It seems terribly unfair that in this situation the person behaving recklessly had the best tools for surviving after the crash happened. Just how things go I guess.
This is actually part of why the United States Air Force skips over a lot of 'important' general aviation training. The Air Force goal is to quickly train people for very specific and demanding roles and the tools to be say a great glider pilot are considered relatively unimportant.
Unfortunately, AF pilots often confuse the ability to excel in specific very demanding roles as far more general aviation experience.
This is actually fairly untrue, as the AF is one of the only curriculum that enforces glider training. An ATP (air transport pilot) needs 1500h at least, but none of them in a glider :)
This is incorrect. The USAF put great emphasis on airmanship, to a level beyond what it expected for a GA pilot in a Cessna.
Also, the USAF Academy is famous for their gliding program. One of the glider pilots who trained at USAFA subsequently flew as US Airlines 1549 and glided into the Hudson.
There are two main tracks in the AF, bomber/cargo/tankers get have a much larger emphasis on gliding as fighter’s really can't glide for crap. "Approximately 50 percent of cadets are enrolled in a soaring course during their third-class year." http://www.academyadmissions.com/the-experience/military/air...
The AF does promote people learning more general skills in their free time, but fighter jets are very special aircraft and that tracks focus is defiantly on becoming a better fighter pilot not just a well rounded pilot.
