Fighter slot in the Air Force?

[Napk1ns]

I'm aware the numbers vary depending on the needs of the airforce but I'm just curious about the average. How many fighter slots are given out in each class now? And how different do you all think the numbers are going to be later on in the 2020s?

 

[raimius]

Usually, about 6-8 out of a ~30 student class goes to T-38s. T-38 drops have varied from 0 to 6 fighter slots over the past decade. I'd say a rough average would be 2-3 fighters, 2-3 FAIPs, and a couple heavy/bomber/random drops.

 

[Stealth_81]

It really does vary a lot over time, and there are so many influences on it that no one can really even try to project what the later 2020s will look like. Even within a year group or from class to class the drop can be incredibly different.

This past year has seen classes that got 4 or 5 fighters out of a class of 25 when things were going strong. Other classes got their drops right after the pipeline slowed down and there were no fighters dropped. I suppose over time I would say the average for the past ten years has been 2-3 fighters per class. But as I said, there is a huge variance from class to class. Right now the fighter drops have slowed because the Formal Training Units are backed up so badly that they stopped dropping fighters so they can clear out the pipeline. The fighter pilot shortage has hit the FTU and they are only getting about half of the requested instructors from each VML.

Stealth_81

 

[Napk1ns]

It really does vary a lot over time, and there are so many influences on it that no one can really even try to project what the later 2020s will look like. Even within a year group or from class to class the drop can be incredibly different.

This past year has seen classes that got 4 or 5 fighters out of a class of 25 when things were going strong. Other classes got their drops right after the pipeline slowed down and there were no fighters dropped. I suppose over time I would say the average for the past ten years has been 2-3 fighters per class. But as I said, there is a huge variance from class to class. Right now the fighter drops have slowed because the Formal Training Units are backed up so badly that they stopped dropping fighters so they can clear out the pipeline. The fighter pilot shortage has hit the FTU and they are only getting about half of the requested instructors from each VML.

Stealth_81

Wow I did not know that, thank you for that information. 2~3 people seems like a fair number, especially when new fighter pilots aren't as in demand. Guess I'll have to study up extra hard during training.

 

[Napk1ns]

Usually, about 6-8 out of a ~30 student class goes to T-38s. T-38 drops have varied from 0 to 6 fighter slots over the past decade. I'd say a rough average would be 2-3 fighters, 2-3 FAIPs, and a couple heavy/bomber/random drops.

That seems great since I'd be more than happy to fly bombers and heavies. Thanks for the information

 

[Humey]

My son graduated UPT in August. There are about 18 students in each class but two classes graduate at the same time although they start about two weeks apart. My sons T-38 class had 5 students. One guy got the A-10 although he was Guard so he was gettingit no matter what. Two others including my son got a B-52 and 2 others got transports of some kind. The other class that graduated also had about 5 students in the T-38. Three got fighters although one was Guard and the other two got transports. The following classes that graduated also average about 3-4 fighter pilots in each class. The other 13 students in each class fly the T-1 and they dont get fighters

 

[Napk1ns]

My son graduated UPT in August. There are about 18 students in each class but two classes graduate at the same time although they start about two weeks apart. My sons T-38 class had 5 students. One guy got the A-10 although he was Guard so he was gettingit no matter what. Two others including my son got a B-52 and 2 others got transports of some kind. The other class that graduated also had about 5 students in the T-38. Three got fighters although one was Guard and the other two got transports. The following classes that graduated also average about 3-4 fighter pilots in each class. The other 13 students in each class fly the T-1 and they dont get fighters

Sounds reasonable. I'll try getting guard to increase my chances.

 

[Stealth_81]

Sounds reasonable. I'll try getting guard to increase my chances.

That's not how it works. The National Guard and Reserve students in UPT are from a different pipeline. They are hired directly by the unit and sent to UPT knowing they will fly the aircraft that the unit flies.

Your previous posts indicate that you are a HS student looking at Academy and ROTC possibilities so you would compete for a flight slot with your classmates and then get sent to UPT and have to compete there again for the top spots in the class.

Stealth_81

 

[Humey]

Yes to go Guard, you must have graduated college and not taken Rotc as that will make you AD. However, you can do Rotc and do reserve. Not sure about Reserve, but I think you can also apply to a Reserve unit that flies the plane you want. It is up to them to accept you or not

 

[Stealth_81]

Yes to go Guard, you must have graduated college and not taken Rotc as that will make you AD. However, you can do Rotc and do reserve. Not sure about Reserve, but I think you can also apply to a Reserve unit that flies the plane you want. It is up to them to accept you or not

There may be a way to apply to Reserve Units from ROTC. However, the number is incredibly small. As an example, there are 17 Guard units that fly the F-16 in the US, but only 2 Reserve units that do. In my son's three years at Homestead, they only hired 2 new pilots for UPT.

Stealth_81

 

[Humey]

There may be a way to apply to Reserve Units from ROTC. However, the number is incredibly small. As an example, there are 17 Guard units that fly the F-16 in the US, but only 2 Reserve units that do. In my son's three years at Homestead, they only hired 2 new pilots for UPT.

Stealth_81

There is, my son's friend at AFRotc went reserve after commissioning.. He is from Indiana and will be doing reserve duty in Indiana. It really worked out for him althought it was the KC-135 and so maybe it was easier than trying to fly fighters.

 

[Tbpxece]

Yes to go Guard, you must have graduated college and not taken Rotc as that will make you AD. However, you can do Rotc and do reserve. Not sure about Reserve, but I think you can also apply to a Reserve unit that flies the plane you want. It is up to them to accept you or not

ANG and AFR members can complete AFROTC and simultaneously maintain their ANG/AFR membership, earning their choice of AD, ANG, or AFR commission upon completion.

See AFMAN 36-2032, para. 6.5.2.2.1 through 6.5.2.2.3.