Best Fighter Pilot Quotes | Short & Famous Sayings

“The most dangerous bird is a fighter pilot.”

Bird Birds Fighter Pilot Bird Quotes Bird Quotations Birds Quotes Pilot Quotes Aviators Pilot Quote

“Flying blind is scary. But not as scary as dying grounded”

Source: Caliban’s Flight

“Before I became a fighter pilot, everyone said that women didn't have the physical strength. Well, I had just completed the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon.”

Wells Said Fighter Pilots Hawaii Physical Strength Fighter Pilot Triathlon Ironman

Author:Martha McSally

“Fighting in the air is not sport. It is scientific murder.”

Fighting Sports Air Military Murder Aviation Combat Fighter Pilot Military Aviation

Author:Eddie Rickenbacker

“We never had books at home, but my dad, seeing how keen I was to read, took me to Islington Library when I was about eight and we pulled out two - a Biggles and a science fiction novel. I never got the ace fighter pilot but fell in love with all things to do with the future and space. Isaac Asimov soon became my guiding star.”

Two Book Home Stars Space Fiction Novel Seeing Dad All Things Science Fiction Library My Dad Eight Fighter Things To Do Pilots Isaac Aces Fighter Pilot Guiding Stars Fiction Novels

Author:Gary Kemp

“I just personally decided I was going to be the first woman fighter pilot.”

Firsts Decided Fighter Pilots Fighter Pilot

Author:Martha McSally

“I think it is love of that blue vault of sky that becomes your playground if, and only if, you are a fighter pilot. You don't understand it if you fly from A to B in straight and level, and merely climb and descend. You're moving through the basement of that bolt of blue.”

Ifs Thinking Moving Levels Sky Blue Flight Fighter Climbs Aviation Pilots Bolts Basements Playgrounds Ifs And Vaults Fighter Pilot

Author:Robin Olds

“As a youngster, I read of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. As a student, I wrote English reports on science fiction. And as a fighter pilot, I observed the selection of the Mercury astronauts. All this was fascinating, but I really didn't think I would ever be a part of it. It was only when my good friend Ed White was selected as a Gemini astronaut that I decided to join NASA as part of the Apollo program.”

“I think I was about 16 when I first figured I wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be a fighter pilot before that, but then I thought I don't want to kill people so that ruled that out.”

People Thinking Want Firsts Wanted Actors Fighter Pilots Fighter Pilot

Author:Max Irons

“I've played a super soldier, a doctor, a World War II fighter pilot, a professional footballer, and a meth-dealing junkie. All those things allow you to educate yourself about different worlds that you have to get familiar with.”

World Different War Doctors Soldier Familiar Fighter War Of The Worlds Educate World War Ii Pilots World War I Footballer Different Worlds Junkie Fighter Pilot

Author:Robert Kazinsky

“I've always wanted to be a fighter pilot. But I don't want to kill people. I'd hate to.”

People Want Wanted Hate Fighter Pilots Fighter Pilot

Author:Max Irons

“The Age of Average gave us a lot. Take clothing: We've all benefited remarkably from large, medium and small sizes making things affordable and available, but when it really counts - the wedding gown and the pressurized fighter pilot suit - it's bespoke all the way.”

Way Age Average Size Available Mediums Suits Fighter Clothings Pilots Affordable Gowns Fighter Pilot

Author:L. Todd Rose

“And there were sort of three toys for boys and three toys for girls. And the boys I can remember was, well, there was a Dan Dare Ray Gun. Dan Dare was a sort of a cartoon character. He was just sort of a - he was like a Battle of Britain fighter pilot, only in space.”

Wells I Can Character Remember Girl Three Space Boys Battle Gun Dare Fighter Britain Rays Pilots Toys Cartoon Cartoon Character Fighter Pilot Battle Of Britain

Author:Nick Lowe

“Fighter pilots rove in the area allotted to them in any way they like, and when they spot an enemy they attack and shoot them down.... Everything else is rubbish.”

Way Enemy Areas Spots Fighter Pilots Rubbish Fighter Pilot

Author:Manfred von Richthofen

“I've always been intrigued by fighter pilots and strategy because it occurs in like, milliseconds, you know.”

Knows Strategy Fighter Pilots Intrigued Fighter Pilot

Author:Robert Greene

“If you would've asked me about getting a pilot's license before 2005, I'd say you were crazy. After I graduated college, a fighter pilot asked me if I wanted to go up on a flight in a single-engine plane. I always had a fear about being in an airplane, but I took this opportunity to go up on my first flight in a single-engine rather than a big commercial plane I was accustomed to. I was hooked and made a commitment to become a pilot. I wanted to motivate others to not let fear stand in the way of their opportunities.”

Ifs Way Firsts Made Bigs Wanted Opportunity Crazy College Commitment Flight Fighter Planes Engines Pilots Airplane Accustomed License Hooked Fighter Pilot

Author:Jessica Cox

“Fighter pilots have ice in their veins. They don't have emotions. They think, anticipate. They know that fear and other concerns cloud your mind from what's going on and what you should be involved in.”

