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While I don't know the ages of those contributing out there, I'd hazard a guess. At the age I am now, I'd opt for being a mechanic! But when I was in my late teens and early twenties, I'd have given anything to have been able to make that time trip and become a pilot.
In the era before the Great War, a young man's view of war was based largely on carefully crafted paintings of heroic action and tales of glory. Today we should know better--there had been nothing like WW1 then. But, you know what? Youth cannot conceive of its own mortality. That's the reason soldiers are young and there's still no problem getting them to fight wars today. At that age, you just can't conceive of your own death until it's too late. The biggest difference today seems to be that it's movies and tv that create the lure of glory and adventure. It doesn't matter that they should know better...they still start smoking, too.
As for the aeroplane, I would also go for the Brisfit, with the S.E. a second choice. I don't think I would have made a good "rotary" pilot, and there's no way I'd choose Camels even if I were. A superb fighter, but those ground attack missions--not for me!
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