Day in the life of a F-35 Fighter Pilot Day in the life of a F-35 Fighter Pilot and last updated 2021-05-12 23:37:57-04 HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah â While most only see a quick glimpse of a fighter pilot as they fly a jet overhead, FOX 13 got a behind-the-scenes look at some of the things that pilots are tasked with before takeoff. "Typically, if we're scheduled to fly it'll be a 12-hour duty day, so we'll show up, we'll prepare for the flight itself, whether it be by studying or putting up mission boards to get everyone in the flight on the same page," said Capt. Chris 'Clutch' Shannon, a pilot for the 421st Fighter Squadron with the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base. "Then, we'll brief the mission about two-and-a-half hours prior to takeoff, that will take approximately an hour and then we'll come into the aircrew flight equipment room to put on all our gear."