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| Pretty sure that's a student in the Front Seat. Helmets didn't get camouflaged until you went to your operational squadron. | Source |
So...There I was* ...A 2Lt, winged pilot about half way through F-4 Training at Luke AFB AZ. One of the nice things about Luke (and Arizona at the time) was there was a lot of airspace and not many people. Most of the Airspace was cleared for supersonic flight which while it sounds cool is really not that big a deal at least at altitude. The altimeter gives a little fluctuation as the shock wave transits its probe and that other than the instruments is about all there is. That having been said, it is very easy to GO supersonic in a modern (or even late 70's modern) fighter, and that IS a big deal if, say, you're over downtown Phoenix. The shock wave when it hits the ground, in addition to a big boom, tends to have an adverse effect on plate glass. Which can get expensive to replace, therefore...good to have wide open spaces with little to no people around.
But...I digress.
The F-4 being a two seat airplane that really can't be flown (employed as a fighter anyway) without both occupants. So...The training program flights starts out with an Instructor pilot in the back seat for the first ride and then you fly with an Instructor Weapons System Operator for the next several flights.
Technically, the guy in front, the 2LT, IS the aircraft commander. However, during the first day's "how ya doin'? " briefing by the training squadron commander, he made it perfectly clear that the IWSO in the back seat was in charge and if you didn't do what you were told by him, in virtually all cases, your time in the F-4 would be extremely short.
To be honest, I learned more from the Back Seater about flying and fighting in the Phantom than I did from the IP's flying in the other Phantom's in the flight. He's 6' behind you seeing/hearing/feeling every stupid thing that's going on instigated by you.
So for the first half of the program, there's a very competent aviator in the back seat doing his best to make sure you don't end up as a grease spot on some mountain peak. But there comes a point, when you need to grow a bit. That comes on the Crew Solo ride. On this ride, the IP is in the other jet as usual, but the guy in your pit (the unofficial name for the back seat) is a student much like you. The big difference is as the pilot, in pilot training, I've flown by myself several times. It's a bit tense at times, but generally, if you're not prone to trying stupid things, a lot of fun and pretty confidence building.
The student WSO, however, has never had this experience. So...pretty sure the tension level is a bit higher in the back seat than in the front.
ANYHOW, Lead briefs the mission, and it's usually an offensive BFM mission for the solo crew. Beans, that means it's the Students against the instructors in a 1 V 1 dogfight with the student's starting about 6000' behind and 30o off the instructor's tail. If it were "For Realsies", and the first time the instructors saw a bad guy was he was in that position, their probability of pumpkin soup on the menu that evening was likely the best outcome they could hope for.
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| This is a little closer than 6000' but this is what the attack looks like. | Source |
One of the objectives of the mission is for the students to work on crew coordination. Most of the weapons on the F-4 require actions by both occupants in order to have a successful launch (simulated of course in this case). That is the training objective for the mission.
In any case, we get all set up in position, and call fight's on. I turn towards Lead's tail as I'd like to employ a missile. Back seater is trying to get a lock, I'm trying to get the switches positioned and lead is pulling 6+ g's in his turn. As I glance up at the target, I notice he's no longer in my windscreen rather he's well above me and about 30 degrees off my nose and rolling his aircraft over me.
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| I would be the guy in the foreground, the Instructors are transitioning my 3/9 line and getting behind me. | Source |
He's flying a longer flight path than I. Meaning, very shortly, I will be out front of him.
So...it is written so it shall be. Now, the roles in my aircraft start to change, the WSO in my pit must gain sight, and direct my defensive actions to a large degree, as pilot visibility out the back is extremely limited. I should be pulling maximum g at this point, but we're trying to establish roles and plan.
Suffice it to say, during the debrief, the gun camera film made us movie stars.
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| This was pretty much the view in the video | Source |
The second engagement went a little bit better in that we survived for about a minute longer. And the third was about a minute longer than that.
Ego's well holstered and thankful that we were low on gas and had to return to base, we rejoined with lead and did so. Debrief was long and humbling, but extraordinarily educational. We left the debrief to go to our afternoon academics with the others in our class all of whom had been scheduled for Offensive BFM 1, the ride we were on.
All of them had similar results. A little bit of humbling reality helps with the learning curve.
And this will set the stage for my next post.
* This is how ALL Fighter Pilot stories start...
Really informative juvat since I've never run across anyone with experiences like you. Can't wait for the next post.
ReplyDeleteNylon,
DeleteThanks, but the next post will detail a different kind of "Crew Solo".
Good stuff juvat!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Boss!
DeleteJuvat, I find this incredibly fascinating as I have precisely zero experience in flying except to "keep my tray table in its full, upright, and locked position". It does seem like there is a lot going on - as I handle stress and multiple activities poorly, likely the grease spot on the mountain/pumpkin soup outcome would be mine.
ReplyDeleteTHBB,
DeleteYour flying experiences exactly mirror mine lately, so I can empathize. As to stress, handling that is one of the first and most important things learned in flying (and almost certainly all other forms of Military Life) and we did have a couple of guys wash out of our class because they couldn't handle it. But better to be a live wash out than a grease spot. I've known a few of each. Both are sobering.
When I was young, the local airport was handy for touch and goes for military pilots. Mostly, C-3's used the airport, but NASA used it to keep out of the busy airspace around Houston.
ReplyDeleteOne afternoon, as I was looking out the patio door, a tremendous boom, a momentary glimpse of five jets above the trees, and a fascinating observation of plate glass undulating like a glass of water happened in a few seconds. I really can't describe the boom, but close thunder doesn't come close to the sound.
