WSO in F-16D ?
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Saw the advertisement in RSAf homepage and realised that they have WSO flying in the F-16D ?
I think RSAf call them WSO (Fighter).... I thought all along it was pilot ? Do you know what they do and what's the difference ?
Thought of signing on... so should I sign on as WSO (Fighter) or pilot ? -
Depends whether you qualify or want to be a pilot or not.
There are a few kinds of WSO. (Fighter)WSO, means you sit in the backseat of the F-16D, directing weapons employment. Basically a closet queen. =P Your survival depends on you pilot's skills.
Then there are those WSOs that direct Surface to air weapons. You are the Number1 target for the Enemy doing SEAD runs. Your survival depends if your missile hits your target before he launches. -
Thanks man.... WSO(fighter) seems interesting enough... flying in fighter aircraft and do weapons employment ... better than be hit on the ground.Originally posted by Shotgun:Depends whether you qualify or want to be a pilot or not.
There are a few kinds of WSO. (Fighter)WSO, means you sit in the backseat of the F-16D, directing weapons employment. Basically a closet queen. =P Your survival depends on you pilot's skills.
Then there are those WSOs that direct Surface to air weapons. You are the Number1 target for the Enemy doing SEAD runs. Your survival depends if your missile hits your target before he launches.
Any idea what their training is like ? Tough ? As tough as pilot ? Anybody who know these people... seems like they are new as I never heard about them before.
Think I will sign on the airforce then be stucked at Army. -
The Flight WSO, would have training on weapons employment, targeting etc etc. Those kinda stuff, and i think will also learn how to fly the aircraft in case his pilot is injured or fell asleep.
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My suspicion is that the Vipers WSO are fully qualified pilots given that the backseats of the D version has the same flight control instruments as the front, and a CRT to display the mimic the HUD. Perhaps the pilots among the 140 sqn have rosters to see who are assign as the WSO role, etc...Originally posted by Shotgun:The Flight WSO, would have training on weapons employment, targeting etc etc. Those kinda stuff, and i think will also learn how to fly the aircraft in case his pilot is injured or fell asleep. -
I am not too sure about that. However, WSO's might have an option to be trained as a full pilot.
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Talked to one of my friend in the service and his understanding is that these WSO (Fighter) actually goes thru' 1.5 to 2 yrs of training in USA.Originally posted by Shotgun:I am not too sure about that. However, WSO's might have an option to be trained as a full pilot.
Heard that you can't apply for this job... the WSO are actually selected for it. However given a choice, I think I will apply to be a pilot but might not guarantee me to fly a fighter plane (especially F-16)... or else ended up in Transport or Helicopter... SOB !!!
Geeez, when will they ever open up the recruitment !?? -
Talked to one of my friend in the service and his understanding is that these WSO (Fighter) actually goes thru' 1.5 to 2 yrs of training in USA.Originally posted by Shotgun:I am not too sure about that. However, WSO's might have an option to be trained as a full pilot.
Heard that you can't apply for this job... the WSO are actually selected for it. However given a choice, I think I will apply to be a pilot but might not guarantee me to fly a fighter plane (especially F-16)... or else ended up in Transport or Helicopter... SOB !!!
Geeez, when will they ever open up the recruitment !?? -
Funny that you mention it... I was thinking that Vipers WSO are still a full-fledge fighter pilots (different from the USN Tomcats WSO) given that the back seats have full flight authority. In case the pilot is injured, say, a bullet hit him and he is not capable to command the plane, in theory, the WSO is then responsible to bring the plane home. Its kinda like the WSO of the Apache or any attack helicopters. I don't think the Vipers WSO cockpit is purposely built for weapon cueing and targeting only like the Tomcats or Tornadoes.Originally posted by gjason:Talked to one of my friend in the service and his understanding is that these WSO (Fighter) actually goes thru' 1.5 to 2 yrs of training in USA.
Heard that you can't apply for this job... the WSO are actually selected for it. However given a choice, I think I will apply to be a pilot but might not guarantee me to fly a fighter plane (especially F-16)... or else ended up in Transport or Helicopter... SOB !!!
Geeez, when will they ever open up the recruitment !??