Thinking Knows Should Mind Emotion Involved Concern Clouds Ice Fighter Pilots Veins Anticipate Fighter Pilot

Author:Buzz Aldrin

“Adolf Galland said that the day we took our fighters off the bombers and put them against the German fighters, that is, went from defensive to offsensive, Germany lost the air war. I made that decision and it was my most important decision during World War II. As you can imagine, the bomber crews were upset. The fighter pilots were ecstatic.”

“There's a lot of Hollywood bullshit about flying. I mean, look at the movies about test pilots or fighter pilots who face imminent death. The controls are jammed or something really important has fallen off the plane, and these guys are talking like magpies; their lives are flashing past their eyes, and they're flailing around in the cockpit. It just doesn't happen. You don't have time to talk. You're too damn busy trying to get out of the problem you're in to talk or ricochet around the cockpit. Or think about what happened the night after your senior prom.”

“Fighter pilot is an attitude. It is cockiness. It is aggressiveness. It is self-confidence. It is a streak of rebelliousness, and it is competitiveness. But there's something else - there's a spark. There's a desire to be good. To do well; in the eyes of your peers, and in your own mind.”

Source: Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds

“Everything I had ever learned about air fighting taught me that the man who is aggressive, who pushes a fight, is the pilot who is successful in combat and who has the best opportunity for surviving battle and coming home.”

Men Home Fighting Opportunity Successful Air Taught He Man Battle Aviation Coming Home Combat Aggressive Pilots Surviving Best Opportunity Fighter Pilot

Book:Thunderbolt! The Extraordinary Story of a World War II Ace

Source: Thunderbolt! The Extraordinary Story of a World War II Ace

“I was a fighter pilot, flying Hurricanes all round the Mediterranean. I flew in the Western Desert of Libya, in Greece, in Syria, in Iraq and in Egypt.”

Western Rounds Iraq Flying Fighter Desert Pilots Syria Egypt Greece Hurricanes Flew Libya Fighter Pilot

Book:Boy: Tales of Childhood

Source: Boy: Tales of Childhood

“A top World War II ace once said that fighter pilots fall into two broad categories: those who go out to kill and those who, secretly, desperately, know they are going to get killed-the hunters and the hunted.”

Knows World Said Two War Fall Fighter War Of The Worlds Aviation Broads Categories Combat World War Ii Pilots World War I Hunters Hunted Aces Fighter Pilot

Author:Nathan Farragut Twining

“The duty of the fighter pilot is to patrol his area of the sky, and shoot down any enemy fighters in that area. Anything else is rubbish.”

Enemy Sky Duty Areas Fighter Aviation Combat Pilots Rubbish Fighter Pilot Fighter Jets

Author:Manfred von Richthofen

“Anybody who doesn't have fear is an idiot. It's just that you must make the fear work for you. Hell when somebody shot at me, it made me madder than hell, and all I wanted to do was shoot back.”

Made Wanted Hell Military Shots Idiot Combat Fighter Pilot

Author:Robin Olds

“The most important thing in fighting was shooting, next the various tactics in coming into a fight and last of all flying ability itself.”

Important Lasts Fighting Next Ability Military Important Things Various Flying Shooting Aviation Combat Pilots Tactics Air Force Aces Aviator Fighter Pilot

Author:Billy Bishop

“When one has shot down one's first, second or third opponent, then one begins to find out how the trick is done.”

Firsts Done Shots Thirds Tricks Opponents Aviation Combat Fighter Pilot

Book:The Red Baron

Source: The Red Baron

“Go in close, and when you think you are too close, go in closer.”

Thinking Aviation Combat Pilots Fighter Pilot Military Aviation

Author:Thomas McGuire

“Their element is to attack, to track, to hunt, and to destroy the enemy. Only in this way can the eager and skillful fighter pilot display his ability. Tie him to a narrow and confined task, rob him of his initiative, and you take away from him the best and most valuable qualities he posses: aggressive spirit, joy of action, and the passion of the hunter.”

“Aggressiveness was a fundamental to success in airtoair combat and if you ever caught a fighter pilot in a defensive mood you had him licked before you started shooting.”

Ifs Fundamentals Caught Mood Fighter Shooting Aviation Combat Pilots Aggressiveness Fighter Pilot

Author:David McCampbell

“The smallest amount of vanity is fatal in aeroplane fighting. Selfdistrust rather is the quality to which many a pilot owes his protracted existence.”

Fighting Existence Quality Amount Vanity Aviation Combat Pilots Smallest Aeroplanes Fighter Pilot Military Aviation Being Spoiled

Book:Fighting the Flying Circus

Source: Fighting the Flying Circus

“The air battle is not necessarily won at the time of the battle. The winner may have been determined by the amount of time, energy, thought and training an individual has previously accomplished in an effort to increase his ability as a fighter pilot.”

May Has Beens Individual Energy Ability Effort Air Amount Battle Training Increase Determined Fighter Winner Accomplished Aviation Combat Pilots Fighter Pilot

Author:Pappy Boyington

“If I were, to pick out the most valuable personal traits of a fighter pilot, aggressiveness would rate high on the list. Time and again, I have seen aggressive action, even from a disadvantageous position, completely rout a powerful Nip formation.”

