How Tall to Fly in the Air Force
WouterIf you are over six feet and want to join the Air Force, you have a few options. One option is becoming an unmanned aircraft pilot. But if you are over six feet, you may not be able to make it through the selection process. You may need to go through a special screening process.
When you’re applying to the Air Force, you must be tall enough to fit in the aircraft that you’ll be flying. The height requirements range from five feet and four inches to six feet five inches, depending on the branch. The reason for the range is to ensure that candidates fit into operational and prerequisite training aircraft.
The Air Force has recently changed its height standards to encourage a more diverse pool of applicants. No longer do officers have to be six feet tall to fly. The policy adjusts the minimum height requirement for enlisted flight officers who want to fly. This way, applicants who are less than 64 inches tall will not have to request a waiver. A medical and operations screening process will be used to ensure that candidates are physically fit.
The Air Force uses lasers to determine the proper height of a pilot. A male fighter pilot should be at least five feet eleven inches tall and weigh between 121 and two hundred and fifty pounds. Female fighter pilots should be between five feet four and five feet seven inches tall.
