Air Force info?

[Aurora Black]

I need help. I've got a story in mind where one of the characters is an Air Force pilot, but I don't know anything about the military or airplanes! Is there anybody who can help me out? I'd really appreciate any advice (or experiences) given.

 

[cloudy]

I need help. I've got a story in mind where one of the characters is an Air Force pilot, but I don't know anything about the military or airplanes! Is there anybody who can help me out? I'd really appreciate any advice (or experiences) given.

Colly's probably your best bet. She's not been around yet this morning, but I'm sure she'll reply when she pokes her head in here, or you could PM her.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

 

[Aurora Black]

Colly's probably your best bet. She's not been around yet this morning, but I'm sure she'll reply when she pokes her head in here, or you could PM her.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

It's fine. You did help.

 

[Guest]

I need help. I've got a story in mind where one of the characters is an Air Force pilot, but I don't know anything about the military or airplanes! Is there anybody who can help me out? I'd really appreciate any advice (or experiences) given.

Hey Aurora, I don't know how much help I could be but I was in the Air Force a couple hundred years ago.

 

[zeb1094]

I need help. I've got a story in mind where one of the characters is an Air Force pilot, but I don't know anything about the military or airplanes! Is there anybody who can help me out? I'd really appreciate any advice (or experiences) given.

I wasn't a pilot but I was in the Air Force!

What the questions?

 

[Aurora Black]

I wasn't a pilot but I was in the Air Force!

What the questions?

Not sure yet. Hold on, I'm coming on IM.

 

[zeb1094]

Not sure yet. Hold on, I'm coming on IM.

Okie dokie!

 

[Alpheratz]

I'm a pilot, but not Air Force. And it depends on what he/she is flying. If you have the time, the inclination and the money, go to your local small airport, get a "test" ride in a plane. A lot of flight instructors will do that at a low rate just to get you interested. Likely cost between thirty and forty dollars. He'll even let you take the controls, explain the instruments, and you'll get the feel of moving in three dimensions. All of those are helpful when writing about flying.

As for the Air Force-- (Hums) "They took the blue from the skies and a pretty girl's eyes and a piece of Old Glory toooo..."

 

[impressive]

First, not all military pilots are Air Force. Carrier-based pilots are Navy (a la Top Gun). In my experience, the flight test pilots are an arrogant lot -- but physically fine specimens. Usually long and lean. No glasses or contacts. Intelligent. Fit. Fast reflexes and steady under pressure. Huge egos -- even outside their area(s) of expertise. Natural tops.

I worked for 5 years with Navy flight test pilots -- and another 5 with Air Force pilots -- and the Navy pilots were soooooooo much more interesting.

 

[Aurora Black]

Thank you for responding so quickly, Imp. What's the difference between carrier pilots and Air Force pilots? And what's a natural top?

Thanks for the tip, Alpheratz, but I don't think I can do the airport thing here. I'm no longer in the States.

 

[Aurora Black]

Now I'm torn between the Air Force and the Navy. Oy...

 

[impressive]

Thank you for responding so quickly, Imp. What's the difference between carrier pilots and Air Force pilots? And what's a natural top?

Carrier pilots take off & land from aircraft carriers, which requires a different mindset than doing so from land.

Ah, memories of taking a cooler of beer to the simulated carrier runway after work on Friday afternoons & watching the FA-18s do touch-n-go maneuvers until the sun went down ... then hooking up with said pilots for a party at the officer's club afterwards.

 

[Aurora Black]

Something tells me that I'm going to need to rent out "Top Gun" for research. I'm going to have to watch the Tom Cruise movie, aren't I? *shudder*

Hope that this doesn't happen to me while I'm watching it...

 

[Aurora Black]

Carrier pilots take off & land from aircraft carriers, which requires a different mindset than doing so from land.

Ah, memories of taking a cooler of beer to the simulated carrier runway after work on Friday afternoons & watching the FA-18s do touch-n-go maneuvers until the sun went down ... then hooking up with said pilots for a party at the officer's club afterwards.

Sounds nice! Now I have that song from "Officer and a Gentleman" playing in my head!

I think I want my pilot to take off from land. I only want him to do training exercises, nothing in the context of deployment for war. Is it possible for carrier pilots to train without actually being somewhere dangerous? Sorry, that didn't come out right.

 

[impressive]

Sounds nice! Now I have that song from "Officer and a Gentleman" playing in my head!

I think I want my pilot to take off from land. I only want him to do training exercises, nothing in the context of deployment for war. Is it possible for carrier pilots to train without actually being somewhere dangerous? Sorry, that didn't come out right.

The training itself is dangerous, but it is conducted from land on a simulated carrier runway with cameras & real-time telemetry relays to capture just about every parameter imaginable for analysis -- about both the aircraft and the pilot.

 

[Aurora Black]

The training itself is dangerous, but it is conducted from land on a simulated carrier runway with cameras & real-time telemetry relays to capture just about every parameter imaginable for analysis -- about both the aircraft and the pilot.

"Take my breath awaaaaaaay..."

This is really great stuff. Thank you.

 

[thambok]

Test pilots are definitely cocky. But, they are one of the few groups that really has a right to be.