Ifs Action Powerful Position Picks Rate Valuable Lists Fighter Aviation Combat Aggressive Pilots Traits Formation Aggressiveness Fighter Pilot

Author:Charles H. MacDonald

“There are pilots and there are pilots; with the good ones, it is inborn. You can't teach it. If you are a fighter pilot, you have to be willing to take risks.”

Ifs Teach Risk Willing Fighter Aviation Combat Pilots Fighter Pilot

Author:Robin Olds

“An excellent weapon and luck had been on my side. To be successful, the best fighter pilot needs both.”

Needs Sides Successful Weapons Luck Fighter Excellent Being Successful Aviation Combat Pilots Fighter Pilot

Book:The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

Source: The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

“To be a good fighter pilot, there is one prime requisite think fast, and act faster.”

Thinking Fighter Faster Aviation Prime Combat Pilots Good Fight Fighter Pilot

Book:The look of eagles

Source: The look of eagles

“Beware the lessons of a fighter pilot who would rather fly a slide rule than kick your ass!”

Lessons Ass Fighter Kicks Aviation Combat Pilots Slides Fighter Pilot

Author:Ron McKeown

“The closest modern equivalent to the Homeric hero is the ace fighter pilot.”

Modern Hero Fighter Aviation Combat Pilots Closest Aces Fighter Pilot

Author:W. H. Auden

“The most important thing for a fighter pilot is to get his first victory without too much shock.”

Firsts Important Too Much Victory Important Things Fighter Shock Aviation Combat Pilots Fighter Pilot

Author:Werner Molders

“It is true to say that the first kill can influence the whole future career of a fighter pilot. Many to whom the first victory over the opponent has been long denied either by unfortunate circumstances or by bad luck can suffer from frustration or develop complexes they may never rid themselves of again.”

Source: The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

“As a fighter pilot I know from my own experiences how decisive surprise and luck can be for success, which in the long run comes only to the one who combines daring with cool thinking.”

Thinking Knows Long Running My Own Luck Surprise Fighter Aviation Combat Pilots Daring Long Runs Fighter Pilot

Author:Adolf Galland

“By interviewing at least one veteran, you can preserve memories that otherwise might be lost. My uncle was a downed fighter pilot and P.O.W. in World War II, and I am looking forward to recording his story for inclusion in the project.”

World War Stories Might Lost Memories Projects Fighter Preserves War Of The Worlds World War Ii Inclusion Pilots World War I Uncles Veteran Looking Forward Fighter Pilot

Author:Spencer Bachus

“Many pilots of the time were the opinion that a fighter pilot in a closed cockpit was an impossible thing, because you should smell the enemy. You could smell them because of the oil they were burning.”

Should Opinion Enemy Impossible Smell Oil Fighter Burning Pilots Impossible Things Fighter Pilot Cockpit

Author:Adolf Galland

“The general's staff is a handpicked collection of killers, spies, geniuses, patriots, political operators and outright maniacs. There's a former head of British Special Forces, two Navy Seals, an Afghan Special Forces commando, a lawyer, two fighter pilots and at least two dozen combat veterans and counterinsurgency experts. They jokingly refer to themselves as Team America, taking the name from the South Park-esque sendup of military cluelessness, and they pride themselves on their can-do attitude and their disdain for authority.”

“I didn't really want to be an actor when I was growing up - I wanted to be whatever I was reading about or seeing at the time. When I read The Firm I wanted to be a lawyer; when I saw Top Gun, I wanted to be a fighter pilot. So that's why acting probably turned out to be a good thing for me because I get to be people for five minutes or 90 minutes. I'd be curious to see if I had the attention span to be like those guys on 30 Rock and play the same character season after season.”

“The colossus of World War II seemed to be like a pyramid turned upside down, and for the moment the whole burden of the war rested on the few hundred German fighter pilots on the Channel coast.”

World War Whole Moments Hundred Down And Burden Fighter War Of The Worlds World War Ii Pilots World War I Coast Pyramids Upside Down Fighter Pilot Colossus

Book:The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

Source: The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

“The qualities that made for success in a fighter-pilot seemed to be just those sturdy qualities that made for success in other professions; observation, initiative, determination, courage, including the courage to run away. In course of time it appeared that men who had a private axe to grind beyond the public axe of the King's enemies were especially successful.”

Source: The Sky Suspended: A Fighter Pilot's Story

“A lot of people think Formula One isn't a sport because everyone drives a car when they go to work in the morning. But we're pulling up to six G on a corner or during breaking, which is almost like being a fighter pilot. So we have to do a lot of work on our neck muscles.”

People Thinking Sports Morning Car Six Corners Fighter Muscles Necks Formulas Pilots Pulling Formula One Fighter Pilot

Author:Jenson Button

“I landed the role of Bravo 5, the only female fighter pilot in 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.' I did my bit and fired my guns, but I haven't a notion of which side I was on or who I was firing the guns at.”

War Stars Bits Sides Roles Havens Gun Female Notion Fighter Pilots Episodes Phantoms Menace Firing Fighter Pilot Bravo

Author:Celia Imrie

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Fighter Pilot Quotes