What is an Armchair Pilot?
An armchair pilot is an aviation enthusiast who is not actually qualified to fly an aircraft. Much like armchair generals, armchair pilots are typically very well read, and they know a great deal about aviation. Armchair pilots may choose to work in some aspect of the aviation industry to be closer to planes, or they may have entirely separate careers, treating their interest in aviation as a side hobby, rather than a calling. The term dates back to the 1930s, when the United States Military began requiring its pilots to pass flight tests to ensure that they were fit for duty, rather than allowing them to turn into armchair pilots who only flew swivel chairs behind desks. As often happens with military terms, the concept spread to civilian society, where armchair pilots abound. In some cases, an armchair pilot becomes well versed in aviation and related topics with the intent of someday obtaining a pilot’s license. He or she may join an aviation club and start taking flight training an
