Fighter Plane Training for Civilians

For regular pilots there are different licenses meant to allow the operation of certain aircraft. For the average enthusiast, a student's license will allow the operation of light sport flyers intended for personal use. For pilots who want to operate light to medium class aircraft capable of pushing longer distances and higher altitudes, Personal pilot's licanses are needed. Then of course there are courses for Professional Pilot's licenses which are a necessity to operate high end medium to heavy aircraft.

For the truly ambitious pilots out there, however, the ultimate test of piloting skills comes from knowing how to operate a military grade fighter aircraft. While only military personnel are allowed to use modern fighter planes, civilian courses are open that at least teach the basics of fighter operation to pilots who want to push their own personal threshold. They can become certified to operate obsolete or powered-down versions of military aircraft called Stunt Flyers.

One of the biggest differences in military aircraft operations is in the physical requirements. While civilian pilots can afford to be overweight, flabby, and shallow chested, military aircraft require a level of fitness that turns off most would be jet jockeys. Aside from perfect vision, hearing, reflexes, and lack of physical disabilities, fighter pilots need to be in shape to handle the G forces that they encounter when operating a fighter. The gravitational forces that are generated by high speed turns in mid-air can literally cause unconsciousness, resulting in two conditions called black out and red out, when blood rushes completely out of or in excess to the brain, respectively.

Aside from the physical conditioning involved, the standard requirements involved in obtaining a Personal Pilot's license are a prerequisite for operating a stunt fighter plane. Despite the difficulties involved in fighter plane operation a Professional License isn't required. This is because this often involves other lessons not directly related to actual aircraft operation, like long distance air navigation and a knowledge of the protocols of international air control towers.

Private stunt flyer lessons are available from any number of licensed individual pilots, though if you want full certification as a stunt flyer it's best to go to a flying school which offers lessons in fighter piloting. These are usually called Aerobatic Courses. As stated earlier, these Aerobatic Courses are open only to people who pass the higher medical and physical requirements, and must have a Personal Pilot's License.