WSO in F-16D ?

gjason SG

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 ?

Shotgun SG

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.

gjason SG

Thanks man.... WSO(fighter) seems interesting enough... flying in fighter aircraft and do weapons employment ... better than be hit on the ground.

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.

Shotgun SG

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.

Joe Black SG

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...

Shotgun SG

I am not too sure about that. However, WSO’s might have an option to be trained as a full pilot.

gjason SG

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 !??

gjason SG

Joe Black SG

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.

I think even F-111 WSO has the flight control stick and throttle, only in a less convinient position.

Shotgun SG

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.

Joe Black SG

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.

gjason SG

So does that mean that I gonna be a pilot first before being selected to be a WSO ?

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 ?

Shotgun SG

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.

Joe Black SG

...hmm... interesting....

but then being a Viper WSO is still more glamourous than a C-130 pilot right... hee hee... Smile

Shotgun SG

Don’t like C-130s can always go fly 747s.

Joe Black SG

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...

Shotgun SG

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.

Joe Black SG

... and eventually become either a CEO of a company or a PAP minister....

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...

Shotgun SG

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.

gjason SG

On the contrary, the WSO's wings is identical to the pilot's wings. Saw this at the website -
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.