The next day, the local newspaper reported how five Apollo astronauts were disciplined for their supersonic, low level flight over the city. Who they were wasn't reported, but I have a feeling some night before consumption of adult beverages, maybe a bet, or a little revenge led to the astronauts having a little fun during a training flight. At that time, those that went to the Moon were in training, probably couldn't be hanged for murder, and considering where they were going, had little fear of anything.
Jess,
DeleteHad a similar event happen when my Dad was stationed at Webb AFB. After a UPT graduation, one of the static display aircraft (IIRC an F-100) decided to make a high speed low level pass over the runway after he took off for his departure. I thought it was cool as all get out and probably sealed my decision to be a pilot. However, the command structure of the base took a different view.
As to the Lunar Astronauts, I think your last statement is quite accurate in its entirety.
They could do no wrong, and a lot of them bought cars from the Chevy dealership in Melbourne, FL. Not uncommon for said astronauts to be stretching the ability of their corvettes and other vehicles on the local highways and biways and the police looking the other way. Not so much outside of Brevard County (where the Cape and at-the-time Patrick AFB are) as some of the more hick-ish counties around BC weren't so tolerant of the shenanigans of the 'Nauts.
DeleteTimes changed, the dealership is still there but from what I hear trying to exceed the speed of sound on highways and byways is much more verboten now than then.
Times have changed. And not for the better. Hero's are important for the future of our country and, unfortunately, none of them are in politics.
DeleteLong ago, before the look down, shoot down missiles were available, with a good crew, the old time B-52 would defeat F-4s and other fighters during low altitude flight in the Red Flag areas. One Eagle worked really hard to get a shot at one of my friend's BUFF. He did and the BUFF crew was diverted to Nellis for debrief because of their extremely good defensive flight pattern. The Eagle pilot debriefed his shot and in his film you could see that he forgot about the ground and missed Mother Earth by only a foot or so.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the fighters would roost where they knew the bombers had to enter the Red Flag areas, but if you flew less than a mile left or right of centerline, they would not find you. Interesting times.
Dave,
DeleteI've seen that film. They, when I was participating in Red Flags, showed that at the opening day exercise briefing. It had several "near misses". Which always got a few comments from the audience. The last episode in the video wasn't a near miss and it always shut the audience up. Still brings a bit of a chill to think about it.
As a flight commander, I lost one of the guys in my flight to a mid-air. Still think about him.
It is a testament to how well overbuilt the B-52s are that they transitioned from high and subsonic to Nap of the Earth Balls to the Wall very well. Amazing aircraft, and will be interesting to see how the fleet handles the re-engining program and that 20-30% more max power that will be available, along with some other changes.
DeleteMere sonic booms are nothing. Back in the Bad Old Days when GFAFB was SAC, late one night a B52 was having problems and circling low to burn off fuel before landing. There was a swelling roar that seemed to fill the world while I was idly listening to the CB channel "There's a B52! And he is really low!" (The B52 circled a couple more time and there were more swelling roars sounding like more B52s). Now why would B52s be vectored out low one after another over a city? Had a chilling thought, and turned on the AM radio to see if only CORAD stations were broadcasting. A coworker called her sister living out by the base the same night to ask if there was anything going on.
DeleteBeans,
DeleteTimes change. Flying the F-4, going against a low flying aircraft required heat seekers or guns. The heaters were about an even chance, going for the engines or the ground. The guns? Well, the range of the gun is shortened for the chaser and lengthened for the chasee. I'll leave that to your imagination.
Don,
DeleteI can imagine that BP would go up, if multiple aircraft with the ability to reschedule sunrise multiple times were scrambled. Fortunately, I never was close enough to one of those bases to have that privilege.
The first part of your post reminded me of this video. https://youtube.com/shorts/14maUn5SJHs?feature=share
ReplyDeleteTuna,
DeleteInteresting. Doesn't take much, does it?
To stand on the wrong side of a long blue table? Or to do the number in the F-4? Haha
DeleteMust be interesting juggling the changing speed of sound as one deals with altitude. Strange question, did the SoS change with air pressure changes, like could you be flying in a low pressure zone and hit the high pressure zone and suddenly you're breaking the sound barrier? Or did you ever try to use that as excuse?
DeleteTuna,
DeleteThat's a bit to cryptic for me. Long Blue Table?
Beans,
DeleteNot really, Airspeed was displayed numerous ways. Indicated Air Speed, Ground Speed and Mach Number. Indicated meant how much air was moving across the wings (I.E. how well you could continue flying). Ground Speed (how long it took you to go somewhere). Mach Number, how close you were to busting glass. Fortunately, most of my flying was in the Pacific. There weren't many restrictions when you're a couple of hundred miles out to sea.
I can see where the responsibility of commanding a 2-man plane could be intense. Another set of eyes and hands are nice, but if you screw up another person's life is in your hands. Heavy weighs the crown sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteDid they ever stick you front seaters in the back so you could see what it was like (and, probably, terrorize you?)
Beans,
DeleteThere was a lot of stress added to the UPT program. I trust it was to see if you could handle it. We had a few folks voluntarily withdraw for that reason. Better safe than sorry, I guess.
As to riding in the back seat, not to the best of my knowledge.
Ah yes, the 'humbling' debriefs... I think we've all had them in training at least once...
ReplyDeleteOldNFO, I'd have been ecstatic if it had only happened once. But then again, I'm a slow learner.
Delete