Jrz

Since my old topic at C5 is no more; here's a new one with my latest adventures! At this moment I'm finally in "the flying phase". We started 1,5 month ago and I now have 20 flying houres on the PC-7 (15 hrs contact and 5 hrs instrument). The syllabus: -Contact pt 1 (basic flying) -Initial contact check (checkride, when passed you're allowed to continue with contact pt2 and instruments) = approx. 12 hrs. -Contact pt 2 (circuit, aerobatics and airborne emergencies) -Instruments (3 flights in the sim and 3 flights in the backseat of the PC-7 under a "hood" to simulate IMC) -Solo check (checkride, last flight with an IP to see if you're capable to fly solo) -Solo = approx. 20 hrs. Total: approx. 30-32hrs I'm now halfway through my second contact block and at about a third in my instruments block.

Thanks all :) Here is the video we made for our graduation!:

And it has not been a waste of time:

It's basically an AF SOC assignment. I don't know a whole lot about it either, but it comes down to "non specified aircraft", so you might get to fly different types of aircaft and participate in a lot of secret operations. These guys fly their first operational year an average of 200 to 300 combat hours!

Assignments of our class: 18 Americans (14 active duty, 4 guard) and 6 Dutchies. A.D.: 2 x C-17 (Charleston and McChord) 2 x F-16 T-38 FAIP KC-10 (Travis) NSA 2 x KC-135 (Kadena and Fairchild) F-15C C-5 (Travis) RC-135 Predator B-52 The six Dutchies all got their F-16, three guard A-10's and one guard F-16.

I´ll never decline an offer like that! It´s about time for an update; did some cool stuff! Im about to do my advanced formation check (2ship); which basically consists of tactical flying (4-6000ft line abreast to 10 degrees aft, with an altitude stack of up to +/-2000ft), fluid maneuvering (the first babysteps into actual ACM) and some basic formation stuff like fingertip etc. After this check we start with 4ship and "heat to guns" (a little more towards ACM; first come in for an aim-9 shot, then move closer in for a guns track). We also started with low level, which is not too bad blasting around with 420kts groundspeed max at 500ft agl. I'm also a proud member of the machbusters haha, since we have one "zoom and boom-ride" in the syllabus which consists of an unrestricted afterburner climb upto FL390 where we will cruise above mach 1.xx for a short time and do some maneuvering at high speeds. The climb was awesome, busting the Mach only happens on your little mach indicator hehe; but the idea is pretty cool!

Heading towards the runway for my initial T-38C solo. Man, what an awesome experience was that! Just the moment that you realise that you are the only one in the aircraft, that it is really you who is flying a real jet... Hard to believe haha. Very, very cool experience!

Had my first 10 hours in the jet; about to go solo but damn! What a machine haha! Flying jets is so different when you compare it to prop planes. Rolling into bank doesn't do a whole lot, you really have to pull yourself and put the plane where you want it to be. Also, since we're burning our gas a lot faster now, we don't want to waste any time getting something done. If you need to loose a few thousend feet, you don't retard your throttle and put your nose a few degrees below the horizon; now you roll inverted and pull! And especially since the T-38C has a HUD as well, you really get the sensation your just playing some videogame haha. The only difference is that you really do feel the G's

Completed T-6's on the 6th of August and since we had some time untill we had to start T-38's I went to Los Angeles with another Dutchie who finished early. Spent 5 days there and I must say, pretty cool place to hang out. Relaxing at Venice Beach, surfing in Malibu (although surfing was way beter in San Diego), shopping on Rodeo drive, clubbing on Sunset blvd... Not a bad way to spent your "holiday" Starting academics tomorrow and hopefully my dollarride in the first week of september. Really looking forward to the next couple of months. Definately a lot of tough and long days ahead of me, but it will be worth it!

Thats why I joined the Airforce.... I found out later that flying itself is also actually quite nice to do

This weekend 2 ship lowel level cross country to Fort Worth Alliance (KAFW)! After that, 8 flights remaining (2 of them checkrides) and then hopefully start T-38 academics on the 17th of august.

Low level is also in the pocket! Starting with formation tomorrow... Really looking forward to that!

Little update, passed my instrument checkride last friday! Next: beside advanced contact now also low level and formation! :ph34r:

Make sure that you bring your camera! Obviously, I can´t make it, so please post some pics! It´s a pity, since I would love to see the vulcan in action :yes:

Haha, I tried it... Good to know the Americans also have Jupiler ;) Luckily they sell Grolsch here at the class six on base! I'm a happy man! @ Nellis:

Nah, you have to see it as a big cover with some extra pockets to put your stuff. (The max weight your glareshield can hold is 8.5 pounds) It comes in handy as a place to put your extra charts etc which don't fit in your pubs storage compartments (because they aren't that big, 2 FLIP's and it's full). I tried to find a picture, but I didn't find anything.

The icing band is the layer of air which has icing in it and the maximum band is a 5000 ft layer of air which you are allowed to transition through on your climb or descent. But this 5000 ft counts only when it's light rime ice. Rime ice forms by direct freezing of small water droplets on your airframe. Light describes the intensity of the build up of ice. Light icing is a slow build up, which can create a problem if you stay in the weather long enough. PUBS storage are a few small storage spacings left and right of your seat to keep your approach plates, charts etc. Glareshield storage bag is a specially designed bag which can be attached to your glareshield.

Mostly correct indeed, but just for the numbers: you have the correct values for the max itt during start (1000 for 5 sec). The other ITT limits are: Idle - 750 deg celcius Steady - 820 Transient - 870 N1: 30.000 RPM -> NP: 2000 RPM (15:1 ratio by the reduction gearbox) G limits: Symmetric clean: -3.5 to 7.0 G Symmetric gear/flaps: 0 to 2.5 G Asymmetric clean: -1 to 4.7 G Asymmetric gear/flaps: 0 to 2 G If there is anything else you need to know, let me know!

I never thought I would enjoy a Jupiler that much haha. Little update: I had my first solo and also passed my first check ride! Next up is a crosscountry this friday: seven T-6's from Sheppard to Nellis AFB for a weekend of drinking and gambling in Las Vegas! Yes I know, it's a tough life!

The first episode aired on the 19th of january. You can find all the links to uitzendinggemist on the TGH site: http://topgunholland.kro.nl/

Haha, i saw the KLu already took our ideas for the new demo jet, since we were planning to paint a "dutch lion" on the side... :( Btw, have you seen the show on Ned 3: "top gun holland"? They followed me while we were on the EMVO.

Finally started flying again! The T-6 is a pretty nice kite to fly, except that it has a "trim aid device", which is supposed to trim off all rudder forces so that the plane flies more like a jet... Unfortunately, most of the times, especially when you are used to flying props and to counter the torque effect, you are faster then the TAD, so when you have the plane trimmed, the TAD kicks in and screws it up again. So I have to learn to work with the TAD... But beside the TAD, it is a real nice plane to fly! And the bus:

Good luck! Like said before, get your rest and stay focused! I went through the RNLAF application process and the vital part is being well rested so that you're able to give everything you have when it's required. The only other part of advice I can give you is to have some general knowledge of the RAAF, it never hurts to know where it is operating, what you expect life in the RAAF to be like etc.