Fun Low Level in a Hornet

[BusyBee604]

RADALT: Deedle,Deedle.
Pilot: "Resetting, fifty (50) feet."
RADALT: Deedle,Deedle.
Pilot: "Pulling." (climbing)
RADALT: Deedle,Deedle.
Pilot: "Pulling." (climbing)

Good thing that the Kuwaiti/Iraqi desert is fairly flat. 50' at night, 420 knots.

Gulp, not for me... thank you!
BzB

 

[Pap]

The VFA community has pilots who are NVG Low altitude qualified however it's not a very common qual. The LFI (Lo alt. flight instructor) qual is issued to certain FRS IPs every year. Nothing drastically different in the training rules for night low altitude stuff.

 

[KBayDog]

I guess I just asked since inverted on goggles down low sounds like a vertigo nightmare.

If you (Synix) ever find yourself inverted on goggles, I'd venture to guess that vertigo is not going to be your #1 concern.

 

[SynixMan]

If you (Synix) ever find yourself inverted on goggles, I'd venture to guess that vertigo is not going to be your #1 concern.

Someone once told me my two top priorities are to keep the spinny thingy upright and at the proper RPM.

 

[Catmando]

Don't know if it's still done, but night ordnance delivery (bombs/rockets/strafe) under oscillating paraflares resulted in the most vertigo-inducing flight I ever experienced in training or combat. I believe it is responsible for many of our still unaccounted for MIAs, who simply disappeared at night over NVN.
BzB

Me too! Oscillating para-flares were designed by the devil! Hellacious vertigo!!!!!!

While we hugged the weeds in the day, we fortunately never had to at night.
All I new about night low-levels was that a lot of aircraft launched on those risky missions - Navy/Marine/AF - and not nearly enough ever recovered.

 

[rondebmar]

Someone once told me my two top priorities are to keep the spinny thingy upright and at the proper RPM.

I think my lovely wife might've uttered those words once, and ...ah, never mind.

 

[phrogpilot73]

Someone once told me my two top priorities are to keep the spinny thingy upright and at the proper RPM.

My owning in primary (at my winging) told me "Keep the spinning side up, and the leaking side down. The rest is gravy."

Seems to have worked for him, he's retired and is now an EMS pilot.

 

[SynixMan]

My owning in primary (at my winging) told me "Keep the spinning side up, and the leaking side down. The rest is gravy."

Lemme guess, Phrog Guy?

 

[phrogpilot73]

Lemme guess, Phrog Guy?

Good guess... Started as a USMC Phrog guy, finished as a Coastie HH-65 pilot. I was his last owning, first one was a USMC guy that went Phrogs, last one was a USMC guy that went Phrogs. He and I still keep in touch, he's a great dude.

 

[Harrier Dude]

I was his last owning, first one was a USMC guy that went Phrogs, last one was a USMC guy that went Phrogs. .

So, basically his instructor skillz never improved?

 

[insanebikerboy]

So, basically his instructor skillz never improved?

I see what you did there

 

[phrogpilot73]

So, basically his instructor skillz never improved?

But wait, weren't you the one begging for Phrog flight time?!?

 

[Harrier Dude]

But wait, weren't you the one begging for Phrog flight time?!?

Begging? Hardly.

I was just offering to grace you people with my presence and show you how it's done. Sadly, you were unable to provide an up aircraft.

Maybe during "The Course".

 

[KBayDog]

Maybe during "The Course".

For an aircraft that is obsolete and pilots that are completely worthless, "The Course" sure seems to continue to rely on Phrogs and their drivers.

 

[phrogpilot73]

For an aircraft that is obsolete and pilots that are completely worthless, "The Course" sure seems to continue to rely on Phrogs and their drivers.

The last Phrog WTI class has already happened. I wouldn't be surprised if there were requests for Tac Support of us though. After all, we usually have pretty good mx numbers...