It May Not Be 1999...

…But we definitely have cause to party like it is!

Winter in pilot training is an odd paradox of busy inactivity. By this I mean, when the weather is poor, the idleness is stifling. But when the sun makes its triumphant return, the rush to squeeze in as many flights as possible to get caught up and progress is enough to make your head spin. After C’s solo flight, he flew once in about 3 weeks. (This was not just due to weather, but also cancelations and various other schedule changes) Then, suddenly, he double-turned (meaning two flights or a sim and a flight, back to back) three days in one week and went up for his mid-phase check-ride during the same week. The check-ride itself was enough to get the blood pumping, with its notorious 60% failure rate.  C passed with flying colors (pun sort of intended) and this week (weather permitting) will progress to his area solo (flying by himself to the practice area to carry out aerobatic maneuvers).

Despite the insanity of the week, everyone – C and I included – had an event to look forward to on Friday night. The night of the celebratory “Solo Party” had finally arrived. The party, of course, is meant to commemorate the achievement of the students on accomplishing their initial solo, but also provides a much-needed opportunity for students and instructors to come together in an informal environment. The (root)beer flowed and jokes abounded in anticipation of the “tie-cutting” ceremony – an Air Force tradition wherein the instructor and student who soloed together have a chance to tell the story of the solo, often including funny anecdotes and frequent embellishments, followed by the instructor hacking away at the student’s tie based on his performance (the lower the cut, the better the flight). 

Just the tip - Way to go, C!

It was nice to see the tension eased with laughter over past mistakes and the amplified camaraderie that success seemed to harbor in the students. 

Bird on a Wire

Birds migrate. This is certainly no big secret. What I didn’t fully comprehend was that, in moving to the southern regions of the U.S., birds migrate HERE. They’re everywhere! From the power lines, to the plentiful harvested fields, and of course, in the air.  The presence of so many feathered creatures not only provides endless entertainment/angst for my dog,

but also causeed the Air Force to develop such terms as: Bird Severe. Naturally, birds and jet engines are not the best combination, but the migration effect is so out of control that the phenomenon has been titled as an actual flight condition (much like weather) that halts or redirects flights.

"Bird Severe"

So, during the winter months of pilot training, not only do students contend with snow, ice, and bone-freezing temperatures, they also are on constant alert for flocks so large they more resemble a black storm cloud. 

It Takes a Trio to Make a Solo

After 12 training flights (plus a post-Christmas “refresher” called an 86-ride) and approximately 5 sim sessions, my husband has finally climbed mountain #1 in UPT: the T-6 initial solo. It was an exciting day for all of us! H & I met our escort (C’s flightmate) in the flight room while C was briefing with his instructor.

C & his IP

After his briefing, he went to “step” for his flight – check in with the SUP, get a weather brief, airfield status, and any other pertinent information, then receive an aircraft assignment.  From there, we followed him over to Life Support, where he donned all of his gear (g-suit, helmet, etc.) to prepare for his flight.

Suiting up

For the first part of the flight, his instructor joined him for 3 normal landings, a go-around, and a break-out and reentry of the pattern, to ensure proficiency before he took off on his own. Upon landing, the instructor hopped out and C was ready to “fly solo”. (Pun completely intended)

Duel to Solo

Before heading out, the IPs have a fun tradition in which they switch name tags with the student to signify “handing over” their wings. This is followed by some sort of pep talk. (In this case, "Have fun. Don't kill yourself.")

Switching name tags

During the initial solo, the student stays in the pattern and practices as many landings as possible before returning, lasting about 30-45 minutes.

Signaling for engine start

After the flight, we had a chance for a few photo ops and congratulatory hugs, 

Our trio

but then C had to prepare to enter stealth mode. Per Air Force tradition, the student is subjected to being tossed in the “dunk tank” after their first solo. (Which, the day before, was covered in ice and has a perpetual layer of muck resting on the bottom)

The dunk tank

If the student is able to sneak past his classmates and make it to the flight room without being caught and dunked, each flight member owes him/her a case of their favorite beverage. C (and his instructor, who was eligible for dunking since it was his first solo as an IP) managed to make it back. So, while he will be enjoying a plethora of beverages, he got drenched anyway, just to honor tradition.

H and I were so proud, watching C take off in an Air Force jet all on his own! There may be more to come, but: Hurdle #1 complete.  

T-6 Initial Solo: Complete

“It’s pretty cool when you’re doing 230 knots at 500 feet, in a 60-degree bank, pulling 4 G’s.”  ~ C