Army Fixed Wing Pilots?

Jeepstuff19

Jeepstuff19

Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2018
Messages
32
Just wondering if anybody is,was, or knows somebody that was a fixed wing pilot in the Army, and what there experience was like?
 
I know a few. All are warrants. They enjoy what they do. Mission set is different than rotary wings, of course. A lot of ferrying people around downrange.
 
Key word is few. Knew a couple junior officers but otherwise all warrants. Don't make a decision regarding the Army (ROTC/Academy) with intentions to fly fixed wing.
 
I had a classmate who did that as a warrant , 20+ years and now flys for Net Jets - best job in the Army in his opinion. Seems like literally all he did was fly. He had some ridiculous number of hours once he retired
 
Jeepstuff19 said:
Just wondering if anybody is,was, or knows somebody that was a fixed wing pilot in the Army, and what there experience was like?
Click to expand...

Life in the Army aviation world is pretty darn good (relatively speaking).

It’s even better if you’re fixed wing IMHO. Missions are generally ISR or VIP (and “regular” folk) transport.
 
GoCubbies said:
Missions are generally ISR or VIP (and “regular” folk) transport.
Click to expand...
Yep, as a "regular folk" myself, I've personally enjoyed that transport. A King Air is not as spacious as a C-130, but at least you're not sharing space with a Cadillac bin and 40 infantry+gear. Army aviators are generally a great group of folks. I'll carefully say that they are very different than AF pilots.
 
I know a USMA graduate (now a Major, waiting on Lt Col) who started out in UH-60's...then to MC/RC-12's (honestly, don't remember the army version) and had his first command there.

Lots of opportunities!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
I drive by Davison Army Airfield twice a day going to and from work. It’s home to the 12th Aviation Battalion which as mentioned has a VIP transport mission. Lots of fixed wing birds going to and fro. They also have rotary wing for big wigs to hop around the MDW.
 
Army fixed wing fly the C12 Prop for the most part. It used to be that rotary wing pilots would switch after a while to fixed wing, Rucker has moved away from that to a Fixed Wing for Life approach. They are now selecting Fixed Wing C12's at flight school, there has been a trend of at least one or two available for commissioned officers every other selection or so.

One thing to consider is the beyond the VIP mission many fixed wing pilots are attached to MI, many will go through MI BOLC after flight school, this is where a bulk of the fixed wing fly.

Having two sons that branched Army Aviation, make sure you do some research as to what the difference is between your duties as an aviation officer and that of the warrants, Army aviation is nothing like the other services, a commissioned officer will be in staff much earlier and will have a more leadership role sooner then the other branches. That also means you will not fly as much as the warrants after a couple years at your unit. You will have much more responsibility for planning and training in the S Shop sooner then you might think. Aviation is a great branch but can also be just as frustrating as any other branch, just know what your getting into and how the branch works so you go in with eyes wide open.
 
Mod Note:
Moving this thread to the life after the academy forum for more exposure.
 
Thanks for the response's! And yes @Jcleppe I am currently doing a-ton of research on this branch as well as the Air Defense Artillery branch (ADA) side of things. Not sure which tbh, might make another thread to see if anyone has any experience with ADA and to give any insight.
 
My personally Army flying experience was all RW (TH-55, UH-1, U/MH-60, MD-500, MI-17), but I know a bunch of Army FW pilots. I was offered the C-23 “quick course” with the Army National Guard but turned it down as it would have meant going back on deployment. Personally I wouldn’t have minded but my family situation at the time wouldn’t have made it practical.
I do non-military FW flying now (international cargo).
 
Last edited:
UHBlackhawk said:
My personally Army flying experience was all RW (TH-55, UH-1, U/MH-60, MD-500, MI-17)
Click to expand...

MI-17? That's unique! Was that training Afghani Air Force? I just saw the article about the two MI-17's Fort Rucker acquired, and the corruption conviction that followed a few years ago-- crazy story.
 
Tbpxece said:
MI-17? That's unique! Was that training Afghani Air Force? I just saw the article about the two MI-17's Fort Rucker acquired, and the corruption conviction that followed a few years ago-- crazy story.
Click to expand...
No. It was just off the wall. In the early 1990’s I was based in Africa as an UNMO. My commander was a Russian Navy LTC (they use the same ranks as the Army), and the helicopter support was Russian MI-17s. They are a little more “lax” with rules than the US and he worked it out that I could occasionally fly with the Russians. I tracked the time, got the Russian commander to sign a memo that I had flown it, and when I came back Ft Rucker agreed to add the time to my flight records.
 
UHBlackhawk said:
No. It was just off the wall. In the early 1990’s I was based in Africa as an UNMO. My commander was a Russian Navy LTC (they use the same ranks as the Army), and the helicopter support was Russian MI-17s. They are a little more “lax” with rules than the US and he worked it out that I could occasionally fly with the Russians. I tracked the time, got the Russian commander to sign a memo that I had flown it, and when I came back Ft Rucker agreed to add the time to my flight records.
Click to expand...
Good deal, sir. Thanks for the story! What an experience.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top