yakfishr19 Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 Can anyone tell me how to become a Nightstalker pilot? Quote
achfly Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 Simple. Become a blackhawk, chinook or Kiowa pilot. Get two or three years in the regular army as an aviator. Then contact one of their in house recruiters for info on the selection process. They are in great need of pilots. Something like 40-50% of their current aviators are eligible for retirement.I'm sure there are a few former apache guys flying for the 160th but from everything that I've heard they seem to prefer the pilots from the other airframes. Probably because those pilots will already have more NVG experience. We use goggles plenty but our primary is FLIR. 1 Quote
akscott60 Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 Apply. They come here to Rucker once a quarter to brief. I got a packet in my email box, and I should have it done here pretty soon. Quote
Dutch Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 First rule of nightstalkers is you don't talk about the nightstalkers. The second rule... Quote
akscott60 Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 Who? Chinooks. He wants to get a job flying Chinook. Easily the hardest thing to do around here since they drop one per quarter Quote
CharyouTree Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 Chinooks. He wants to get a job flying Chinook. Easily the hardest thing to do around here since they drop one per quarter Are you referring to -47s with 160th? Two years ago or so, they were hurting for 47 pilots. A friend of mine went that way and got the transition from -60s Quote
akscott60 Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 Are you referring to -47s with 160th? Two years ago or so, they were hurting for 47 pilots. A friend of mine went that way and got the transition from -60s I was actually just being a smartass since no one gets a Chinook out of here nowadays, and Dutch and Buzz were all "first rule about Nightstalkers....." And yea, last brief I went to said they were less than 60% manned on 47s. Quote
SBuzzkill Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 I wouldn't think 47 pilots would be hard to find. That's the size of most graduating classes. Quote
SBuzzkill Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 (edited) That was a joke, by the way. I do know that graduating classes aren't usually 47 people. Probably more like 42 or maybe 50. Anyways, I suppose I should be helpful. http://lmgtfy.com/?q=160th+soar+recruiting Edited January 23, 2012 by SBuzzkill Quote
CharyouTree Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 I wouldn't think 47 pilots would be hard to find. That's the size of most graduating classes. oh geez....we're just racking them up now, aren't we? (After the "Don't be a buzzkill" post) 1 Quote
SBuzzkill Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 Hahaha, that wasn't me that made that awesome joke! Quote
yakfishr19 Posted January 24, 2012 Author Posted January 24, 2012 so would a pilot have to go through something like Green Platoon or would it be different for a pilot? Quote
d10 Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 The 160th takes plenty of Apache pilots. Obviously they'll transition you to another aircraft, but unless you have 1000-1500 hours minimum in your current airframe they're going to transition you to whatever airframe they need pilots for anyway. Quote
CharyouTree Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 so would a pilot have to go through something like Green Platoon or would it be different for a pilot? Still go through green platoon, and then some. Lots of time in a little bird navigating, getting your time on target. Quote
yakfishr19 Posted January 25, 2012 Author Posted January 25, 2012 im currently reading the best book in the world "The Night Stalkers".... one word. unbelieveable Quote
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