Navy vs Air Force

[alwyn2nd]

Ryan-90

Each service has it good and bad points. AF only mission is air power period. It doesn't sail ships and is not concerned in manning submarines. AF has always delivered more ordinance on the enemy and has more air kills than the Navy in the last 30 years. Hell, thats the AF job. When the AF needs Navy assistance, the theatre Air Component Commander who is always an AF General, will ask. The Navy's primary job is protecting the sea lanes and assisting the AF when needed with airpower.

This may not concern you but the break down on aircraft initial assignments out of flight school is: AF 25% fighter aircraft (F-22A, F-16D, F-15C, F-15D, A-10C) 70% tanker/transport/bomber/gunships, 5% helicopter. In fact you must volunteer for a helicopter assignment if you really want one.

The Navy assigns 25% strike (F/A-18C/D, F/A-18E/F, EA-6B) 25% other fixed wing, 50%HELICOPTER. Play the odds if you don't want to fly helos. If you do, definitely go Navy, Marines or Army.


Why not do both. The AF, Navy, USMC have a pilot exchange program that started back in the 1950s for active duty pilots. It involves about 30 + pilots every year. The Navy has qualified 100s of AF fighter pilots on carrier operations through the years. The AF fighter jocks get the opportunity to qualify on the F/A-18 and pull one workup and one sea tour. They will get their 100 or so day/night traps and earn the Navy's respect on being a hooker.

It's unfortunate the Navy has run out of funds to truely modernize their tactical air fleet with stealth technology and supercruise performance. The Navy must split there funding between surface ships, submarines and aircraft. That being said, the Navy will make do with the Super Hornet for the next 20 + yrs and, accomplish their mission. The F-35 will never out perform the F-22 when it comes on board the Navy.

Even though the AF exchange fighter pilots call their time flying off the boat as an Air Force Appreciation Tour, they can take credit in understanding the true hardship of Naval air and their aircraft.

If I had my option on flying for either services, I would work my butt off for a F-22A assignment as an Air Force pilot with one tour as an exchange pilot with the Navy. One tour on the boat will be about all the excitment I would need to experience Naval air.

With the AF, you have a better chance on dropping more bombs on the enemy and air kills, if flying fighters in combat is your dream.

 

[Harrier Dude]

Ryan-90

Each service has it good and bad points. AF only mission is air power period. It doesn't sail ships and is not concerned in manning submarines. AF has always delivered more ordinance on the enemy and has more air kills than the Navy in the last 30 years. Hell, thats the AF job. When the AF needs Navy assistance, the theatre Air Component Commander who is always an AF General, will ask. The Navy's primary job is protecting the sea lanes and assisting the AF when needed with airpower.

This may not concern you but the break down on aircraft initial assignments out of flight school is: AF 25% fighter aircraft (F-22A, F-16D, F-15C, F-15D, A-10C) 70% tanker/transport/bomber/gunships, 5% helicopter. In fact you must volunteer for a helicopter assignment if you really want one.

The Navy assigns 25% strike (F/A-18C/D, F/A-18E/F, EA-6B) 25% other fixed wing, 50%HELICOPTER. Play the odds if you don't want to fly helos. If you do, definitely go Navy, Marines or Army.


Why not do both. The AF, Navy, USMC have a pilot exchange program that started back in the 1950s for active duty pilots. It involves about 30 + pilots every year. The Navy has qualified 100s of AF fighter pilots on carrier operations through the years. The AF fighter jocks get the opportunity to qualify on the F/A-18 and pull one workup and one sea tour. They will get their 100 or so day/night traps and earn the Navy's respect on being a hooker.

It's unfortunate the Navy has run out of funds to truely modernize their tactical air fleet with stealth technology and supercruise performance. The Navy must split there funding between surface ships, submarines and aircraft. That being said, the Navy will make do with the Super Hornet for the next 20 + yrs and, accomplish their mission. The F-35 will never out perform the F-22 when it comes on board the Navy.

Even though the AF exchange fighter pilots call their time flying off the boat as an Air Force Appreciation Tour, they can take credit in understanding the true hardship of Naval air and their aircraft.

If I had my option on flying for either services, I would work my butt off for a F-22A assignment as an Air Force pilot with one tour as an exchange pilot with the Navy. One tour on the boat will be about all the excitment I would need to experience Naval air.

With the AF, you have a better chance on dropping more bombs on the enemy and air kills, if flying fighters in combat is your dream.

What, pray tell, is your experience level, service, and background information?

Your profile is kind of thin (i.e. non-existent), but you sure seem to know a lot about the virtues of both services.

 

[phrogpilot73]

What, pray tell, is your experience level, service, and background information?

Your profile is kind of thin (i.e. non-existent), but you sure seem to know a lot about the virtues of both services.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[NozeMan]

Just look at his post history. The only time he speaks up are threads that compare Navy vs. AF.....and I don't see credentials. I am curious to see if he has some sort of experience or expertise in the area.

 

[Harrier Dude]

Just look at his post history. The only time he speaks up is to criticize any move by Naval Aviation.....and I don't see credentials.

There's nothing inherently wrong with criticizing Naval Aviation. If somebody with experience, like HuggyU2 or Hacker, makes an informed criticism of something we do or have done, I can respect that and even learn something from it. If it's a kid who's watched every show on Discovery channel and wants to give his .02, then I'll have a different reaction.

I'm just curious as to which catagory this guy belongs to. What have you been doing these last 10 or so years? Flying aircraft in defense of our nation, no matter what kind or in which service? Or beating off to the ladies underwear section of the JC Penny catalouge?

