Page 42 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2023 - Online Magazine

professional skill required to “From the ground,
operate those aircrafts. The observers are
team was on a strict schedule astounded by the
prepared by the Department four gleaming
of Defense, who managed both aircraft gracefully
the Thunderbirds (Air Force) sliding and gliding
and Blue Angels (Navy). We through the air. But
flew around 70 trips during the in the cockpit, a
February through November battle is raging with
flying season.” stick and rudder,
as the pilot works
The team’s practice area, to keep the aircraft
Thunderbird Lake, lies within the in the proper
restricted airspace of the gunnery position. Clear air
ranges northwest of Nellis AFB. turbulence over a On another occasion: “I finished
Nellis operations require a vast, show site can be described as a my normal tour on the right
controlled airspace from which shaking, pounding, hammering wing and was flying behind
all other planes are barred from sensation that forces the aircraft the diamond as an observer on
flying. This restricted area is to go where you do not want it my last flight. It was a clear day
the “training camp” for all new to go! The diamond formation is over Thunderbird Lake, and the
pilots who join the team. With the often like a car forced to rush at team had had a very successful
grueling G forces that are pulled breakneck speed over a road full practice. The last maneuver
and held in 360 degree turns and of ruts, potholes, and ditches.” was the “pitch up to land”—
the constant back stick pressure where each member pitches
that is required from 200 to 600 Because the show requires up in one-second intervals for
knots in the diamond formation, the ultimate in precision, the landing. This provides some
there is constant movement of the slightest change can cause a major separation between each aircraft
stick, rudders, and throttle to stay problem. For instance: “This while landing. All members had
in formation. Homer once made happened in a show during a acknowledged the pitch up. I
a movie of his movements during change from the diamond to trail was still flying in the trail of the
a roll. He was surprised to see formation. After Robby made diamond and saw a blur between
his feet on the rudders, his right the call to change, I (on the right two of the aircraft. The timing
hand on the flying control stick, wing) and Willie (on the left was off between John, the slot
and his left hand on the throttle— wing) were moving into the trail pilot, and Chuck, the right wing.
all in motion, and all moving in position. Robby’s aircraft was John caught Chuck on the front of
different circles. pulled up by a turbulent draft his aircraft and tore off his pilot
and caught my left wing bending
“The canyon walls of the wing tip—three feet straight boom—which shows air speed in
Thunderbird Lake absorb the up. I told Robby what happened, the cockpit. Since Chuck did not
sounds of afterburners going but the aircraft was flying OK, have a readable airspeed, Willie,
off during practice sessions. so Robby decided to finish the on the left wing, came over,
The radio transmissions ring show with the bomb burst. After and Chuck flew on his wing,
out: ‘nose coming up,’ ‘and landing, I taxied behind a hangar back to Nellis. I caught up with
the pull,’ ‘smoke on now,’ AB so the public would not see the John's aircraft and observed his
(afterburner) now,’ ‘rolling right,’ bent-up wing. The maintenance vertical stabilizer (rudder) was
‘smoke on,’ ‘smoke off,’ ‘pitch up team immediately replaced the gone when he hit the right-wing
left—acknowledge,’ ‘two left,’ 36-inch wing tip with a new one. aircraft. We climbed to 22,000 feet
‘three left,’ ‘four left,’ all coming Hardly anyone noticed, even to check the aircraft to see how
from the leader as he directs the though it had not been painted it would fly on landing. When
greatest shows on Earth! red, white, and blue.” he lowered the landing gear, the
aircraft went into a violent spin.

42 Lubbock Senior Link