AZFlyer

Guys thanks so much for all the great feedback.

By the sounds of it, I'm guessing I would end up being okay after a few rides.

Now if I could convince you guys to humor me with a few more questions.

What is the actual day to day lifestyle like of a Mil pilot? Obviously the flying will be different between heavy and fighter types, but are you doing grueling training missions on a very regular basis or are there opportunities for down time/free time/recreation?

I ask because I have this notion in my head that all military jobs (grunt to pilot) involve long difficult days, short nights with poor sleep, 7 days a week! (Maybe I've watched too many movies!)

And if it makes a difference, flying Navy is my first choice, if the cards fall just right.

edit: Are there ever times/places where civilians that are interested in pursuing this career can actually meet and speak to current pilots?

bunk22

I never got airsick back in training...to the point where I puked that is. I did get queasy one hop in the T-2C Buckeye, the OCF flight. Kinda crazy so it got to me. Went on to fly straight and level (C-2A's) for 8.5 years. Been instructing in Navy primary for a year and have yet to have a student puke. It's not like the aero or g's (3-4) are tough though...loops, 1/2 cuban eights, immelman, etc so that might be the reason. I've had a few come close during aileron rolls and I sometimes feel it after 5 or 6 in a row. I did get a little out of whack on my NATOPS OCF flight in the T-34 but got used to very quickly. Most studs do the same. Those that don't may have to spend some time in the spin and puke. If that doesn't help and whatever else the doc offers, the student could be NPQ'ed for flight training.

GunnF16

FWIW, most people fair better when they are the ones who make the jet do loops versus being a passenger during the acro... I've had a few T-37 flights riding along as the instructor where I told the Stud to settle down for a sec. If it's a 1.3 of constant overcontrolling stick movements, it can make anyone feel bad. The vestibular system can only take so much.

Deuce130

Only time I got sick in Tweets was on my 4th or 5th flight, and it didn't happen until I was in the pattern. Hot day in Oklahoma, gusty winds, maybe feeling the affects of the previous contact stuff, plus lots of yanking in the pattern. I held on a little too long and puked in the mask, causing lots of high speed projectile vomit to squirt out the sides of my mask. Kinda funny. Next time was about 8 years later, and after 2500 hours or so in the Herc, I got sick during a night low level in the mountains while I was riding in the back. Very embarrasing for the IP puking in the trash can while the loadmasters, radio operator, and 1LT copilot pointed and laughed!

Cooperd0g

The day to day lifestyle depends on a wide variety of factors: service, aircraft type, sea/shore duty rotation (Navy anyway), operational squadron vs. training squadron, etc. It just goes on. There is no typical day for a military pilot. There may be a typical day for me at my current job or another guy at his current job, but I would say the one constant is that you will actually spend more time in front of a stupid computer than you do flying (at least for fighters). All the brief prep, debrief, lectures, etc.

Time off will depend on optempo. At my school where I'm an instructor I will work 14 hour days 6 days a week during exercises. Non major exercise months can be pretty chill, but sometimes we have other commitments as well. This week, I will probably be gone by 3pm every day. Tough to say.

If you want to talk to an active duty military pilot you have to meet one. You can't go to a recruiter because they won't know crap about it. And if you do meet one and talk to him, he know a lot about his area of flying and, depending on how experienced he is, he will know some of other communities and services.