It’s never been just about the airlines for me. I started producing these videos years ago because I’m an advocate for aviation, in general, and want you to experience the same feeling of accomplishment and love for your career that I do. By becoming a pilot, regardless of which track you choose, you’ll unlock so many unbelievable opportunities. What else do you want to see?

Air Force Informer: "It's basically a lawnmower with wings on it." WW2 war planes: Am I a joke to you?

“You have the aircraft” - what a treat that must have been. Amazing!

Will flight attendants please be seated for our 9 G roll!

You know you've made it as a pilot, when you becoming Thunderbird VIP Next video: Why I quit my airline career to join the Air Force. Great cinematography btw

“I have the aircraft” every kids dream to say that in an F16

My cousin went through the Academy with the goal of going into commercial when he was done with his commitment. He started out flying the military Leerjet and then was able to move into the KC-10. He ended up staying in the Air Force for a little longer than he had expected, but he made Major and ended up behind a desk not flying as much. At that point, he decided he was done, and now he's flying for Southwest.

I remember bragging all day when a pilot let me fly and land a skyhawk. This man just handed you the stick to a Thunderbird F16. How bout that

Awesome Swayne! A memory and experience of a lifetime. You know everyone wants to know, did you stay awake during the 9 G pull?

Watching this with my son, who wants to be “an Air Force man” when he grows up. 😬

So in terms of Naval Aviation specifically, there are a few pathways to get there eventually: Naval Academy, ROTC, and OCS. The Naval Academy and ROTC selection processes are pretty similar, and since it sounds like you are leaning towards a civilian college option right now, I’ll focus on ROTC. For ROTC, you’d apply for a ROTC slot first, either as a scholarship slot or simply a slot where you will be in the unit but not necessarily on a full 4-year scholarship. However, either way, when you are selected for ROTC (or there Naval Academy for that matter), this is guaranteeing that you’ll be afforded an Officer Commission in that service upon graduation, but you’ll still need to be selected for what specific job you’ll be doing (ie Pilot). This selection generally happens around November or December of your Senior year. Here are a few things that the selection board will generally be looking for when selecting people for Pilot: -Technical degree. They will tell you that the degree type doesn’t matter, but I don’t believe that this is true. From my experience, it seems to me that they will give much more weight to someone in a technical degree than someone with a degree in, say, the arts or social studies. Not to say that these people have a disadvantage, but I think that you have an advantage majoring in a technical degree just because it shows your aptitude for a technical field such as a Pilot. A Professional Flight degree would definitely fall into this category. -GPA. Grades will be considered as part of the selection process, and they’ll likely look at grades in technical courses specifically as well. I also believe that people in technical or more challenging degrees are given a bit more levity in terms of GPA when the board is considering them. -Health. If you don’t have 20/20 vision, you should be offered LASIK eye surgery to get you there-they will also make sure you have passed an aviation screening physical exam and are physically qualified for aviation (this is nothing crazy) -Aviation Aptitude Test. Depending on the service, you’ll take some form of an Aptitude test specially designed for aviation. For the Navy, this is known as the ASTB. It’s nothing crazy-some math, logical reasoning, problem solving, etc type questions, and then this mini-simulator where you’ll operate a joystick and throttle pressing certain buttons after certain commands, while listening to simulated radio communications, alarms, etc; it’s basically a test on your ability to multitask. This and the rest of the ASTB is nothing too crazy. There are lots of prep books you can use to prepare for it as well. -Extracurriculars. As always, they will look for well roundedness as well as displayed motivation and interest; if you have the ability to join Aviation-related extracurriculars, this will definitely help! Once you are selected for Aviation, you’ll finish out your time in school and then be assigned a training date to begin your initial Aviation training after your graduation and commissioning. Now OCS on the other hand, is a completely different process. For OCS, you don’t begin your military training until after you have already graduated and earned your degree, but thus the Military won’t be providing a scholarship. However, OCS is a much shorter training pipeline to become an officer (around 12 weeks I believe), and the best part is, you can very likely lock down a pilot slot before having to sign on the dotted line. You’ll likely be able to negotiate with your Officer recruiter and sign a Pilot contract that guarantees you a pilot slot upon finishing OCS. This is a significant benefit since you’ll know exactly what you are signing up for before committing to the Military. After finishing OCS, you’ll be an Ensign like everyone else from ROTC and the Naval Academy, and will get a start date to begin your aviation training. When you show up, you’ll be in the exact same boat as everybody else. For me specifically, I obviously went the Naval Academy route, so I had to compete to get my Pilot slot while I was in school-just like ROTC midshipmen have to do. I selected a technical major (Aeronautical engineering) not just because I thought it would prepare me well for flight training, but also because it was something I was interested in (I can’t stress that enough-choose something that you know you’ll enjoy. There is no requirement to have a specific major, but obviously doing the Professional Flight program will set you up well). From there, I just tried to do the best I could in school to keep my GPA high, did some prep work for the ASTB, and took every opportunity I could to get involved with Naval Aviation (summer cruises, trips, etc). I also got LASIK to make sure I’d be medically qualified. Luckily it worked out in the end and I got the pilot slot I was hoping for!

