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5 Sep 2002 (Phase I
- Final week of academics)
Today marked the
completion of Phase I of UPT for us. We took our instrument test this
morning (finished good, 100%). Aside from wrapping up in academics this
week, we've met several more times with our flight line commander (Capt
Zihmer) and students from the class we are replacing in the
"T-Bolt" flight. There is a wealth of information that we are
expected to know for the coming days. We actually report tomorrow, and
will experience our first simulator flight. From what I understand, it's
simply going over the initial checklists that we run to pre-flight and
start the aircraft, but that should be plenty for now. Most of the class
has been practicing pretty diligently, so it should go okay. We also get
to do a "formal brief" in the morning, which ought to be
interesting. The outbound class ran through it VERY briefly for a couple
of us, but there is no doubt a lot that was left out. Our instructors
told us to expect "a lot of criticism" tomorrow. Fun.
Despite all the
negative, I am very excited to finally be starting. The anticipation and
anxiety are probably worse than the real thing. We'll see.
28 Aug 2002 (Phase I
- Fifth week of academics)
We were in our second
day of weather today. I am very glad I had a good weather background prior
to coming here, because the rate and depth of the lessons here is less
than optimal. Their aim, as they have said however, is to provide a
framework and let the IPs fill in the blanks. To coin a phrase from AMS,
"trust the process."
Our Flight Commander
for flight line, Captain Zihmer, came to speak to us today and introduce
us to our soon-to-be home. He was very solemn, and said if anyone did not
want to be there, they should leave now (we didn't lose anyone). He then
laid down the ground rules for the program, and what his expectations
would be of us during our stay there. The days will be 12 hours, followed
by several hours of homework and preparation for the coming day. We work
Monday through Friday, but can be called in on Saturdays if necessary. He
said those with "thin skins" should find a cure, because we will
be absorbing almost nothing but criticism in the early stages of the
program. He and Lt Corrigan (safety guy) then demonstrated an emergency
procedure stand-up. The EP stand-up is where a student is randomly called
on and stands at attention in the middle of the room. The student is given
an emergency situation and then "handed the aircraft." The
student must talk through analyzing the problem, resolving the problem,
and getting safely back to base. In the example, Capt Zihmer included
everything from how fast he was flying to what radio calls he made to what
references he was looking for on the ground. In total, it lasted for about
ten minutes. It's quite hard to imagine one of us doing that on September
9th. This will be a whole different world.
27 Aug 2002 (Phase I
- Fifth week of academics)
Physiology came to an
end today with the FACT test (fitness measure) and a second round of
egress (practicing both air and ground egresses from the aircraft). Though
Physiology was a nice change of pace, I think we were all happy to get
back to the more rigorous classroom environment to get us in the right
mind-set for flight line.
In the next two weeks,
we are covering weather (test this Friday) and instruments. We are also
being visited by the class that is just wrapping up T-37s. They are
supposed to tell us everything we need to know prior to hitting the flight
line.
26 Aug 2002 (Phase I
- Fifth week of academics)
Today was our
"ride" in the altitude chamber. During this ride, we were taken
from sea level to 35,000 feet, then reduced to 25,000 for hypoxia
demonstrations. We were then taken to 18,000 for a night vision
demonstration and finally returned to sea level.
During the initial
ascent, the pressure in your ears equalizes on its own. They had a vial of
liquid that was visibly "boiling" as all the gasses escaped into
the surrounding air. Unfortunately, the same things happen to the body,
making for a rather unpleasant odor when your mask is removed.
Upon reaching 25,000
feet, the students on one side of the chamber take their masks off to
experience their unique symptoms of the onset of hypoxia. Once we
recognized 2-3 symptoms, we were to turn our oxygen back on and don our
masks. When it came to me, I quickly felt light-headed and noticed that my
lips became very cold. I began working on some math problems as
instructed, and awoke a short time later to the instructor telling me to
turn on my air and put my mask on (both of which had been done for me when
I passed out). I came to and did as they told me, my vision going from
black, to black and gray, and finally back to color. My head gradually
cleared, and I was back to normal. I apparently lost "useful
consciousness" and remained sitting there smiling well past when I
should have returned to oxygen. My classmates were happy that someone had
put on a show for them. My fee was to purchase alcohol of choice for the
Major that put my mask on for me.
22 Aug 2002 (Phase I
- Fourth week of academics)
We put our PLF training
to work today during the parasailing exercise. In this exercise, students
are hooked up to a parasail and towed by a truck across a very long
field to simulate a parachute landing. The first ride is a short
up-and-down, and the student is "towed down" (softer landing).
The second ride is up to a higher altitude, and the student is on his or
her own during the descent. Though no one in the class broke anything, we
did have two "casualties," including an ankle
"stinger" and a very hard landing that resulted in a number of
maladies. Neither individual should miss any training as a result,
fortunately.
