American MiG Pilot - Intangibles
in·tan·gi·ble
/inˈtanjəb(ə)l/
adjective
1. unable to be touched or grasped; not having physical presence.
When often asked, "What makes a great fighter pilot?", my reply is typically, "It depends."
Attempting to answer such a question might be perceived as somewhat presumptuous. For it assumes I embody some, if not all, of the intangible characteristics I have witnessed in so many pilots over the years, which I have come to respect and admire. It often comes down to the age-old saying, "you know it when you see it."
The same can be said for what goes into the blend that'll turn an ordinary pilot into one who can overcome adversity and danger and still maintain an air of calm that others will follow to hell and back. Oh, and doing all of that while strapped into a high-performance fighter, while constantly maneuvering in three dimensions against others who are trying to kill you. There is no one magic single ingredient or characteristic that guarantees success. For every attribute one might name, I could counter with examples of excellent fighter pilots who didn't possess this or that trait, yet were still among the best. Below is my short list of those intangibles that were common in all of the best fighter pilots I've ever known, and flew with or against.
"There is no one magic single ingredient or characteristic that guarantees success."
Bravery
Of all the intangibles necessary to be a successful fighter pilot, right at the top of the list has to be bravery, along with a healthy dose of fearlessness. However, don't mistake fearlessness for recklessness. On the contrary, those who are amongst the best I ever flew with or against were anything but reckless. They knew their limits, both mental and physical, as well as the airplanes they strapped themselves into. Additionally, what fueled that bravery was confidence in themselves and their abilities to overcome whatever odds were stacked against them.
Situational Awareness
Another trait that all the best pilots have is an undeniable grasp of the "big picture." In fighter pilot terms, we often refer to it as "situational awareness." This characteristic is the ability to mentally process a multitude of singularly individual events simultaneously, often miles apart, yet still knowing how each will affect what you're doing in your aircraft and with your wingmen, all at the same time. Think of it as a "god's eye view" of the battle space around them.
"Think of it as a 'god's eye view' of the battle space around them."
Focus
The ability to focus, be clear-minded, and be able to compartmentalize on the task at hand, and not be given to distractions. I've often marveled at pilots I knew who seemed to have ice in their veins, unfazed by what might be going on in their personal lives or all around them. But strap them in a jet, and those issues were as if they never existed. Their focus was entirely on flying that jet and the mission ahead.
Athleticism
While not a guarantor of being a great pilot, almost all of the best fighter jocks I've known throughout my career were pretty darn good athletes. This often manifests as superb hand-eye coordination, which is generally necessary for success in sports and likewise when in a grueling, high-G, aerial dogfight.
Sense of humor
No matter how dangerous the mission or demanding the task, a solid dose of humor almost always accompanied those I considered the best. Perhaps it was a way of dealing with the stress —a distraction, possibly. Whatever one chooses to call it, humor and practical jokes went hand in hand with life around a fighter squadron. It never ceased to amaze me how one could be joking around one minute, and then, as if they flipped a switch, it was all business when it came time to step to the airplane and strap it on for a mission. Anyone who criticizes some of the shenanigans that go on in fighter squadrons clearly has never strapped on a high-performance fighter and wrung themselves out—some of the stories in my book touch on this very thing.
"It never ceased to amaze me how one could be joking around one minute, and then, as if they flipped a switch, it was all business when it came time to step to the airplane and strap it on for a mission."
Leadership
You can have all the other traits listed above and be a good fighter pilot, but without the ability to lead, that's all you'll be. Just good, but never great. For those who fit that top tier, they exuded confidence, and that, in turn, helped raise the performance of their wingmen as well.
In closing, while my focus here has been on fighter pilots, many of the same traits and characteristics were present in the best airline pilots I flew with for 28+ years following my time in the USAF. While it was obviously a different job, a different mission, even bravery was just below the surface among the best Captains who instilled confidence in inexperienced First Officers and crew when faced with challenging circumstances.
The bottom line... You know a truly outstanding pilot, be it a fighter pilot or an airline Captain, when you see it.
