Combat aircraft

includes engineering, aerodynamics,

instruments, and procedures relating

to the T-45. ‘Then they hit the simulator

with cockpit orientation and basic

instrumentation. With those finished,

they’ll start live flying on the jet. For the

first three flights [they’re] sitting in the

back of the T-45 with a ‘bag’ over their

heads and they fly the whole mission in

the dark, eyes down on the instruments.

They’ll have to undertake a series of set

maneuvers under the ‘bag’ without any

external references, using nothing but

the instrument readings in front of them.

They’ll then go to an airfield and shoot

approaches before returning here — all

without looking out of the cockpit.

‘We find that they execute this well in

terms of procedures, but they initially

struggle with talking and flying at the

same time. It’s task-saturation, coupled

with the human factors of flying under

the ‘bag’, and it’s normal — we know

and expect that. Then they go back to

the sim before more instrument flying

under IFR [instrument flight rules],

such as approaches and navigating to

other airfields. Once instrument-rated,

Above left

to right: An

instructor at

VT-9 goes

through the

morning

briefings with

squadron

students.

Rich Cooper

A student makes

her walk-

round check at

Meridian prior

to a mission.

Rich Cooper

UNIT REPORT | TRAINING AIR WING ONE

http://www.combataircraft.net January 2018

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