Well done!

What an amazing opportunity. You handles those 9Gs like a champ.

That's some very creative camera angles! Love that!

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am in awe of how you have managed your career, and your channel. Very talented young man!

That was sick man. Thank you for putting a smile on my face!

Thanks so much for an awesome insight into military flying Swayne. Such an awesome video - keep it up!

Good job Swayne! Great video..... congratulations on living your dream.

Did you know that you are like a hero? I really love the way that you do your videos. I can feel your passion in each video. The possibility that flies in a fighter aircraft is the top! Congratulations from Spain!

Superb video! I wanted to become a fighter pilot, but became a commercial pilot instead. Love that F-16s still sad that I could not make it there. But I love my job)

I go 14 on the 27th! As a present my mom is taking me to my first flight instruction, super excited!

Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! Jealous doesn’t even come close to describing how I feel. What a wonderful opportunity and production!

It’s funny you made this video now because I just started thinking seriously about a career in the Airforce. This video was great as always. Thanks Swayne. 👍

This is one of the most awesome videos you've done. Wow!

Love that you are inspiring so many young people to fly. I was a member of our Air Force and loved every minute of it. I am working on my commercial pilots licenses now, and restarting a lifelong dream that was taken from me several years ago by horrible flying instruction. Thank you. Keep this up.

Outstanding video recording and editing. What a great experience. Thanks for sharing !

Swayne that was so awesome and thank you for showing us all why taking flight is so great.

Swayne you are the man. So inspired by what you do. I’m about to start flight school and your videos have been a constant source of excitement and entertainment as I approach this time in my life. Hope to meet you one day, brother. Keep this up. Amazing video dude. Incredible.

I so envy you for this video, i'm applying to be an airforce pilot and this video just hit home

You are a cinematic genius. Those shots where the airplane rolled and the camera stayed stationary were so cool!

I’ve always enjoyed your videos Swayne they’re clear, concise and interesting and you really nail all the information an aspiring pilot needs to go forward, looking forward to seeing your progress, can’t wait for the day you get your first widebody gig! Good luck man and keep putting out great content!!

I wish that you and this video existed when I was younger. This is the path I’ve always wished I took and my biggest regret in life not taking. You’re so talented and your film and editing is so inspirational. I’ve been following you awhile and this is one of my favorite videos. I’ve been an avid Thunderbird fan and watch them every time they come to Chicago. F-16 is my favorite modern military fighter. Thanks for 10 minutes of dreaming. Looked awesome kid!

Awesome video Swayne! Can’t wait to see the Thunderbirds in August!

That was just truly amazing and intense! Swayne, you did a great job for us aviators to produce this high-quality content. Very inspirational! Now we all want to fly such F-16s! :-)

I was smiling ear-to-ear through this video! What an incredible career and opportunity you have! Inspiring!

Another great video! This was awesome!

Very informative. Thank you Swayne!

You look absolutely fantastic on that f16! This is a really great unique video and I loved it so much!

Thank you very much for this video. You have no idea how much it means to me!! I recently enlisted in the US Air Force with my ultímate goal of becoming a pilot. Thunderbirds amaze me since the first day I learned about them. Thank you very much for sharing this amazing experience!!! This video gets me pumped every time!!!

What a fantastic video. The camera work was the best I have seen. Stunning!!!

Best training in the world. Well done Swayne. 😉

Nice video! That's my home airport. Gotta love KCOS! One of the best views taking off you'll see.

Great content Swayne! Enjoyed it like all your videos! Keep them coming!

Outstanding! I was a member of the USAF Thunderbirds from 2013-2016

AMAMZING SWAYNE! What amazing experiences. Life is good! And new experiences in aviation make me smile too!!

Sweet, you look like this was a dream come true, that smile was amazing

Great upload! I love your passion keep up the great work! Wish I had done this when I was younger

Wow!....Thanks for the ride and info.!

Your best video so far! Keep up the great work. Inspiring!

