[paffy]

Also think about this - as a commercial pilot, you spend most of your time training and preparing for things that will most likely never happen to you. So there you sit in your cockpit, knowing all this stuff about what to do when you get a sudden rudder reversal, engine flame out, total failure of pretty much anything, how to land blindfolded in a blizzard etc. and never use any of it (plus you pray every day you'll never need to).

As an aeronautic engineer, you'll be using your mind to its limit every day. With the military slowly acknowledging the usefulness of UAVs, there will be most likely more and more development in that area, so it's not like you'll be stuck designing lighter passenger chairs for 34th revision of 747. Then again, if you get tired of it, you might as well start designing bridges or something...

In meantime, you should have enough money to get yourself a plane and fly for fun, or play golf if you get tired of planes.

I see you're giving this a lot of thought, and analyzing your options - that's an excellent sign !

I'm sure whatever you decide, will be the right choice for you.

P.