On Jan 24, 12:13*pm, wrote:
I glanced in my copy of Hansen's "First Man, The Life of Neil A.
Armstrong" and happened on a passage about the background of the
Apollo pilots charged with landing the LMs on the Moon: six of the
seven chosen were naval aviators
(Armstrong,Conrad,Shepard,Young,Cernan). Only one was US Air Force
(Scott). Deke Slayton hand picked the guys -- and Slayton was Air
Force.

I wonder if there are enough training or experience differences to
have played a role, or if it was an individual talent / skill issue.

Any civilian pilots ever in the US space program?

interesting stat. you could say that 7 out of 10 LM commanders were
Navy
Lovell ( Apollo 13), Gordon ( Apollo 18 - cancelled) were Navy
McDivitt ( Apollo 9) and Stafford ( Apollo 10) were Air Force.

If the commanders flew the LMs why was the second guy always called
the LM pilot?
I am sure there has been plenty of civilian pilots in the shuttle
program but not as pilots.

Harrison Schmitt ( Apollo 17 Lunar module pilot) was a civillian but
to what extent did he help fly the LM?
Is there really anything in common with flying an airplane and an LM?
Terry
PPL ( and aspiring astronaut)