Title: aircraft design - Why do some fighter jets have two pilots while others have only one? - Aviation Stack Exchange
Headings: 
Why do some fighter jets have two pilots while others have only one?
9 Answers
9
Your Answer
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged aircraft-design fighter cockpit jet or ask your own question.

Content: Share
Improve this answer
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:59
Community ♦
1
answered Jun 1 '15 at 9:45
habu
habu
2,822 10
10 silver badges
17
17 bronze badges
2
Add a comment
|
3
The primary reason any fighter aircraft would be designed for two crew members is work load. As avionics, sensors and weapon systems advance they become easier for a single pilot to operate, which is why far fewer fighter aircraft have two crew members now than in the past. Share
Improve this answer
answered Jun 1 '15 at 15:26
Joel M.
Joel M.
889 6
6 silver badges
12
12 bronze badges
Add a comment
|
1
Two-pilot versions of almost all military planes exist (including the SR-71 until its retirement). They are for training pilots to fly them. Share
Improve this answer
answered Jun 1 '15 at 19:51
Joshua
Joshua
145 8
8 bronze badges
2
Add a comment
|
1
Others have already provided many details on the uses for two-seat fighters, US names and practices, etc. but note that for the Rafale specifically, the two-seat variant is not merely a training version. In fact, some users, including the French Air Force, have more two-seat than single-seat planes. The person seating in the second seat is often a “navigator” who assists the pilot and operates the weapon systems but I think that their controls are exactly the same so that the plane could be piloted from the back seat. Note that the Rafale was not designed as a fighter but as “multirole” aircraft, doing everything including reconnaissance, ground attack,