First time flying formation...

[CALL911]

http://i25.tinypic.com/1zwf9fm.jpg

So this week during my pilot training we started formation flying. Theoretically it is a very simple concept, just being there for mutual support, staying on his wing (for wing formation). Let me tell you, it is not easy, especially in the turns just trying to keep in position.

I will say this phase of flying seems to be my favorite so far. Pilot training is the most brutally hard training I have ever gone through. But times like this make it seem worth it.

[tomsws6]

lucky bastard.................................

[CALL911]

Like mentioned above, this is part of the few times it seems enjoyable. What the pictures can't show is the amount of stress placed upon you as you have an instructor screaming his head off at you in the plane, and being pushed sometimes past your limits on the ground and in the air from academics, to very long days, to being stood up in class, to simulators that are next to impossible...

Tons of people don't even get the chance as they don't qualify. Some of those who qualify end up not making it or quit. It's not all fun trust me... :(

There are just few times like posted above I can actually enjoy whats going on, and live on the hope that one day it will be over, and I will come out with a set of pilot wings.

[AChotrod]

Cool is that you in the pic??

[tomsws6]

hey, i say that because its always been a dream of mine. and i will someday. youll make it. just dont give up. you of all people know this is a chance of a lifetime and very very rare. it may suck most of the time but itll be worth it.!! good luck to ya.

[CALL911]

Thanks. I will never give up. They will have to take me out kicking and screaming before I'd ever quit.

Unfortunatly no, thats not me in the pic. It is a pic of formation flying in the T-6 though. Photography while flying is technically not allowed (although its obvious it happens). My camera is a Canon Rebel XTi, and way too big to sneak in my flight suit.

I had actually planned on taking up my video camera on one of my solo flights to get some video (since I would have to Instructor Pilot in the back seat to tell me I couldn't do that), but on the day it happened it was a surprise to me as I wasn't scheduled for it previously, and I didn't have my camera on me :frustrated:

I only have one formation solo flight left, but there will be instructors in the plane on my wing, so I doubt I'll be able to get away with it.

Some of my favorite T-6 formation pics are here> http://focalplaneimagery.smugmug.com/gallery/4445512_oyfTH#261301226_KPTpP

But if you want to see an actual pic of me in the T-6, here ya go;
http://i25.tinypic.com/2mmfequ.jpg

[BlownFormula]

That's SO badass!! I knew a couple of pilots in training down at Keesler AFB and they said the training was absolutely GRUELING!! My hat goes off to you sir. http://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/usa.gif

[YZF]

Keep on keepin' on.

It LOOKS like fun, aside from the torture you're going through.

[Phstratton]

I have a question...

I'm color blind. Not completely black and white but some colors look the same. I get by pretty good, its just that my medical records say it. Would I ever be able to fly a plane in the air force? I've always thought it looked cool

[CALL911]

I have a question...

I'm color blind. Not completely black and white but some colors look the same. I get by pretty good, its just that my medical records say it. Would I ever be able to fly a plane in the air force? I've always thought it looked cool

Sorry man, but you would be medically disqualified from any flying related career. Even Air Traffic Controllers have to pass the color test. They give us a medical test yearly that includes color vision.

There are some things you can get a waiver for. (Theres a guy in my pilot training class with me that is missing a nuckle on two fingers that got a waiver for it). But there are some things that they won't waiver like being color blind.

Getting accepted into pilot training was extremly difficult. There are SO many people that apply for it, and many of the applicants are exceptionally talented people. Some don't make it just because they get medically disqualified, some just don't have good enough test scores or grades. You can even get disqualified just because your credit history may not be good. They look at everything. You now have to be able to get a Top Secret security clearance as well, so if you have had issues with Johnny law in the past, that can put a stop on things.

The fact of the matter is, they are currently downsizing the Air Force, so they only have so many pilot spots per board. That means with all the applicants they get to be extremly picky. I feel like I barely made it, and I had a 4.0 GPA, made the deans list, good driving record, near perfect background, excellent test scores, and even had a General I used to fly combat sorties with over Afghanistan, hand write a letter of reccomendation for me. Point in fact, the first time I applied, I didn't get accepted. It wasn't until my 2nd application that I managed to get in.

It is not easy....

But for anyone else pondering it, if you are like me and want it more than anything in the world, you have to put all the odds aside and go for it anyways.

Thanks fellas for the kind words of encouragement!

[bluebird94]

That is just amazing. From one ltxer to another, I'm so proud of you!

That is something I have also always wanted to do, but I was never in the right place at the right time. I decided to pursue engineering and hopefully I can find a job in aeronautics and pick up flying as a hobby later on.