While not a pilot, I was in the Air Force. Depending on the questions you have, I may be able to help, even if only for the little details. I did electrical and alarm system work, so there aren't many places on a base that we weren't involved in.

As for carrier vs. land-based, you could always combine them to some extent. Land based pilots routinely do barrier landings. Land-based planes also have the same hook system that carrier based planes do, as an emergency backup. If the pilot comes in too hot and might overrun the runway, they raise the barriers. Barriers are thick steel cables traversing the runway in a trench. The plane drops a hook from the tail, which catches the barrier cable. Both ends of the cable are hooked to massive disc brakes, which bring the plane to a safe stop. Like all emergency plans, they practice barrier landings regularly, and from the pilots I have talked to, it is a serious rush.

 

[Aurora Black]

Test pilots are definitely cocky. But, they are one of the few groups that really has a right to be.

While not a pilot, I was in the Air Force. Depending on the questions you have, I may be able to help, even if only for the little details. I did electrical and alarm system work, so there aren't many places on a base that we weren't involved in.

As for carrier vs. land-based, you could always combine them to some extent. Land based pilots routinely do barrier landings. Land-based planes also have the same hook system that carrier based planes do, as an emergency backup. If the pilot comes in too hot and might overrun the runway, they raise the barriers. Barriers are thick steel cables traversing the runway in a trench. The plane drops a hook from the tail, which catches the barrier cable. Both ends of the cable are hooked to massive disc brakes, which bring the plane to a safe stop. Like all emergency plans, they practice barrier landings regularly, and from the pilots I have talked to, it is a serious rush.

*furiously jotting down notes* I'll PM you.

 

[impressive]

Test pilots are definitely cocky. But, they are one of the few groups that really has a right to be.

Agreed.

... from the pilots I have talked to, it is a serious rush.

And that rush -- that flirt with danger -- results in some damned horny pilots.

 

[Aurora Black]

And that rush -- that flirt with danger -- results in some damned horny pilots.

Yummy.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Hey Aurora.

What do you have in mind for your pilot? What gender is the pilot? What do you want for setting and mood?

If you want a compbat pilot. you have a few choices, fighter Jock, CS, Bomber. The different planes I can help with, as well as some of the jargon.

If you just want a pilot, you can alos add trasnports, Kc-130 aireiel refulers, AWACs, there are a lot of pilots who never even fire a shot in anger thier whole career.

Do you want an active duty pilot or will a reservest give you more flxibility?

If you want an exotic local, you may be forced to ake a particular type of pilot or plane as some bases are built specifically for a particular type of squadron.

 

[Aurora Black]

Hey Aurora, I don't know how much help I could be but I was in the Air Force a couple hundred years ago.

I just saw this post, too late. I am so sorry, it wasn't intentional.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Now I'm torn between the Air Force and the Navy. Oy...

There are also Marine pilots. Generally, they fly jets in the Close Air Support role. Unless things have changed, they are the only branch of the U.S. mil to fly the a Harrier varient.

The army also has pilots, but they generally gfy helos, Like the Apache or comanche. The Marines use the whiskey and Zulu varients of the Cobra.

If you choose A navy pilot, keep in mind that there are extreemly rigorours conditions for landing on a flight deck at sea.

One area that you should keep in mind is that officers and enlisted men are not allowed to fratrenize. So if you pilot falls for the cute little mechanic or refueler or what not, there are some seriopus obstacles to any romanitic liason.

 

[Aurora Black]

Hey Aurora.

What do you have in mind for your pilot? What gender is the pilot? What do you want for setting and mood?

If you want a compbat pilot. you have a few choices, fighter Jock, CS, Bomber. The different planes I can help with, as well as some of the jargon.

If you just want a pilot, you can alos add trasnports, Kc-130 aireiel refulers, AWACs, there are a lot of pilots who never even fire a shot in anger thier whole career.

Do you want an active duty pilot or will a reservest give you more flxibility?

If you want an exotic local, you may be forced to ake a particular type of pilot or plane as some bases are built specifically for a particular type of squadron.

Wow! Where'd you come from?

I want my guy to fly a fighter plane, but I don't want him connected with the war in any way. It would only take away from the story, in my opinion. I'm toying around with the idea of featuring an air show, and this is one of the planes that I have my eye on:

http://www.f22fighter.com/

I'm sure that I'll sound ignorant, but I'll ask anyway: What's the difference between active duty and reserves? *ducks, covers eyes*

 

[Aurora Black]

There are also Marine pilots. Generally, they fly jets in the Close Air Support role. Unless things have changed, they are the only branch of the U.S. mil to fly the a Harrier varient.

The army also has pilots, but they generally gfy helos, Like the Apache or comanche. The Marines use the whiskey and Zulu varients of the Cobra.

If you choose A navy pilot, keep in mind that there are extreemly rigorours conditions for landing on a flight deck at sea.

One area that you should keep in mind is that officers and enlisted men are not allowed to fratrenize. So if you pilot falls for the cute little mechanic or refueler or what not, there are some seriopus obstacles to any romanitic liason.

It's okay, she's a civilian.

God, everybody's flying! I'm going to have to do some serious comparison shopping and narrowing down, here. Thanks for the info, Colly.