Doing it all again - would you?

Talking to a serving member in the Air Corps the other day, he said he had been asked the question, 'if you had the chance to apply again, knowing what you do now, would you do it again?'. He said he drew a complete blank and had to think about this quite hard. This was a pilot who signed up in the last seven years. I'd be interested to get the opinions of other board members (serving or otherwise) on the ups and downs of the last decade in the Air Corps that would contribute to guys going or staying on, and what hope they have in the future. It can apply equally to all ranks and aircraft types. Also, any exers, what decided it for you if you could have stayed but didn't? I know money is better outside, but let's not dwell on that one.

[FiannaFail]

I for one feel the future will be quite positive.
FiannaFail :'>

[alpha foxtrot 07]

much as i loved my time in the air corps i an quite happy not being there. i fly better aircraft and more hours now than i ever could have in the corps, but i still miss the lifestyle and my buds. its a hard choice but i think the path i took was best for me. thats my 2c

[John K]

Yeah, you get out what you put in! The mates you get stay mates whether you keep in touch now and then or not at all. Apart from the Bull**it, it wasn't that bad. The training stands you in later life. I dunno if I'd stand the basic training now, though, jumping over the coalbunker outside Riverside with a GPMG! It'd get stuck under my beergut!

[Fouga]

AF just wondering what exactly have you flown? Just interested thats all.

What are you flying now or are you not flying anything now?

[alpha foxtrot 07]

right now i have 2 flying jobs. one is in livermore cal. im teaching upset recovery and aerobatics in extra 300l's alongside basic training to flight instructor in cessnas and seminols. the other job is in oakland ca. i fly cargo in either a pilatus porter or a beech baron B58.
i am currently flying a traing a student in the SF260, he's working on his commercial pilots cert. i posted pictures of that aircraft on the sight, its under warbirds i think.
i have flown C150,152,172,172RG,182RG,210,310,B55,B58,SF260,M20C, M20J,PA28-144,PC-3,PC-7,E300L,PITTS S2,  DECATHALON,CETABRIA,SR-22,SR-20,BE90,BE200.
i think thats most of them. most of my time is in cessnas about 1000 hours, the other 1500 or so is spread around the rest.
i still love flying the marchetti the best, getting back in that airplane always brings back great memories of being home.

[Gideon]

Alpha, just wondering how long were you in the Air Corps for and why did you leave?

I for one, would have loved a chance to receive the high level of training that Air Corps Cadets do when I was 18! My training cost me a fortune, and I never got to fly formation, aeros etc.

Anyway, I wasn't up to the grade required during aptitude testing. '>

Alpha, did you have to do aptitude tests? It's just that your spelling and grammar is pretty terrible if you don't mind me saying!?  '>

[alpha foxtrot 07]

well its generally 11 o'clock or so when i post and i usually have some beer in me, and when i post im not really concerned with grammer, the spelling is down to my bad typing skills. i did take the apptitude tests, found them quite odd, but i guess i did fine. i'm guessing that you work for aer lingus, wheres that company going, are they looking to hire more pilots in the next 2 years, i am currently working on converting the US ATP to a CAA JAA ATPL.

[Gideon]

Ah, the demon drink! Hope you don't be drunk while you're flying Alpha!

Anyway, back to my previous posting...how long were you in the Corps and why did you leave?

Didn't you get 'issued' with an ATPL when you were leaving the Air Corps?

I know a bunch of ex Air Corps lads who got their licences handed to them 'over the counter' so to speak when they left?

[alpha foxtrot 07]

if i flew drunk i would lose my jobs and never fly commercially again. as for the time there it was not very long about 2 years, i never finished the wings course. one rainy day in late october me and 4 others in my class were brought before the C.O. and told our training was being terminated, no reason given just good bye.
as far as the 'over the counter licence' goes, bfts was not a JAA approved school when i was there so you could not get the civil licence.

[Gideon]

Sorry to hear about that Alpha. 5 gone in one day sure does sound harsh. Anyway, you seem to be doing alright for yourself now. Well done.