Will fighter pilots be around a couple decades from now? Probably, because a.) air power is one of the deciding factors in war, and b.) the defense industry makes a fortune building jets for the military.

However, Americans really don't like seeing their pilots die in foreign countries. They'd much rather a brainless hunk of metal take the hit. Fighter jets and their pilots are being replaced with drones and drone operators instead. The Air Force and Navy are still flying high, but more and more it's from the comfort of a control room miles from the battlefield.

The change is happening, but it's not going to happen quickly and defense contractors will take whatever money they can get. So as long as Uncle Sam insists on throwing taxpayer dollars at companies like Lockheed Martin for a bunch of new-and-improved jets with seats, fighter pilots will have jobs. But we wouldn't count on this gig lasting forever, Ace.

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