This was a film to me these cinematics looks like a real pro that made them THANKS always dreamed about being a fighterpilot but i have been born too late so my lungs have a problem that is i cant handle so many g forces but what i can do is to hope that i can become a private pilot and fly with a little cessna. Have a great day thanks again for this awsomme vid! :D

that was the coolest video!!! thank you for posting!

Well done! Great video Swayne love it!

This is, without a doubt, the best video you've created. The attention to detail, especially with the shots during the rolls, is immense. Brilliant work!

This will keep me going!

Thank you very much. So greatful that a man like you is on this platform. Thank you

Great Job Swayne !

nice video thats awesome!

Awesome video

Great Vid Swayne! Love the footage.

This, this is my dream. Going to see the Thunderbirds at Nellis AF Base was the highlight of my younger years. I'm now a senior in high school, and I've applied to Embry-Riddle and ROTC. I pray I'll make it.

Awesome video Swayne! Wish the Thunderbirds would come to Canada next year.

Love your vids btw

Every time I see your name on my KZfaq homepage my entire week is completely made. You and your videos are wonderful!

everything in this vid is awesome, the view, the plane, the skill. love it

Theres many other Aviation careers like Air Ambulance Pilot, Cargo Pilot, Stunt Pilot, Rescue Helicopter Pilot and many others, even Air Force One Pilots. Aviation has many parts of it and each part has a pilot. Thanks for being an Inspiring person Swayne, and I'll remember you and your teachings when I become an airline pilot in the future.

Wow, what a video! Just wow.

This was amazing to watch!

I live your videos Swayne. It is some of the most valuable aviation in the internet. Thanks for being both an inspiration to me and to thousands of other aviation enthusiasts.

Great video! If you want the KC-10 tanker side of things, let me know.

Amazing video😍😍

Thank you for the links! My dream has been to become an airline pilot by serving this country in the Air Force. I've had a recruiter come to my school and talk about the Air force and well I'm yet to schedule an appointment. Can't wait!

Thanks Swayne, that's a great video with a clear explaination.

Love your videos so much! Keep it up, Swayne!

Waiting so long for this video and it was worth it

I love your channel man! Keep making these amazing videos!!!

I got vip passes to the Andrews Air Force base anniversary, it was amazing seeing the thunderbirds and meeting them all. It’s is my dream to be an Air Force pilot and I hope I will get a slot to fly any plane really lol!

Amazing, very good.

I was going to see the Thunderbirds in Mankato and fly there in a Cessna 182 so we filed a VFR and half way they close the hole airport down so we how to turn around back to KSGS

Great video,You are the man!!!!!

i bet that was cool as hell to take the controls, great video as always!

Dude, you got stick time on the Viper. Jealous!

Diversifying I see! Also saw you in Captain Joe’s video on taxiing on one engine... anyway, keep up the excellent work as always!

Swayne!!!! You continue to distinguish yourself! You are such an awesome inspiration to all of us! Keep up the great work man! 🤙🏼😎

Awesome video, Swayne! Keep up the great work. Looking forward to your next one.

I’m watching this cause I love planes and plane experience

Another awesome video, Swayne. Thanks for all your work putting these together.

5:00 i love the 360 camera its awesome! also the view of the fields look so cool

Hey martin, just wanna say I love your videos

Great video again ! How many cameras did you use and what are they like brand, model, etc... please. 😘

Amazing video dude, thanks for sharing

Great video man 🙏🙏

Other teens my age: *glow up, Tik Tok, Charli D’amelio stuff* Me: *JETS, AIR FORCE, AVIATION, JETS JETS JETS AND MORE JETS*

Unbelievable video, thanks for taking us along. Only issue is: Why so short, you could have kept me entertained for twice as long, lol.

This is so cool. I’m currently an Embry-Riddle student in flight training pursuing an airline career. I thought about becoming a military aviator but I feel the airlines are the best fit for me and my life. I was going to fly with the blue angels but weather sucked 😔Nice vid!

These shots and so entertaining. Very cool views.

I wish to become a airforce pilot since I’m just a 13 year old

Swayne talking about your airline career are you wanting to fly a different airplane And if so, which? Could you also make a video about how you can go and fly a different plane

Awesome video Swayne! It's cool that they even put your name on the canopy. Really great to see a variety of content on your channel. If you are going to Oshkosh next week, you should definitely make a video there.

Finally the video I was waiting for!

Dwayne I’m glad you did this video! My dad was an AF pilot, 28 years and I enlisted and did 4 years active duty! It’s a great thing to serve the country and super benefits! My dad flew fighters, bombers, tankers and OV-10 Forward Air Control..... Inspired me to become an airline pilot and now I teach pilots to fly biz jets, Citation X and Mustang, w worlds largest aviation training company!