"Grumpy Check." "Two!"

Well had my first formation ride today. What a rush! Flying ten feet (yes...ten) from another T-6 going well over 200 knots.

It was pretty epic to say the least. Using a combination of hand signals and voice communications between the two aircraft we went out into the MOA (Military Operating Area) and messed around. The instructor pilots would help out a lot since this was our first time (self preservation comes to mind), but I did a lot of flying as well. It's crazy, scary, awesome, and exciting all at the same time.

Then we got to go into a formation called "fighting wing" where basically its a crazy game of follow the leader. The trailing aircraft (called: two) goes 500-1000 ft behind lead (one) and then lead is free to do whatever they want!!!

Our IP's demoed this and it was awesome! Immediately lead rolled 130 degrees and pulled down and right (I was in two) and my IP followed. We popped the speed break to slow down and dropped about eight thousand feet into a lower MOA. After a couple more barrel rolls and tight turns (about 4 G's) we knocked it off and my IP gave me the aircraft back.

From there it was a series of different wing work, turns, formations, etc. It's all tricky, the hardest for me was probably a fingertip turn (where I am only ten feet away) and lead turns so that I am on the outside of the turn. I need to keep the same position on his aircraft so that means I need to accelerate, climb, and roll to stay in the same place relative to his wing.

Anywho, off to bed! We are flying every weekend for the rest of the month.

Guess thats why you guys pay me the big bucks!

The Future

Will this be it? The more and more I think about it the more I like it (CV-22 Osprey).

Here is a good link of the training I would have to go through for the ole girl:

http://www.mapsociety.net/Rotary.html

Area Solo and Nav Test

So today was a BUSY day!!!

I double turned (two flying events) in the morning. Had a dual flight to get back current from Thanksgiving weekend then flew my area solo after.

The area solo was awesome! Unlike the the local solo, I got go out to the MOA (military operating area) and do aerobatics and the like...all WITHOUT a pesky instructor in the back seat.

It felt like the scene from Braveheart when Mel Gibson shouted, "FREEEEEDOM."

The airplane always seems to perform better when there isn't anyone in the backseat.

Following the two flights I had my Navigation test. I was, frankly, pretty apprehensive about this test. I ended up doing very well, with a 95%!!!

No complaints here. What a day!

Solo Boy

Some more Solo pictures...

Seeexy!!!

Yea!!!

Nough said.

In my Friday get up (note: the awesome t-shirt)

Rocking the Illinois moral patch.

In to the solo dunk tank.

COLD!!!

Still COLD!!!

My roommate and I in the 41st. He helped me try and sneak back into the flight room (Trojan Horse style) but it didn't work. The promise of 16 cases of beer is a strong motivator...

RSU

RSU = Runway Supervisory Units

Basically, since Columbus AFB (CAFB) has three parallel runways the actual control tower only "controls" one of the runways. The center runway (the big one) remains under tower control an

d the other two (one for the T-38s and the other for T-6s) are "owned" by their respective RSU's.

I got to work in the RSU today and it was interesting. The crew is made up of two rated officers and two students (three today since I was training). I got the position of "spotter" in which I need to call out tail numbers for landing and departing aircraft, confirm the aircraft configurations when they are landing (gear down, flaps up/down, full stop, etc), and keep a running tally of the number of take offs, landings, and aircraft in the pattern.

The other non-rated job is the recorder, who basically punches all the info I get into a computer as well as has to take notes as directed by the two rated officers.

The two rated officers are basically air traffic controllers, granting aircraft landing and take off clearances.

Anywho, fun day!

Here are some more images from my solo:

That's Mo (nickname) our resident Jordanian exchange pilot. He is a hoot.

SOLO!!!

Yea it's been a while, but I have been crazy-uber-insanely busy!

Anywho...to jump into current events:

I just had my solo, which means I got to fly the ~4 million dollar T-6A Texan II (complete with 1,100 shaft horse power and 2,750 pounds of thrust) around the Columbus Air Force pattern...ALONE!!!

It was awesome. The airplane just seems more eager to fly when there isn't anyone in the back seat.

Stats on the flight:

Date: 6 Nov 09
Call Sign: Wing 91
A/C: 99-556
Runway: 13R

On with the pictures (in reverse order):

Instrument's I down

One down, only a couple more to go. Academic's are slowly winding down. Passed Instrument's I with a 90% (not as much as I wanted but it's a pass). It was VERY challenging. Definitely the hardest test I have had to date.

The weather lately has been pretty poor. So I haven't flown since last week. I am scheduled to fly tomorrow so hopefully the weather clears up (it's supposed to).

Anywho, back to studying!