 

[NozeMan]

There's nothing inherently wrong with criticizing Naval Aviation. If somebody with experience, like HuggyU2 or Hacker, makes an informed criticism of something we do or have done, I can respect that and even learn something from it. If it's a kid who's watched every show on Discovery channel and wants to give his .02, then I'll have a different reaction.

I'm just curious as to which catagory this guy belongs to. What have you been doing these last 10 or so years? Flying aircraft in defense of our nation, no matter what kind or in which service? Or beating off to the ladies underwear section of the JC Penny catalouge?

I gotcha. I'd like to know if he flown with the AF, or plays computer games in the basement. How does he know that my job is protecting the sea lanes? I thought that was classified.....:icon_smil

 

[vick]

If I had my option on flying for either services, I would work my butt off for a F-22A assignment as an Air Force pilot with one tour as an exchange pilot with the Navy. One tour on the boat will be about all the excitment I would need to experience Naval air.

With the AF, you have a better chance on dropping more bombs on the enemy and air kills, if flying fighters in combat is your dream.

If alwyn2nd is actually in the AF he's woefully out of touch with current aircraft selection and career progression trends. These days guys are reportedly steering away from the fighter track for fear of getting sent either directly or in short order into the UAV field - the AF is hot for them and they need bodies, imagine that for your first fleet tour! I'm not talking b-billet orders either, I'm talking "Congratulations, good job in flight school, here are your wings, enjoy UAVs"

All other biases aside, if you want the better odds (for the time being anyway) of actually ending up in a real cockpit, of any variety, I'd say go Navy/Marine Corps.

 

[HackerF15E]

This may not concern you but the break down on aircraft initial assignments out of flight school is: AF 25% fighter aircraft (F-22A, F-16D, F-15C, F-15D, A-10C) 70% tanker/transport/bomber/gunships, 5% helicopter. In fact you must volunteer for a helicopter assignment if you really want one.

Sort of true with respect to the overall rough percentages of where students get assigned. The specific fighter airframes you mention are, well, completely wrong. The choices are: F-15C, F-15E, F-16, A-10, and F-22. There are also pretty significant numbers of U-28/NSA coming out of UPT this last year, as well as FAIPs.

Are you actually IN the USAF?

I would work my butt off for a F-22A assignment as an Air Force pilot with one tour as an exchange pilot with the Navy. One tour on the boat will be about all the excitment I would need to experience Naval air.

With the AF, you have a better chance on dropping more bombs on the enemy and air kills, if flying fighters in combat is your dream.

Here's where you've completely jumped the track. Saying you'd shoot for a Raptor job, and THEN going for an exchange job, is sort of like saying "After I get to the NBA, I'd go to the Lakers, but do a season or two with the Bulls just to keep it interesting".

With respect to the "combat" comments, what exactly are you basing that on?

 

[phrogpilot73]

Just look at his post history. The only time he speaks up are threads that compare Navy vs. AF.....and I don't see credentials. I am curious to see if he has some sort of experience or expertise in the area.

Are you actually IN the USAF?

I just looked at his post history and it dawned on me. This is the kid who said the Navy needed to get its head out of it's ass and switch solely to WO's, just like the Army. He picks AF and Army over Navy/USMC every post - and never answers info on his background. I smell a snot nosed kid in his basement. I've got my finger on the trigger - just give me a reason to pull...

 

[HooverPilot]

Phrog - He's a douche who throws out bad opinions and then refuses to back them up with anything like fact and then won't answer questions about his credibility, just finish him off!

 

[phrogpilot73]

Phrog - He's a douche who throws out bad opinions and then refuses to back them up with anything like fact and then won't answer questions about his credibility, just finish him off!

Done.

 

[NozeMan]

I just looked at his post history and it dawned on me. This is the kid who said the Navy needed to get its head out of it's ass and switch solely to WO's, just like the Army. He picks AF and Army over Navy/USMC every post - and never answers info on his background. I smell a snot nosed kid in his basement. I've got my finger on the trigger - just give me a reason to pull...

My thoughts exactly, I went and looked at his previous posts, and I sense troll.

He even made a comment that the Navy needed a navalized F/A-22......riiiiighhhhhttt.

@Hacker and vick, thanks for your input. Its great to have a discussion about Navy vs. AF, especially with bubbas like you who have experience. Good to know this guy rubs you the wrong way too.

 

[AllAmerican75]

He even made a comment that the Navy needed a navalized F/A-22......riiiiighhhhhttt.

On a more serious note, and this may belong in the Stupid Questions thread, has the Navy ever considered implementing some of the features of the Raptor in any of its future prototypes/daydreams? I would imagine that supercruise and the range/loiter capabilities, not to mention thrust vectoring, would be a nice thing to have, especially if you're launching from the Persian Gulf and have to fly to a land-locked country like Afghanistan.

I apologize beforehand if this is tip-toeing into the area of OpSec.

 

[HackerF15E]

On a more serious note, and this may belong in the Stupid Questions thread, has the Navy ever considered implementing some of the features of the Raptor in any of its future prototypes/daydreams? I would imagine that supercruise and the range/loiter capabilities, not to mention thrust vectoring, would be a nice thing to have, especially if you're launching from the Persian Gulf and have to fly to a land-locked country like Afghanistan.

Certainly all of that technology will be considered for anything built in the future.

More important than any of that is the sensor fusion that Raptors, Lightnings, etc have. If anything, that's what needs to be brought to the table.

BTW, the Raptor has TERRIBLE range and fuel economy.

 

[AllAmerican75]

BTW, the Raptor has TERRIBLE range and fuel economy.

I just learned something. I always heard it had awesome range and loiter capabilities, I guess that's what I get for getting all of my information from the Military Channel and teh intarwebs.