I read over at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/29/young_usaf_predator_pilot_officer_slam/ that when it comes to remote piloting drones a combination of automatic pilot and non-air trained pilots do better than “real” pilots. Describing those with no real air experience as “X box pilots” seems spookily reminiscent of “The Last Starfighter”. It’s always been a fantasy of gamers that they could do it for real - I guess even as far back as “Flight of the Phoenix” (the 1965 one - I haven’t seen the 2004 version).

Interestingly much of the article focuses on rank - normally pilots are officers - however because I’m a bit of a spitfire nut I can tell you that many of “the few” that won the Battle of Britain were Sergeant Pilots. Although they had a separate mess and had to salute their officers on the ground they could be flight commanders and give orders in the air. Indeed Ginger Lacey who shot down the He111 that bombed Buckingham Palace was a sergeant and when the King visited the squadron to congratulate him bought HRH a pint of bitter rather than his usual sherry as he talked him through the dog fight.

Anyway, if you’re on an aeroplane and worried looking stewards are looking for “anyone with piloting experience” maybe you can quote your 3,00o hours logged on MS Flight Simulator.