We also took our first
of two physiology tests. There was a lot of controversy over the exam, as
the teaching method was quite different than our previous classes. We were
told very specifically what to study for this exam, and perhaps let our
guard down. Many felt the test was more difficult than the instructors led
us to believe. I was happy with one wrong, having no one to blame but
myself on that particular question.
20 Aug 2002 (Phase I
- Fourth week of academics)
Today we had mostly
academics, but also got to step into the altitude chamber to test out our
masks and become familiar with the oxygen regulators we'll be using on the
T-37. We do not actually go up to altitude until this Friday, which is
pretty humorous by all accounts. People have some pretty strange reactions
to hypoxia. We also had a night vision demonstration, in which they showed
us the limitations of our eyes in low-light conditions.
19 Aug 2002 (Phase I
- Fourth week of academics)
We reported at 0545
this morning for what turned out to be PLF training (parachute landing
fall). We practiced landing techniques from the ground, a two-foot
platform, a four-foot platform, and finally on a harness from a fifteen or
twenty-foot tower.
When we had completed
the PLFs, we headed over to the ejection simulator, where each of us had a
turn pulling the triggers on the chair and going for a short ride (about
eight feet up a track). The real thing is a lot hairier we're told.
15 Aug 2002 (Phase I
- Third week of academics)
We started Physiology
today, which seems quite a bit more disorganized than our previous
classroom environment. We are told that the schedule must remain more
fluid, as many of the activities are outdoors and depend on the
weather.
Today, we received more
"death by Powerpoint," as they call it, then rode on the
"spatial disorientation" chair. Basically, it's a chair with a
ring surrounding it that is used to spin you. They have you move in
certain positions to simulate feelings you might have in the aircraft. I
did not get to see everyone, but the chair left at least a couple people
feeling under the weather.
Tonight we have a
dinner sponsored by the Air Force Association (they're hoping we'll all
get involved). It's not all work down here (yet).
14 Aug 2002 (Phase I
- Third week of academics)
I got to enjoy my 100%
average for a little over a week before missing a question on the
Aerodynamics test. Oh well. It's better to have the pressure off anyway,
right?
We start Physiology
tomorrow. I'm not sure what the exact schedule is, but it's a lot more
hands-on than the classroom. I'll describe it more after I've been over
there a few days.
Our helmets were issued
to us today as well. They do a fit-test in the shop, which was
interesting. One of my classmates said using the oxygen mask was like
"breathing through four pillows." My experience was similar. I
hope it's less restrictive in the aircraft [we use the oxygen in the T-37
continuously since it is unpressurized, and we will routinely operate over
20,000 feet].
09 Aug 2002 (Phase I
- Second week of academics)
Just got our second
test completed after three days of "fundamentals," which
included performance charts, navigation charts, maintenance forms, and
numerous other items that do not fit anywhere else in the curriculum. I
was able to keep the 100% average along with seven of my classmates. No
one has failed anything yet.
I can't remember what
we start out with next week, but we get into Physiology Thursday, which
lasts several weeks. There, we'll learn about the effects of flying on
one's body, how to wear all the gear in the aircraft, how to eject, and
how to land with a parachute if we do eject. Should be kind of fun as far
as the blocks of instruction go.
05 Aug 2002 (Phase I
- Second week of academics)
One week down and 52 to
go! Ouch. Actually, the first week was not too bad. More relaxed than I'd
thought it would be. We were in our flight suits Wednesday, which required
the whole class (28) passing our "bold face" test. The
"bold face" is a series of emergency items that must be
memorized and written verbatim.
We had our first test
Today, which I'm told is the hardest during academics. I scored 100% (with
nine others), so I was pretty happy. Everything we do here is graded,
however, so that's a drop in the bucket. The study habits are paying off I
guess.
30 Jul 2002 (Phase I
- First day of academics)
My first day has come
and gone. The day was filled with guest speakers, lectures, briefings,
some class work, computer-aided programs, and finally a full night of
reading. Despite the work, which I knew was coming, they also gave us hope
and encouragement. Try hard and have a good attitude and you will succeed.
Take things a day at a time and learn those things well. They want us to
be successful. I am more excited today than I was yesterday. I knew quite
a bit of what we talked about today... granted, it was basic, but it was
something. And perhaps most surprising of all, everyone has been very
civil so far. I imagine that will change somewhat when I hit the flight
line in six weeks.
29 Jul 2002
Tomorrow is, as they
say, the first day of the rest of my life. I am starting over a year of
training to become a pilot with the United States Air Force. Beyond merely
being "cool," the reality had yet to set in until now. The
routines, the rigors, ,the arduous schedule will all soon turn a fantasy
into stark reality. The speculation, brewing for the past year, is about
to be replaced by class work and studies. I am anxious, excited,
terrified, and at ease all at once. It's a strange place to be. I know I
want it, and I have only to prove to myself I actually deserve it.
19 Jul 2002
Off to
Columbus!
If you have specific questions, please
contact me at [email protected].
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