Desperately.
The wage disparity between USAF pilots and the private sector has led to a shortage of over 200 pilots this year.
QuoteFighter pilots were once considered such glamorous gigs that Tom Cruise played one in the hit Hollywood movie, "Top Gun." But now, three decades later, the U.S. Air Force is experiencing such a dire shortage that it's guaranteeing a $225,000 signing bonus -- $25,000 a year for nine years.
Source: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/23/air-force-fighter-pilots-signing-bonus/?test=latestnews&ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058
With the number of drones in service, are these dire predictions of a pilot shortage accurate? Or as time goes on will more aircraft be unmanned?
the USAF does more than just fly strike missions. I imagine that they are also hoping to fill slots for Air transport, air-to-air Refueling, etc.
they had me until I saw "over nine years" .... like that will help!