Question About Getting Flying Time

[othromas]

Really? Not saying it's not true, but I'm guessing a lot of that time came as an instructor on the civilian side. If so, how was he not suicidal? Seriously, I'm curious how many hours he had (roughly).

Oh, all of it came as a civilian, but he also (don't ask me how--he knew the right people, I guess) got to fly a P-51 at some point. He had ~1300 hours or thereabouts. I will say that it was not possible for him to do any better when he finished.

I don't know how he wasn't suicidal either, actually: one of his good friends told me that he would study somewhere on the order of eight hours a day. He was kinda crazy.

 

[narfmasta]

Example-

I had ~1100 hours when I checked into primary.. 1050 or so helo hours, and about 50-60 in BugSmashers.. This was pre-IFS.

While I did have the SA for radio calls and the like, the T-34 still kicked my ass for a couple flights. I did better than my peers, but not that much.

If you enjoy flying, and have the means, go fly. Don't do it because you think it gaurantees Jets/Props/MV-22/Helos. It does not.

From what I have heard, it just makes it easier because some things you won't have to learn from scratch and you can focus on things which may be more difficult to you. Instead of studying for "______" you can instead focus more on "_______."

And I definitely know that it doesn't guarantee anything, but if there is anything to help me out I would rather be overprepared.

Also, can anyone tell me on average the breakdown of who gets what platform through flight training? I've heard 60% helo 40% fixed wing from people.

Thanks for all of the info so far, this is great!

 

[jfulginiti]

1 - I worked at MASTG StuCon and dealt with IFS all the time.
2 - IFS=Introductory Flight Screening, (i.e., $h1tscreen). If you suck/fail out of IFS, it only costs the USMC about $3000. If you fail out of Primary, it costs a lot more.
3 - I never had any one fail out of IFS on me. If you already have a license, you don't do IFS.
4 - IFS or pay for you own license first? Doesn't matter, it's the same civilian dudes teaching you to fly a C-152.
5 - My recommendation: Do IFS first (make the USMC pay for the first 25 hours) and then all you have to pay for is the next 15 and you have a civilian license. When you get down here, you're going to wait for 3-6 months anyway before starting API. Use that wait time to do some civilian flying.
6 - IFS for the USMC only started, what, 5 years ago? I didn't do it in 2000 before API. Actually, no one in my fleet squadron did it. Don't get bent out of shape about out it.

 

[Gatordev]

From what I have heard, it just makes it easier because some things you won't have to learn from scratch and you can focus on things which may be more difficult to you. Instead of studying for "______" you can instead focus more on "_______."

And I definitely know that it doesn't guarantee anything, but if there is anything to help me out I would rather be overprepared.

Also, can anyone tell me on average the breakdown of who gets what platform through flight training? I've heard 60% helo 40% fixed wing from people.

Thanks for all of the info so far, this is great!

Okay, you've asked the question a bunch of times and you've had studs, winged aviators, and now two different IPs tell you the same thing: IT DOESN'T MATTER! There is so much more going on that you're not aware of right now. The grading system alone requires a PhD in chaos theory to understand. I have an onwing w/ a bunch of hours right now and is a CFII. Guess what? He couldn't enter the pattern and land the airplane in accordance w/ the FTI and/or safely his first try.

Take civilian flying lessons because you want to, not to front-load the system. It doesn't work that way.

@othromos:

Not trying to debate the idea that there are guys w/ lots of hours coming through Primary, I was just curious about your case. FWIW, 1300 hours would be pretty low time for a brand new IP, let alone one that's been there for a while. Even so, sounds like the guy was definitely dedicated, and good on him.

 

[MasterBates]

Gator,

Slight threadjack, but with FRP and FLM online, it will be hard to see a 1st shore tour aviator coming back with 1200+ hours now..

Guys getting 1000 hours in model is becoming a rarity other than the rule now..
/slight threadjack.

NarfMasta, on behalf of all other "Masters" in the Aviation community, will you please listen to Gator or another one of us. If you don't get PPL, you will not be at any huge disadvantage. A PPL may put you at a disadvantage if you have to unlearn much of what you thought was correct.

