Ed Rasimus wrote:
wrote:

In my Father's era (late 50's) no college degree was required for the
USAF Aviation Cadet program. Although he lacked a college degree,
he was still sharp as a tack and as many a college educated test pilot
or rip snortin' WW2 or Korea-era ace, or Vietnamese ground pounder
found out, he was one_bad_sumbitch in the air -- sheepskin or no.

Lots of folks have griped over the years about the college graduate
requirement, but the fact is that modern aircraft (and the integrated
weapons system in which they operate) are very complex and the degree
offers an indication that the individual will be able to deal with the
complexity. Additionally, there are more than enough candidates who
meet the criteria that it doesn't need to be modified.

Not saying that the criteria needs to be modified (I have both 2-year
and a 4-year degrees and agree that a college education trains one
to think at a deeper level) but I think (as did my ol' man) that a
college education is often over-rated.

For example, with just a high school education (and a few semesters
of higher education at the Univ. of Minnesota) his ability to quickly
perform mathematical computations in his head exceeded mine and
he would have no difficulty whatsoever checking out in a modern F-18
or F-15.

I was brought up in the '60's and 70's when experimental, newfangled
methods of education were just cranking up in our public school system
while your generation was raised in the more structured, "old
fashioned" era of "Reading, Writing and Arithmetic." No wonder his
math skills were superior to mine!

No doubt that you, Walt BJ, my ol' man or any other self-respecting
fighter pilot (as opposed to "pilot who flew fighters") wouldn't scoff
at what's available in civilian programs.

I imagine you can find a lot of training in aerobatics, modern
instrument flying, and even some formation. I don't know of many
civilian programs who operate supersonic aircraft, fly a reasonable
air/air introduction (T-6 and T-34 civilian programs aren't
comparable), and I don't know anyplace outside the military that lets
you drop bombs.

Exactly right.

You can certainly prepare yourself for an excellent career in the
airlines or general aviation with the great civilian
schools---provided you've got a pretty healthy bank account.

Based on my experience dealing with these "great civilian schools"
(FlightSafety, for example), one can often receive a superior
education in general aviation by going to the lesser known,
"Ma & Pa" flight schools. Don't pay any attention to the slick,
4-color ad copies and press clippings of those well-known GA flight
schools such as Embry Riddle, FlightSafety, American Failures er'
Flyers etc. For the most part, they're simply over-priced country
clubs interested in churning out quantity rather than quality.

I think if he were still alive today, the notion of women flying combat
would make him go "straight up and break left" and he'd spit on the
current crop of fighter pilots not because they aren't any good, but
because of political correctness.

There are some warriors around. Even today. Some of them are even
women.

Women warriors such as? Do you really believe what you just wrote?

-Mike Marron