Most F-22 pilots pass on re-up bonus

[unhappycamper]

43 percent retention for Raptor
Will there be enough experienced pilots to teach...


Most F-22 pilots pass on re-up bonus
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Oct 22, 2008 6:10:55 EDT

In the end, 68 percent of eligible pilots signed up for the $125,000 retention bonus in fiscal 2008 — more than the goal of 66 percent — but the final numbers show troublesome trends among fighter pilots.

Fifty-nine percent of the 290 eligible fighter pilots chose to stay another five years beyond the end of their eight-year service commitment. The loss of these pilots, typically new majors on their third or fourth assignment, adds to ongoing concerns about having enough experienced pilots on hand to teach new pilots arriving at operational squadrons.

The fighters with the lowest retention rates were A-10s at 53 percent, F-16s at 51 percent and F-22s at 43 percent. Retention rates for other fighters were 81 percent for F-15Es and 68 percent for F-15s.

All other types of manned aircraft had retention better than 68 percent, ranging from 81 percent for combat rescue pilots to 71 percent for mobility pilots.


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/10/airforce_pilot_retentionbonus_102108w/%2e

[Catch22Dem]

1. Maybe the F-15 has a higher retention rate because you actually get to FLY it

Versus the computer flying the F-22. :shrug:

I can tell you, I've gotten to take the stick in an F-15D and it was better than sex.

[unhappycamper]

2. I had a back seat ride lined up in an F-4 lined up in '70.

Then I got an ear infection. :(

On the plus side I did get a front seat ride in a Cobra for bore-sighting mission, and a back seat ride in an OV-10 Bronco for a reconnaissance mission.

[Catch22Dem]

3. Yeah, that's good stuff!

I bet that Cobra ride was awesome.

Sorry about the ear infection. :(