Tps

[SuperChris]

I was wondering if anyone has much information on test pilot school. What I"m looking for is who gets selected, what platforms they came from, and what they actualy work on as a test pilot.

I already have a basic understanding of what it takes to be selected (good preformance evals, CO's recomendation, strong science back ground). I have also heard that if you come from the pointy nosed community you have a better shot (reality?). I have talked to a few IP's who knew of people who were trying to go, but I haven't talked to any who knew people who had actualy gone.

I'm comming up on Selection pretty quick here, and while I have what should be competative grades for jets there are probably 7-8 other people slated to select at the same time (from corpus alone) who will have 60ish scores and also want jets. I'm currently thinking "j1, j2, e2/c2" as the standard selection card for wanna be's. But what I would like to know is, is there a platform that I'm overlooking, I"m pretty shure P3's are out, and I would prefer to not go back to Pensacola, but I don't realy know.

Any advice would be much appreciated, especialy from the "older" guys who have been there. Thanks in advance
chris

 

[Piperdriver]

Chris, I heard that blimps are the next best thing to fighters when it comes to securing a test pilot position, I could be wrong so you may want to double check that.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Interesting - I hear TPS is now commanded by an ARMY aviatior!!!!!

 

[SteveG75]

TPS guys from all communities, even NFO.

You maybe eligible after your first tour but since that is 4-5 years away, why sweat it now.

 

[SuperChris]

the reason that I'm "sweating it now" is because now is pretty much the only time I can realy do anything about it. I know that you have to work hard from what ever community, but I was wondering if there was a certain community that had a higher propensity to be selected. I know when it all boils down I realy have nothing to say about it either, I put in my wish list, I get what works best for them. But it would be nice to know, just for knowing's sake. thanks again.
chris

 

[skidkid]

If youa re from a community getting a new platform that must be tested sometimes that helps. Right now there are a lot of Marine Cobra guys going to test teh yankee and Zulu but that doesnt mean that others cant test it too.
On the green side TPS can be a career killer or at the very least put you into the acquisitions pipeline, not my squadron COs have time as a test pilot good luck and hit the math hard

 

[webmaster]

I have known 3 P3 NFO and Pilots to have gone through TPS. They all had a great time. The pilot got checked out in all sorts of aircaft, and now as a post DH I believe he was looking at getting orders back.

Good to think ahead, but there are slots (I believe for all the bubbas).

 

[Pags]

There are slots for all communities. It does not matter if you are a pointy nose guy, and E-2 guy, a P-3 guy, or a Helo guy, they all need test pilots. The way I understand it works is that once you're done with TPS you become a test pilot for your community and fly in a VX/HX. I think the TPS website has the criteria they look for in applicants.

 

[Ryoukai]

Yeah...I've been meaning to talk to you about this. We're using new covers for the TPS reports so if you could try to remember that'd be fantastic. I'll make sure you get a copy of that memo.

 

[Blutonski816]

Yeah...I've been meaning to talk to you about this. We're using new covers for the TPS reports so if you could try to remember that'd be fantastic. I'll make sure you get a copy of that memo.