become an officer in the military. Often referred to as ‘BMT’, Basic Military Training will shift and shape an individual from civilian life into the military life. Physical fitness, discipline, leadership, courage, and teamwork are extensively covered within BMT. After completing BMT and becoming a military officer, contracts are usually signed by candidate to serve in the military for a certain number of given years (depending on the government’s regulations and rules).

Physical, intellectual, and psychological testing After becoming an officer in the military, the individual must undergo several screenings and tests before being approved for pilot training. These tests include: physical, intellectual, and psychological examinations that show if the officer is suitable and has the appropriate capabilities, as seen by the recruiters and government standards, to successfully finish pilot training.

Aptitude tests are a big part of the testing process in potential fighter pilots. Officers are examined how quickly and efficiently they can think and respond through a series of aptitude tests including: verbal, spatial, and problem-solving questions.

Health is a huge factor for becoming a fighter pilot. An officer must have no history of any allergies or diseases of any sort, and must have no biological problems. Special aeromedical examinations are done to determine if an officer is medically suited to operate high performance aircraft.

G-force Physical fitness is an important requirement for fighter pilots due to the high levels of physical strain that they experience during flight, known as g-force. Modern fighter aircraft pull around 7-12 G’s, meaning that fighter pilots experiences forces that can make them feel 7-12 times their own weight. What happens when pulling high g-forces is that blood from the head moves down to the lower extremities, leaving a lack of oxygen in the brain which can lead to many effects like tunnel vision and ultimately G-LOC (G-induced loss of consciousness). This makes it difficult for any human to breathe or function which is why fighter pilots are trained to use the ‘Anti G Straining Maneuver’ (AGSM) to prevent from going into G-LOC. The AGSM consists of flexing the legs and lower body to keep the blood in the head. The AGSM is often referred to as the ‘hick maneuver’ because of thee sound the pilot makes when straining for the AGSM. Fighter pilots also wear what is called a ‘G-suit’. The G-suit is very tight and it wraps around the lower torso and legs of the pilot. Under G-loading, the suit inflates squeezing the pilot’s lower extremities to help keep the blood from pooling in the legs, like the AGSM. The G-suit enables a pilot to increase their G-tolerance by 1G and ultimately allows them to sustain higher G’s for longer periods of time without excessive physical fatigue. Eyesight is often talked about and it is a high expectation for every fighter pilot to have perfect or better vision. The advances and research in aeromedical industry have approved the correction of vision for officers who do not naturally meet the vision standards required by fighter pilots, allowing flexibility for more individuals. Vision correction was not previously allowed because it was new, still under experimentation, and aeromedical officials did not know how ‘corrected eyes’ would deal under the effect of g-forces or g-loading.

Pilot Training An officer entering pilot training does not need to have any prior flying experience to begin pilot training in the military. The military will train an individual to become a fully capable military aviator from scratch. Once a military officer begins pilot training, he is referred to as a ‘student’ again, or a trainee. There are several phases in military pilot training starting from the basics in a single-prop engine airplane to conducting ‘BFM’ (basic fighter maneuvers) in a jet trainer. Each phase of pilot training is critical and demanding for students. The last phase of pilot training is referred to as ‘track’, meaning a placement on a certain airframe to begin to specialize on it like: jet trainer leading into fighter pilot training. In order to get the ‘fighter track’ students must score the highest in their class in the previous phases of pilot training. There are other ‘tracks’ that lead to helicopter training and multi-engine aircraft training. Pilot training takes about 2 years, which then the student earns their ‘wings’ and military pilot’s license upon graduating. The pilot is then posted to their squadron and conducts further training with the airframe they now fly.

Combat Tactics Fighter pilots employ tactics every single mission they fly, whether just for training or on deployment. Tactics can be centered on both air and ground targets. Although the details of tactics are classified by militaries around the world, the general concepts have been publicized. Tactics can be split up into two groups: offensive and defensive.

Offensive tactics are employed to defeat the enemy. In the 21st century, air-to-air combat is a rare encounter, but if come upon ‘BVR’ combat is the first step to an air-to-air engagement. ‘BVR’ or ‘Beyond Visual Range’ combat is a tactic that enables a pilot to engage targets that are visible on radar but not to the naked eye. The weapons used in BVR combat are medium-long range air-to-air missiles that contain different types of high-end homing or navigation guidance systems. BVR combat does not require a pilot to perform high G maneuvers unless fired upon by the enemy (also BVR). ‘Dogfights’ or within visual range combat is a close method of air-to-air combat. The key to dogfights are to outperform the enemy in a range of ‘ACM’s (Air Combat Maneuvers). Position and timing are essential to performing the correct ‘ACM’s to get behind the enemy. Dogfights require high G maneuvering and endurance from the pilot. It is important for the pilot to stay aware of where the enemy is at all times, as a common saying says “lose sight, lose fight.” Some air combat maneuvers: - Split S - Immelmann turn - Chandelle - Pugachev’s Cobra

Defensive Tactics are employed to get away from the enemy or reverse roles while under attack. The primary way to avoid missiles or tracking is to maneuver the aircraft out of it. Other ways of avoiding threats are by using: electronic countermeasures, flares, and chaff. Moving into the 21st century defensive tactics might change dramatically as 5th generation fighter aircraft are being equipped with stealth capabilities, making them extremely hard to detect by radar. Deployment Fighter pilots are combat-ready and fully trained to engage various targets but not all fighter pilots are deployed to combat theatres and conflicts. Fighter pilots train regularly employing new skills and methods to keep their combat capabilities at a high level. In the 21st century fighter pilots are mainly used to provide ‘CAS’ (close air support) to the army and engage ground targets. Aside from ‘CAS’, fighter pilots can fulfill many types of roles like: intercept, fighter sweep, escort, ground attack, close air support, and others. In most cases if fighter pilots are not deployed on operation, they are on standby defending the air space of a particular area.