[Pukin Dog]

I don't know I think many people could see past the 'cool' allure of the demonstration teams.

You are right, but those people tend to find something more sane to do for a living before signing up for 8 years on a bet that you can be good enough not to end up flying a bus. It might be fun to fly a fighter, but learning how to fly a fighter is more boring than watching paint dry. Sometimes, ego is all you've got to keep you studying while your friends are at the beach.

[mordo]

Yes I know I was one of the 200 you mention that did not make it.
And since it was going to be a career thing for me, well after Uncle Sam was not going to pay for it all I could not see myself droning on & ON, boring a hole in the sky burning up gas in piston engine airplanes to build up hours.

A Cherokee at 100kts 5000' OH WOW.
;)