Why do fighter pilots act so cocky?

Question

Why do fighter pilots act so cocky?

Answer 1

because they have to be, acting like that all the time allows them to carry the same confidence into the cockpit and not worry about high risk maneuvers they have to do.  If they were questioning themselves every time they took off they would not be a very effective fighter pilot

Answer 2

because they can.. i mean common what would you do if you were an F-16 pilot??!! I would be cocky as h**l!! hahahaha

When they ask you what do you do for living?... "uhh not much I uhh just fly F-16's and kick lots ***.. hahahaha

Answer 3

because they are physically and mentally superior to the majority of the population

Answer 4

because they fill like it lol

good question :)

Answer 5

Because fighter aircraft and the fighter community are attractive mostly to people that are already cocky.  I haven't non-cocky people go into fighters and become cocky.  

Say you've got two pilots, one's cocky and likes to get things done himself, the other likes to work as a team.....do you want the first pilot in a plane with 5 crewmembers that are tired of his attitude, while a person that likes to work together is sitting all alone in a cockpit where he just isn't as comfortable?  No, you want the do it yourself guy alone in the fighter and the teamwork guy sitting there beside his co

Answer 6

Don't know. Maybe that's why you don't see many fighter pilots flying business jets. Some disciplines require some class as well as ability. Ex fighter jock interviewing for a job with me? Better have something more than cockyness.

And did someone actually say they were mentally superiour to the majority of the population? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Answer 7

If I thought I was going to lose, I wouldn't go.

Answer 8

Because you need a lot of confidence to fly a jet that costs tens of millions of dollars apiece.  And with all the training they go through, why not.  I'd be cocky too if my job involved flying a jet faster than the speed of sound while doing a barrel roll at 1,000 miles per hour.  

And if needed, and this is your purpose.  You have to have the confidence in yourself and skill to fight a war, and you can't be nervous, nice, or wishy-washy about it.  Otherwise, it cold cost you the jet, your wingman's life or yours, or all three.