Airforces

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #359 FEBRUARY 2018 // 41

Going ‘demo’
Typically, pilots now get to be the F-16 demo
pilot for three years, which they undertake
alongside their regular work duties. It’s
a role that rotates between the two F-16
bases of Kleine Brogel and Florennes to
share tasks as much as possible. Being
picked to be the pilot is hotly contested
and the post is open to all pilots who meet
the minimum requirements in terms of
experience. In consultation with the relevant
base commander, a selection committee sits
in Brussels, chaired by the Chief of Staff.
The end of the 2017 season signalled a time
for change, and Gizmo has been closely tied to
the selection of the new pilot for a fresh three-
year stint, starting in 2018. “In the second part
of the season, he will occasionally go with me
in the spare aircraft to find out what it is like,

and so that I can introduce him to a number of

people.” He added: “Any pilot can fly all the

manoeuvres, but the fact that we are going

to fly so close to ground level is something

we are not used to on an everyday basis.”

The routine for the following year is devised

in the autumn. The team is given free

rein to decide what it will consist of and a

programme is drafted in consultation with

the previous year’s pilot to be passed to

Command Operations Air (COMOPSAIR) for

approval. The Aviation Safety Directorate

will screen the routine, check to ensure

there are no prohibited elements, and

then the pilot will be granted permission

to commence work-up training.

“We also test the routine regularly in the

simulator,” Gizmo continued. “First, we’ll see

how long the routine takes, and if the design is

realistic in terms of performance [of the F-16]

and in terms of fuel consumption. We will

also start simulating a number of emergency

situations in the simulator. We introduce

engine failures and flight control problems.”

With the routine approved and tested, it’s

time for live flying. “First, we practise the

display a few times at 10,000ft just to master

the routine. Afterwards, we fly at 5,000ft

over the base practising, and then we [move

down] to 3,000ft, to 1,000ft, and finally get

down to 300ft.” This is the F-16 demo display

height. “Depending on the weather, there

are 17 to 25 flights to reach 300ft from the

start at 10,000ft,” he explained. “After each

training flight, we always do a full debriefing,

all flight data and images from the head-

up display [HUD] are constantly recorded.

Once we’re under 3,000ft everything gets