Title: aircraft design - Why do some fighter jets have two pilots while others have only one? - Aviation Stack Exchange
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Why do some fighter jets have two pilots while others have only one?
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Content: Though not fighter aircraft, I believe that the SR-71 backseat crewmember operated the reconnaissance equipment as the single crewmember on the U2 was often overloaded with keeping the thing in the coffin corner and operating the reconnaissance equipment. Jan and Habu mention in the comments that the SR-71 backseat crew member was also the navigator and operated the ECM equipment. Additional comments mention that the B-1B consists of four crew members: two pilots, an OSO (offensive systems operator), and a DSO (defensive systems operator). The B2 has two crew members, both pilots, and while one is flying the other can rest, navigate, or operate the weapons system. Thanks to Jan, Habu, and Joel for comments and clarifications! Share
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edited Jul 13 '15 at 19:06
answered Jun 1 '15 at 12:06
dotancohen
dotancohen
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It's primarily a question of pilot workload and military policy at design time. You'll notice that the primary two-seat fighters and attack planes in the U.S. armed forces (designation F or A) were designed in the late Korean through Vietnam eras, representing the third and early fourth generation of fighter design. This was a critical period of transition from the fighter philosophy of the World Wars and Korea, primarily day fighters engaging in visual-range combat with guns, to modern air combat involving all-weather precision engagements beginning BVR through use of radar, missiles and targeting computers. As these systems were added to fighter cockpits in the early "century series", developing what would eventually be known as the "multirole fighter", pilot workload grew dramatically compared to the relatively simple layouts and weapons systems of propeller and early jet dogfighters.