I laugh at these now but we all took the same poses for the supplied photographer. G-suit, helmet and ascot. We weren't allowed to decorate our helmets... but... I managed to make some quick lightening bolts for the photo shoot, and almost everyone after me in the shoot used my helmet. I removed the lightening bolts right after the photo shoot. Just a little rebellious still...
One of my favorite stories occurred in the T-38 phase of our training. It was an out and back flight, which meant you flew out to a certain geographical point and then turned around a came home with out landing. Since this was the advanced part of our training the schedule was set so it would become dark during the return flight.
We started out in groups of about 10 airplanes flying about 20 miles behind each other, so you would get no help from a classmate. You might hear them on the radio but that was it. Also, solo students were not allowed to fly in clouds... Theoretically. At this point in our training we had not passed our instrument check rides. Even when we passed we weren't allowed to fly in the clouds.
Well, that night the class jock (Purdue football jock) did fly into the clouds and it provided great entertainment for all... And of course the award of the most hated trophy. He had made the turn and was on the way home when he started flying thru a high cirrus (ice crystal cloud) cloud deck that was blown off of the top of a dying thunderstorm. Not dangerous other than the fact he was in the clouds and thusly on instruments... To know which way was up and down. There was a lot of static electricity in those clouds due to the fact they were part of a thunderstorm at one time.
That is when the entertainment started. Mac's panicked radio call was heard by all of his buddies still on the same radio frequency. In a panicked voice he said: "I am on fire, I am on fire". Because our call signs included the word solo Air Traffic Control was quick to help. The controller said to Mac: "would you like to divert"? So... Mac diverted to Roswell, New Mexico. Fortunately he found the airport and landed safely. Another T-38 with two instructors flew to Roswell to check on him. Everyone was concerned about Mac and couldn't wait to hear his "There I was story".
The next morning we were all in the briefing room except for Mac and the two instructors who flew into Roswell to help him. Soon a few instructors passed along the story. Mac had encountered St Elmo's Fire. We all knew what that was because we were taught about it in weather class. Cool looking stuff and harmless, but the first time you see it you almost can't help thinking you have a problem... unless you learned to trust your training.
The link below is what it looks like. But you can't hear the sound that is usually heard along with it. It sizzles and zaps and it's dancing all around the outside of your windshield.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zyWX3VRsk38
The next morning we were all in the briefing room except for Mac and the two instructors who flew into Roswell to help him. Soon a few instructors passed along the story. Mac had encountered St Elmo's Fire. We all knew what that was because we were taught about it in weather class. Cool looking stuff and harmless, but the first time you see it you almost can't help thinking you have a problem... unless you learned to trust your training.
The link below is what it looks like. But you can't hear the sound that is usually heard along with it. It sizzles and zaps and it's dancing all around the outside of your windshield.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zyWX3VRsk38
There are times when St Elmo's Fire will not just flash on your windshield but it will stay there and just move all around like your on very personal lightening storm... But 99.9% harmless.
In this case the airplane was just fine and Mac only had his ego damaged... Welcome to the club.
Some non pilots may not see the humor in this, but we loved it.
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing your stories and adventures. History
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