Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Puma44 on December 20, 2018, 05:33:11 PM

Title: In the Thick of It
Post by: Puma44 on December 20, 2018, 05:33:11 PM: A pair of Navy T-2 Buckeyes flying an instrument approach in challenging weather conditions. Military pilots are trained to fly formation approaches for just such an occurance.

(https://i.postimg.cc/FRwRGGbM/135-F9-FE7-A8-D5-4060-8-EEA-97-FA4-F5-D4-C98.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

We flew many instrument approaches in similar conditions, especially during the winter months, at Minot AFB, ND in our squadron F-106s and T-33s.
Title: Re: In the Thick of It
Post by: Oldman731 on December 20, 2018, 09:15:01 PM: Quote from: Puma44 on December 20, 2018, 05:33:11 PM
A pair of Navy T-2 Buckeyes flying an instrument approach in challenging weather conditions. Military pilots are trained to fly formation approaches for just such an occurance.

So what is the wingman looking at? His ILS needles, or the leader?

- oldman
Title: Re: In the Thick of It
Post by: Puma44 on December 20, 2018, 09:39:40 PM: Quote from: Oldman731 on December 20, 2018, 09:15:01 PM

So what is the wingman looking at? His ILS needles, or the leader?

- oldman

The wingman is flying in reference to specific points on lead’s aircraft and only takes very quick glances at his instrument panel. The thicker the weather, the less the wingman’s eyes come off the lead aircraft. Ideally, the wingman has his radios/nav gear set as a backup in case of losing sight of lead. Lead flys the approach and the wingman is holding on in formation.

The risk, is losing sight of lead and going lost wingman in the weather. There are specific procedures for each member of the flight if that should happen, to ensure no one bumps into another jet. So, it imperative to hold on to the references, even in bumpy air. Each aircraft has specified reference points for flying in fingertip position. In the F-4, forward nav light in the center of the fuselage star emblem. In the T-33, nav light on the star. In thick clouds, we would slide back and use the aft point of the tip tank in the star. This allowed us to tuck in even tighter without bumping lead. This tight, the tip tanks were overlapping laterally but, had fore/aft clearance.

Being proficient in formation was critical in case there was an aircraft malfunction that disabled instruments or radios. I flew a T-33 from K.I. Sawyer AFB to Colorado Springs on my flight commander’s wing one winter night in the weather enroute and for an instrument approach due to a failed inverter that couldn’t be repaired. My jet had no navigation instruments and only the UHF radio operable.
Title: Re: In the Thick of It
Post by: TequilaChaser on December 20, 2018, 11:10:50 PM: Quote from: Puma44 on December 20, 2018, 09:39:40 PM
Being proficient in formation was critical in case there was an aircraft malfunction that disabled instruments or radios. I flew a T-33 from K.I. Sawyer AFB to Colorado Springs on my flight commander’s wing one winter night in the weather enroute and for an instrument approach due to a failed inverter that couldn’t be repaired. My jet had no navigation instruments and only the UHF radio operable.

How bout' that Pucker Factor?

...lol just messing

Thanks for the Memories of your's you share on these boards

Cheers

TC
Title: Re: In the Thick of It
Post by: Puma44 on December 20, 2018, 11:58:11 PM: Quote from: TequilaChaser on December 20, 2018, 11:10:50 PM
How bout' that Pucker Factor?

...lol just messing

Thanks for the Memories of your's you share on these boards

Cheers

TC

Oh, there was always some level of that floating about. Just depended on the level of malfunction, severity of weather, fuel level, some other variation, or any combination of the above that would dictate the level on any given day, or dark of night.

Your welcome. Glad to share. 👍
Title: Re: In the Thick of It
Post by: 1stpar3 on December 21, 2018, 04:56:11 PM: Heck,I hate driving...in fog. Being that you had to worry about more than just the road.."PUCKER" is an understatement,me thinks. Thanks for another Tale From The Flight Line :salute
Title: Re: In the Thick of It
Post by: Puma44 on December 21, 2018, 08:38:12 PM: Yeah, driving in the fog is so much more dangerous. All sorts of things that go bump in the fog. :uhoh