 

[xmid]

You keep saying "from what I've heard" "from what I've heard", take a look to the left under the guys names and you can see several winged naval aviators telling you how it is. ALOT of the other guys that have commented are currently in flight school. One guy even said he was a CFI before going to flight school. Why don't you listen to what they're saying? You'd rather listen to your dad's buddies that went through decades ago? If you suck with 25 hours, chances are you would still suck with 150 hours. Spend the money on hookers and blow.

 

[mules83]

I had 800 hours and CFII going through primary. Yes, my grades were a little better than others, but not by much. I was pretty much on an even playing field through Fam's because I had to re-learn everything 'the navy way.' Having previous instrument time helped out a lot in RI's, but it still took time to learn the procedures going 30kts faster. (should be interesting once in the -45 )

 

[MasterBates]

Prepare for Pain...

I did a BI sim today and the instructor "tweaked" the 34 sim to 280kts..

Hanging on to static wicks was the name of the game...

 

[scoober78]

Hahahahahhahahah....

19 RI sims....I have no words...

 

[MasterBates]

Scoober, I jumped in a sim beause there was a CanX today and I made the mistake of walking by Ops...

Only 1 BI sim for Rotary to E2C2 types...

 

[narfmasta]

You keep saying "from what I've heard" "from what I've heard", take a look to the left under the guys names and you can see several winged naval aviators telling you how it is. ALOT of the other guys that have commented are currently in flight school. One guy even said he was a CFI before going to flight school. Why don't you listen to what they're saying? You'd rather listen to your dad's buddies that went through decades ago? If you suck with 25 hours, chances are you would still suck with 150 hours. Spend the money on hookers and blow.

hahaha okay I completely believe you guys and I know this is good information. I appreciate you guys for all of the info.

 

[Gatordev]

Prepare for Pain...

I did a BI sim today and the instructor "tweaked" the 34 sim to 280kts..

Hanging on to static wicks was the name of the game...

Hmm, I didn't know they could do it that high. I'll have to ask for that on my next EP sim just for the challenge and see how long before I finally say, "Okay, back to normal please."

I hear you on the FLM, that was going down while I was still there, but still, the typical IP (and there's only a couple of rotary guys in a VT right now...mostly VP/VQ(t)/(p)) will have somewhere around 1000-1200 TT when they start the FITU and that climbs very quickly if you're motivated (which I'll admit that I'm not compared to some hard chargers). Master, I know we're on the same page so this is just a general comment, but I stand by statement that 1200 hours as a PPC/HAC/AC is a lot different from 1200+ hours as a civilian IP.

 

[Heloanjin]

Also, can anyone tell me on average the breakdown of who gets what platform through flight training? I've heard 60% helo 40% fixed wing from people.

On an annual basis right now for USMC, about 10% fly multiengine, about 25% fly jets, about 5% fly tiltrotor (this number will grow over time), and about 60% fly helos. That doesn't mean that every week 25% of selectors go jets. Depends on how many have selected before and how many are needed in the near future in each pipeline.

 

[MasterBates]

Hmm, I didn't know they could do it that high. I'll have to ask for that on my next EP sim just for the challenge and see how long before I finally say, "Okay, back to normal please."

The new "electric" sims can do it.. The 70's vintage Gould's cannot AFAIK. There's 2 or 3 new ones here, and 4 old ones.

Master, I know we're on the same page so this is just a general comment, but I stand by statement that 1200 hours as a PPC/HAC/AC is a lot different from 1200+ hours as a civilian IP.

Yep. Agree here..

 

[phrogpilot73]

and see that's what I'm getting at. there are people like this that I'll be competing with... how the hell am I supposed to compete with that with absolutely ZERO hours?

You'd be surprised. I showed up with ZERO hours and finished with jet grades as well. The flying that he does in the regionals is different from the flying done in the Navy. Stick and rudder skills he'll have, but the other stuff he'll be learning as well...