Truth be told, the only "stick time" I have in miltary planes is in an old T-34 prop-job and a couple C128s and C130s. (The T-34 WOULD glide reasonably well as long as its wings and tail were still attached ).
I DO fully understand that there are MAJOR differences with jets, and what I was doing was passing on things that I had heard in my (much) younger years from Naval aviators with whom I was aqainted (who are, of course, renowned for their ability to tell "stories" to impress the impressionable). As your anecdote shows, the REAL story is often not as glamorous.
I absolutely meant no disrespect to this particular aviator or to any other military pilots/aviators, as I hope you were able to glean from my subsequent comments.
Thank you also for being cordial and friendly in your discourse, unlike some new-comers around here.
No problem. I’ve got to stay friendly with my fellow second ammendment guardians.
Having once worn the wings myself, albeit as a prop guy, I just get a little agitated when people try to second guess a pilot’s reaction in an emergency. Now I know how former quarterbacks feel reading the sports pages. :o)