For example, each year 48 students (two classes of 24) are admitted to Air Force Test Pilot School, chosen from a pool of several hundred candidates. Air Force Academy grads conduct critical test operations for the Air Force.Ĭompetition for admission to the program is rigorous and slots are limited. It’s worth noting that a small number of Air Force civilians and Navy civilians (civilian employees) are eligible to train as flight test engineers at the test pilot schools. Applicants hold degrees in engineering/aerospace, physical science or math, and have typically flown more than 1,000 flight hours. They have also made a commitment to serve in the Armed Forces. Generally, candidates for the two test pilot schools are qualified military pilots, having successfully completed pilot training and mission aircraft training. These schools train positions ranging from combat systems officers to flight officers, and from drone pilots to flight test engineers. Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, which also trains Army and Marine Corps pilots, plus foreign military personnel. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California or the U.S. In the U.S., most test pilots are graduates of the U.S. Have you dreamed of becoming the next Chuck Yeager? Here’s a rundown of the roads that lead to test pilot school. In the case of military test pilots, it also calls for a commitment to serve your country. But Top Gun moments aside, the life of a test pilot demands painstaking excellence, exhaustive training and extensive education. Based on the job title alone, test pilots have one of the world’s most thrilling jobs.
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