Josh Blewett, a Year 8 student at Greenwood High gets up close and personal with PLTOFF Scott Bosman and FLGOFF Pete Lambert.

Aspiring fast jet pilots got first hand information about what it takes to get into the cockpit of an F-18 fighter jet when three pilots visited Greenwood Senior High School's Aviation Careers Expo recently.

The pilots, from No. 2 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce Bullsbrook, were among the many exhibitors representing a wide range of aviation employers.

Into its seventh year, the careers expo attracted over 1000 people.

'The Aviation Careers Expo is aimed at promoting the many and varied careers available in aviation to as wide a group of young people as possible,' said Marion Brown of the Aeronautics Department.

Pilot Officer Scott Bosman, a recent pilot graduate, said the Air Force would be experiencing a shortage of pilots in the future and they were looking to recruit more pilots over the coming years.

'It gives us a good opportunity to provide first hand information to those interested in a flying career in the RAAF,' he said.

The course for RAAF pilots involves a steep learning curve with lots of pressure and stress, according to Flying Officer Pete Lambert. 'You only fly once or twice a day but you still have to sit down and do three hours study at the end of the day,' he said.

Women pilots were welcome and there were now no more restrictions by the airforce about what kind of jets they were able to fly.

The basic requirements to enter the pilot training course were Maths, English and Physics.

By FLTLT Paul Reddacliff