[QUOTE=Tom_Cervo;444178]
One impression I got from the Tailhook controversey was that helo pilots aren't regarded with the same respect as fighter or strike pilots. Hard to believe of any organization that regards itself as professional, or sane--unless someone thinks that subs are averted and pilots are rescued by the aura of their own perfection.
AKA "You know I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am."
QUOTE]
Definitely absolutely not true. I was in The Tailhook Thing from before the beginning til after the end. yes, at one point there was Helicopter Discrimination, but that was before The Vietnam Thing. (Helo pilot to fighter pilots: "When you're down in the water and the sampans are coming to get you, call for a Phantom to pick you up.")
Fact is, roughly half of all golden wingers are "rotorheads", and there were helo guys and gals on the assn. board of directors as well as editor of the journal. So The Admiral's Aide was not disdained on account of her hardware. Rawther, it was her attitude. She and some others went looking for trouble and found it. When you think "Tailhook scandal", think Naval Leadership Scandal because that's far more accurate. The leadership failure started with the bush leaguers and went downhill from there.