Spend a few years as a pilot and aircraft checkouts become second nature, those hours spent with an instructor to learn the ins and outs of a new machine so you can head off toward that next dramatic destination on your own. Every once in a while though the act itself of checking out becomes the adventure as a recent story from The Star and Stripes explained about some young USAF pilots.
Becoming a U-2 Pilot
Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. Air Force is changing its U-2 spy plane pilot pipeline to allow younger, less experienced pilots to qualify for the high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft earlier in their careers.
- This shift addresses a significant Air Force-wide pilot shortage and aims to staff the demanding U-2 squadron, known for its extreme operating conditions and crucial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
- The new program will be implemented experimentally, initially selecting a few pilots who will first gain experience as T-38 instructors before potentially moving on to U-2 basic qualification.
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