Is it possible to access military-style pilot training in Europe (or anywhere else) as a civilian at 27?
Posted by uppitysnips@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 25 comments
Hi everyone,
I’ve been looking into astronaut profiles from NASA and European Space Agency, and I noticed that many of them have military pilot backgrounds.
I understand that at 27 (and being Romanian), becoming a military pilot might no longer be realistic for me. However, I still want to push myself and get as close as possible to that level of training and experience.
Are there any places in Europe (or elsewhere) where civilians can access military-style training?
pimbaman1337@reddit
If you want military style training come by my flight school and ill make you show up 4h before your flight, scream at you and tell you that youre most terrible pilot ive ever seen throughout the whole flight, and at the end of the day force you to drink alcohol until you vomit, just to make you show up early again next morning until you brake!!!! You'll love it!
ltcterry@reddit
Don’t forget fear, sarcasm, and ridicule.
pimbaman1337@reddit
Don't miss those days for a single second
melloboi123@reddit
Do you want to be an astronaut? That's not possible without prior military experience in 99% of cases , training won't get you there.
sigmapilot@reddit
For both NASA and ESA currently it is roughly 50-50 military vs scientist selection
melloboi123@reddit
oh seems I'm misinformed then, mb
sigmapilot@reddit
NP I think it is a common stereotype. It used to be true for sure back in the 1960s just not today
mav3r1ck92691@reddit
The very unfortunate truth is that if you are asking on reddit at 27 about this, it's too late. Your best bet at being an astronaut at this point is get rich and pay for a tourism seat.
I won't say it's absolutely impossible, but you have a higher chance of winning the lottery.
ltcterry@reddit
Define "military style?"
There are places in Germany where you can fly "oldtimer" Luftwaffe trainers from the 30s & 40s. Probably not horribly more expensive than a traditional "modern" trainer from the 70s...
Look up Quax Lieder e.V.
Formation flying is possible. I know of several places in the UK that teach that. You can even get time in a Jet Provost there.
Dig deep in your wallet and you can fly a variety of jets in the US.
None of this, though, is likely to help you much on the astronaut path. These folks have technical degrees too.
sigmapilot@reddit
There are a handful of private corporations that train people to fly military jet aircraft but they overwhelmingly recruit people who already have some military experience, or require literally millions of dollars (or euros) to train.
https://www.draken.aero/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draken_International
So it's exactly what you're looking for, but too expensive.
I'm surprised to see the low age limit for some Euro air forces searching around online. In the US it's at least up to early 30s in a lot of cases.
flight_forward@reddit
Probably the closest thing you could find would be an ex-military flying instructor. Some countries will have flying schools near to military bases, some even on bases which will almost certainly contain these people.
The main difference between people undergoing military training and not though is that military trainees are selected from the top %age of what the military is looking for and knows can probably handle the rate of learning, has enough baseline skills to have a chance.
So if you don't fit into that category you can have as structured training as you like with relevant instructors but you won't be able to handle it and would get chopped. In reality as long as you're paying you won't get chopped though!
lordtema@reddit
What do you exactly mean by military style training? Flying fighters?. Your best shot would be to get a masters or higher in an engineering subject, get your licenses and eventually attend one of the test pilot schools open to civilians, but you are too old to have a shot at becoming an astronaut that way.
uppitysnips@reddit (OP)
I just mean the kind of structured, high discipline training environment you usually associate with military aviation. Lots of procedure, workload, precision, that kind of thing. I’m less focused on a specific end goal at this point and more on getting as much relevant experience and skill building as I can, even if it doesn’t lead anywhere direct like astronaut selection.
lordtema@reddit
The closest thing you are going to come to that would be an integrated school that takes you from 0 to ATPL, and there`s plenty of those around in Europe, but it would of course not be the same.
uppitysnips@reddit (OP)
I don’t really intend to go down the commercial airline path. At most, I could see myself doing a private license if there aren’t other realistic options, but I’m not aiming for airline flying.
lordtema@reddit
Then what exactly are you aiming for?
uppitysnips@reddit (OP)
I’m trying to figure out whether there’s any realistic way to get into something more “straight into high-performance aviation training” rather than the civilian airline track.
So basically yes military pilot training or anything that leads in that direction (like test pilot pathways) is what I was originally thinking about. I just don’t know anymore what is still realistically open at my stage, which is why I’m asking.
EliteEthos@reddit
Not unless you’re independent wealthy… even then, NOBODY is letting you into a jet with zero experience.
If you’re trying to check a box to be an astronaut, I’d give that up dude. You also have the citizenship thing to worry about which could take upwards of a decade.
lordtema@reddit
The only way to become a civilian twst pilot is by getting tons of experience, which would at a bare minimum require a CPL and most likely a ATPL.
fortinbrass1993@reddit
Which school is that? Didn’t know there’s a test pilot school open to civilian. I assume it be expensive. lol
lordtema@reddit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Test_Pilot_School is the premier one. It`s about $1m+ if i recall correctly.
EliteEthos@reddit
They don’t want “military-style” pilot training. They want actual military pilot experience. Actual missions, actual experience.
That aside, you’re WAY behind at 27. The people who make those programs have been genuinely doing things since they were young to get them into a position to get accepted by NASA. And there are A LOT who don’t get picked.
Esoteric_Prurience@reddit
To be honest, at your age, you'd be far more likely for astronaut selection if you went and got some kind of PhD relevant to the ESA.
uppitysnips@reddit (OP)
Yeah, I've considered that. Just trying to understand my options better
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hi everyone,
I’ve been looking into astronaut profiles from NASA and European Space Agency, and I noticed that many of them have military pilot backgrounds.
I understand that at 27 (and being Romanian), becoming a military pilot might no longer be realistic for me. However, I still want to push myself and get as close as possible to that level of training and experience.
Are there any places in Europe (or elsewhere) where civilians can access military-style training?
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