Initial Flight Training

[Humey]

Well, he was led to believe he needed Boldface, OPS limits and emergency procedures memorized and would be tested on the first day like it was for IFT. He has talked to others in a class or two ahead of him that have said you don’t need those memorized until day 1 of part 2 after the Academic weeks so he feels way better to start Success week tomorrow. As far as Christmas break, I hope you’re right but he hasn’t been told how much time off he will get yet for Christmas break.

possibly, but my son went through UPT 2018-2019, no such thing happened on day one. People post all the time about trying to get the boldface info before going to UPT so that they can have it memorized by day 1. Every response i have ever read it is not to bother because things get modified and what you need to learn will be given out when you get there. The thing about UPT is that all of the information is given out. Its a matter of sucking in the information and spitting it out.

 

[raimius]

I will be honest and say that its is hard to believe that flight school is harder than USAFA. My son was a 3.0 GPA student at best in college and high school and never had a chance to go to USAFA. My son aced the flight academics and he isn't the type of person who spends hours studying. He also did well during flying but he had the advantage of his college major being professional flight so he came in with fight hours. Its hard for some people, not because its too hard but rather they don't have a feel for flying. They can pretty much teach anyone to fly, but some people have skills they were born with that allows them to be better pilot.

It is a LOT of info in a short period of time. USAFA is not easy, but the volume over time is less than UPT.
(Your son probably would have found college easier, if he had taken 1/3rd of the classes already!...which is about what I'd say having a commercial/cfi would be like entering UPT)

 

[mascara_mom]

This thread is soooooooooooo spot on with everything I am reading. My AFROTC son had his PPL, so did not have to go to IFT.
I had a friend who's son dropped UPT just a few flights after his dollar ride. He did not care for flying at all.

UPT is going to have tons of struggles. I think these LT's are in shock with that as they are so smart, driven, possibly "learning" had come kind of easy, and all of a sudden it's like hitting a brick wall......CLIMB IT!!!! My son is a very calm person and has never shown us stress......until UPT. The academics were not bad. Lots of memorization. Went on the dollar ride and was air sick at the end because they were maneuvering and not just fly straight. Poor kid had to go in the Barany chair 3x to overcome it. But he wanted to fly, so didn't quit but the fighter path was no longer in his thoughts. He did his share of hooking a ride, most all do. But you learn, overcome and perfect it!

My son is doing his final check ride and is off to his base after SERE to be a Moose Driver. After UPT struggles he went T-1, it was so much more relaxed. Now at Altus, it's even MORE relaxed. There is a reason for the IFT/UPT madness.

All the best to the ones in IFT/UPT, starting this journey. It does get better after those wings are pinned.