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It always used to take a while:

First they have to learn to fly

Then they have to learn to fly fast

Then they have to learn to fly very fast while shooting at people, dropping bombs and generally staying alive.

but seven years seems a lot.

And attrition rates? High and variable. Not everyone is suitable as a Top Gun. I remember they had terrible problems with the Harrier OCU - some very, very good pilots just couldn't get the hang of them.