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OPIE01 said:Flying Helos is a lot more fun than flying fixed wing. The only problem is there are not to many jobs that pay well on the outside.
The 4 years of flying the Cobra was the best and funest flying I ever did.
AHPilot said:Hey Everybody,
My Questions:
Is it possible to switch branches, say after becoming a helicopter pilot, and flying for some time could I maybe transfering into the air force to fly fixed wing...specifically C-130's or other cargo transports?
I want to also fly for the airlines eventually--once done with the military...how would the helicopter time look?
I chose this path and although lengthy (22 years and some change) it worked for me and was a genuine blast.
I initially went in enlisted and then applied to Rucker a year later. 8 months later I was down there experiencing the joys of being a Warrant Officer Candidate (WOC). After that did 6 years at Ft. Campbell and went the ERAU route. Talked to an OTS recruiter for the Air Force and arranged it so I left the Army 1 day and was in the Air Force the next. Then Officer Training School and Pilot training. Then all kinds of fun in 8 different kinds of aircraft including the LearJet, M/C-130's, and the B-707 among others.
Bottom Line:
If you want to fly for the airlines, I'd go the ROTC route first then OTS second, followed by flight school and an assignment or two in a heavy...C-17, KC-10, C-5, etc. Nothing against the ARMY or my ARMY breathren but helicopter flying won't help that much. If you want to have the time of your life in the cockpit, flying night vision goggles in the mud then have at it in the "Army of One". There is no comparision in the quality of life between the ARMY or Air Force either. Unless you opt for a commando job in the Air Force you'll be bellyachin because you can't find the remote control while laying on the king size bed. In the ARMY, life will be what I like to call austere. Tents, mud, eating out of pouches, and picking critters out of places you don't want them. I loved both for different reasons but try to look down the road and remember you can always defect to another service later like I did.
Good Luck and God Bless