But very cool, man. Thanks for sharing.

[CALL911]

That is just amazing. From one ltxer to another, I'm so proud of you!

That is something I have also always wanted to do, but I was never in the right place at the right time. I decided to pursue engineering and hopefully I can find a job in aeronautics and pick up flying as a hobby later on.

But very cool, man. Thanks for sharing.


Thanks man. I'm leaving on my cross country flight today. The Instructor Pilot I am flying with seems really laid back, so I am bringing a friends small camera with me. Hopefully I can get some pics of me flying to share.

I totally encourage anyone who ever wanted to fly to pursue it. I got my private pilots license before I was accepted into pilot training for the Air Force, and it was a joke compared to what I am doing now. Not only that but the flight physical consisted of a doc listening to me breath through a stethascope for 30 seconds, and then collecting a $80 check from me to approve me for flying status :claps: I actually miss civilian flying as it was very peacefull.

When I am done with all this pilot training I plan on buying a little plane to go out and fly when I want to just cruise around and have fun. What I will be buying is an ultralight which is fairly inexpensive and you legally don't even need a pilots license to fly. That might be another option for anyone wanting just to fly without any hassle.

[laux06]

thats badass man! that was a dream of mine not too long ago, but between work, school, and the damn money pit, i havent had time to go up in nearly three years. i got my private pilots license at 17, but i know getting that was nowhere near as intense as what your doing. mad props man, stick to your guns

[CALL911]

Okay, here's a pic of me from this weekend;

http://i28.tinypic.com/25tjb7b.jpg

[Fastbird]

Okay, here's a pic of me from this weekend;

http://i28.tinypic.com/25tjb7b.jpg

You need to email that to me Ben, I'll print it out big and get it framed for ya. Nice shot man.

[CALL911]

Yeah, I'm gonna want that one framed at some point in time. I took a bunch of similar shots, but that one turned out the best. I had to borrow a friends camera to take it so its not quite as good of quality photo as with my camera. (My camera was just way too big to fit in the cockpit)

[Fastbird]

Yeah, I'm gonna want that one framed at some point in time. I took a bunch of similar shots, but that one turned out the best. I had to borrow a friends camera to take it so its not quite as good of quality photo as with my camera. (My camera was just way too big to fit in the cockpit)

You know what dude? I didn't even realize that you sent that to me already. Shows how much I get in my email. When Melissa comes up to see the baby she'll bring back a framed version for ya.

[CALL911]

Sweet! :)

[CALL911]

Here's a couple other similar ones since you liked them so much;

http://i32.tinypic.com/2yod4b6.jpg

http://i27.tinypic.com/xfxheq.jpg

http://i30.tinypic.com/2mo5jja.jpg

[Fastbird]

I see FLIP in that last one!!!! What approach and to where?

[CALL911]

I see FLIP in that last one!!!! What approach and to where?

At first just being used to always going to an AFB, I had plotted to Hurlburt, Tyndall and Pensacola. Then when I found how much easier it was to work with civilian fields, we went with Tallahasee, Montgomery, Orlando, Birmingham, and Dothan.

I think that one was to Dothan. We shot countless approaches all the places we went. Worked a lot on GPS approaches, and ILS. Got a few VOR and LOC approaches as well as a few visual approaches. Being right in the middle of my instrument phase, the X-country was a great experience.

[The SRZ]

That's some cool ass shit Ben. Congrats to you man. Maybe once you're done I can get my retirement incentive flight. Oxymoron I know. No ceremony for me but that's the one thing I want before I bounce is an incentive flight in a any fighter. I know you're not going to be in a fighter afterwards but still, that's cool as hell.

Hang in there buddy, you'll get through!

[CALL911]

Thanks Silas. You know for that trip I was on, I actually called down to Tyndall were you worked but they told me you were on leave and would be on leave for that weekend, so I decided to go elsewhere. In the grand scheme of things, I probably should have shot you a PM or something anyways in case you were still around and were available to meet up with again.

I couldn't have gotten you your incentive flight in the T-6, but I could have at least gotten you a sweet up close tour of the plane, and you could have watched me take off and land a bunch of times (lousy compared to a flight I know). Maybe someday, I'll rent a sweet powerfull two seater and fly down and give you a ride.

[Fastbird]

I could have at least gotten you a sweet up close tour of the plane

*Ahem* I'll be expecting this treatment next weekend. :D

[CALL911]

*Ahem* I'll be expecting this treatment next weekend. :D


Its already been planned :cool:

[The SRZ]

Ben, I'll go half w/ ya on it if that day comes. :)