I think even F-111 WSO has the flight control stick and throttle, only in a less convinient position. -
Actually, the F-15E WSO's have back up flight controls in their "office." They can be back up pilots. However, I doubt RSAF Viper WSO's are full fledge pilots. I mean, who would wanna be a closet queen when he can be a full pilot.
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That makes me wonder how RSAF gonna train WSOs... do they also have to learn to fly fighter jets, at least on the TA-4SUs in France before qualifying to sit in the back seats? Given shortage of manpower, wouldn't it be more flexible to have all pilots cross trained as WSO, but have a roaster system, eg. each pilot gets a six-month stinct in the WSO seat. Makes sense in war time... And... it is also the policy of RSAF to rotate pilots into different sqn so that they can share knowledge across all sqn. You can be a Viper pilot today, but tomorrow you might be assign to fly the Skyhawks or Tigers.Originally posted by Shotgun:Actually, the F-15E WSO's have back up flight controls in their "office." They can be back up pilots. However, I doubt RSAF Viper WSO's are full fledge pilots. I mean, who would wanna be a closet queen when he can be a full pilot. -
So does that mean that I gonna be a pilot first before being selected to be a WSO ?Originally posted by Joe Black:That makes me wonder how RSAF gonna train WSOs... do they also have to learn to fly fighter jets, at least on the TA-4SUs in France before qualifying to sit in the back seats?
In anycase, the training in USA - as I was told - involved learning how to fly, take off, landing and aerobatics. After that, then they will learn the art of being a WSO.
My friend told me that it's tough being a WSO, especially when he has to know what the pilot is doing.. at the same time doing his job. So I think it make sense that he must be a pilot before becoming a WSO, right ? -
I doubt so. They are trained as WSO, and purely as WSOs. They are trained to fly in case of emergencies, but they are not pilots on their own. If you see their wings, you will notice its not a pilot's wings.
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...hmm... interesting....Originally posted by Shotgun:I doubt so. They are trained as WSO, and purely as WSOs. They are trained to fly in case of emergencies, but they are not pilots on their own. If you see their wings, you will notice its not a pilot's wings.
but then being a Viper WSO is still more glamourous than a C-130 pilot right... hee hee...
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Don't like C-130s can always go fly 747s.
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Seems like the next logical steps to the career path of most RSAF pilots anyway. One cannot fly jets pass the age of 40 something right.... got fly boeing planes better. Better pay, better treatment, can go free holiday once a year.... leave the flyboy g-strained lifestyle to some younger suckers... hee hee...Originally posted by Shotgun:Don't like C-130s can always go fly 747s. -
Unless you get really high up the chain of command. When you get command of a wing or a base, its a different story then.
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... and eventually become either a CEO of a company or a PAP minister....Originally posted by Shotgun:Unless you get really high up the chain of command. When you get command of a wing or a base, its a different story then.
Back to the original post, does anyone know how RSAF choose WSO then? Would it be like if so and so is ok but not quite good enough in certain skills, eg. dogfight, so when they stream the graduating pilots, they simply send the "not-good-enuff to be frontline fighter pilots" but "a waste to be a chopper of transport" pilots to the WSO school?
Would a pilot rather be a Viper WSO or an Apache pilot? How does RSAF trains Apache WSO then? An Apache WSO is also a fully qualified chopper pilot right since both cockpit has full flight control authority... -
I believe the US Army is responsible for training the RSAF Apache pilots currently. As for the Viper WSO training, its also probably done by the Americans too. I doubt any local officers have adequate experience to conduct training on their own yet.
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On the contrary, the WSO's wings is identical to the pilot's wings. Saw this at the website -Originally posted by Shotgun:If you see their wings, you will notice its not a pilot's wings.
http://www.mindef.gov.sg/rsaf/about/br-b.asp
Seems like the wings are identical... only the internal wordings - RSAF vs WSO - are the subtle difference. -
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Ya, but its still a WSO's wings, not a pilot's wings. -
But oh well, sure it beats being a transport or helicopter pilot, ya ?!!Originally posted by Shotgun:-.-
Ya, but its still a WSO's wings, not a pilot's wings. -
If you are trained as a full fledged pilot, you can easily migrate to the public sector as a commercial pilot.