DOCSLIB.ORG

How to Win in a Dogfight: Stories from a Pilot Who Flew F-16S and Migs

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
How to Win in a Dogfight: Stories from a Pilot Who Flew F-16S and Migs How To Win In A Dogfight: Stories From A Pilot Who Flew F-16s And MiGs Lt. Col. Fred "Spanky" Clifton is one of the most experienced aggressor pilots ever, having flown the F-15, F-5, F-16 and the notorious MiG-29. He's been in dogfights with pretty much every fighter out there and is a graduate of the prestigious Fighter Weapons School. Now he's here to share his expertise with you. How in the hell did you end up becoming the first USAF fighter pilot to fly the Russian-built MiG- 29 Fulcrum as an exchange pilot? First – a little (actually, a lot of) background. I earned a degree in aerospace engineering in 1979 and worked for Boeing in the Seattle area for two years after graduating from college. I had no real interest in joining the military at the time since I was an Army brat, growing up mostly at Fort Bliss, TX, and probably felt I had done my time. Plus, my dad told me if I ever joined the Army he'd kick my butt. Trust me Dad, an Army career was never on my radar screen. The Army doesn't have cool jets! I had a life-long fascination with airplanes and had built hundreds of plastic models, eventually moving on to u- control models and then radio-controlled models. I had always wanted to learn to fly myself, but could never afford it. One of my coworkers at Boeing told me about the Boeing Employees Flying Association (BEFA). BEFA had a range of different airplanes at affordable prices to members. For example, a Cessna 152 rented for $19 / hour, including fuel. An instructor was another $10 / hour. I joined BEFA and got my private pilot's license in 1981. The ink wasn't wet on my certificate when I took my girlfriend for a flight. I moved up to the Cessna 172 and thought this was the cat's meow. Flying bug smashers was fun, but it sure wasn't exciting. One Spring Saturday in 1981 another coworker called and asked if I wanted to go to the open house at McChord AFB. It was an abnormally sunny day in the Pacific Northwest, so away we went. Parked next to each other on the flightline was an F-15 and F-16. I was drawn to them like flies to a cow patty and I'm sure the two pilots were happy to have me quit bending their ears with questions. After a great show by the Canadian Snow Birds, I went and stood about 100 feet in front of the two fighters and thought to myself that I could fly one of those. The next week, I called the local recruiting office and talked to the USAF recruiter. We set up a meeting and upon entering the building the Navy recruiter told me that if the Air Force wouldn't take me, the Navy would. The Air Force recruiter must have had some issues with my appearance. I had shoulder-length hair and a way out-of-regs mustache. His first comment was that I had to have a college degree to become an Air Force pilot. Got one of those. First square checked off. He next commented that I can't be doing (or never had done) drugs. Hadn't gone there. Second square checked off, and the ball started rolling. Remember, this was 1981 and the start of the Reagan military build-up. If you met certain minimal criteria, and could fog a mirror, you were in. A couple of months after starting the application process, completing the testing requirements and passing a flight physical, I was awarded a slot in USAF Officer Training School (OTS) with guaranteed pilot training as a follow-on; assuming successful completion of OTS. Driving from Seattle to San Antonio, TX (OTS was at the Medina Annex of Lackland AFB in those days) the route took me past Hill AFB in Utah. As a drove by I saw a couple of F-16s in the traffic pattern. If you've ever been to the Salt Lake City area, you know how nice it is. Let's see – F-16s, mountains (skiing, hiking, etc). It must be a sign from God. I made up my mind right there I wanted to fly F-16s. I never got stationed at Hill. After finishing OTS, I started UPT at Laughlin AFB, TX in March 1982. There were 72 students who started the class (Reagan build-up once again). If I had any apprehensions about flight training, the biggest was aerobatics. Up until that time, I had never been a big fan of things like roller coasters and such and was afraid I'd get sick doing 'acro.' We started doing some mild acro on the second or third flight in theT- 37 and I took to it like a fish takes to water. The next thing I was apprehensive about was instrument flying. I'd never done that. There are four things one needs to do simultaneously to fly instruments – hold heading, hold altitude, hold airspeed and talk on the radio. In the first couple of T-37 instrument simulator sorties, I could do three, but not all four. During the second sim sortie, this hot-tempered first lieutenant instructor was banging on the glare shield and yelling at me over my errors. I'm not one to swear a whole lot, but I finally looked over at him and told him that if he'd STFU I'd do better. He did shut up and the sim went much better. He and I got along great after that and we ended up flying a lot together. I didn't bust any flights or sims in the T-37. The success continued into the T-38; although, I did bust one T-38 flight because I was slow getting the landing gear up as the flight lead during a formation take-off. As assignment time approached, I had been ranked as "fighter qualified" and filled out my assignment preference sheet (aka, Dream Sheet) with F-16 at the top and F-15 was number two. Every UPT class does its Assignment Night a little bit differently. We knew beforehand what aircraft would be in the assignment drop for my class. As far as fighters, there would be one F-16, two F-15s, one F-4 and three A-10s. We decided that on Assignment Night, each student would be called up and face the crowd with a projector screen to his or her back. The first picture projected on the screen was the student's first-choice aircraft, the second picture was what the class voted that the student would get and the final would be a picture of the USAF's (final) choice for you. As the students went up, one after the other, it was easy to narrow down the remaining available aircraft from the deck. Kind of like counting cards. It got down to the last two students, me and another, and the two last available jets were an F-15 and an F-16. I was called up first. As I stood in front of the crowd – first picture: F-16, second picture: F-16, third picture: F- 15. My reaction? Are you effing kidding me? I had to gather myself quickly. This was actually a great deal and honor. 13 of my classmates had been selected for one of the ultimate USAF screw jobs, First- Assignment Instructor Pilot, and were staying at Laughlin to instruct in T-37s and T-38s. I'd better put on a happy face. I saluted the student squadron commander and pumped my fists on the way back to my seat. Since I didn't get my number-one choice, the F-15 was going to have to 'sell' itself to me, but I decided to go into it with an open mind. Of the 72 students who started, about 38 graduated. Even during the Reagan build-up, there were standards. The last student was washed out the day we received our wings. I started F-15A training at Luke AFB, AZ in July 1983 and was assigned to the 7 thTactical Fighter Squadron at Holloman AFB, NM in October 1983. In February 1987 I was assigned to the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB. About a year and a half into the Aggressor assignment, the decision was made to convert from the F-5E to another airplane; which was, ultimately, the F-16. There was a lot of indecisiveness at the USAF level as to which Aggressor pilots would convert to the F-16. At first, the Air Force wasn't going to send a lot of former F-15 guys like me to F-16 training. So here was a large group if F-5 instructors with no place to go; or, at least, we thought. Uncle Sugar had a lot of F-5 instructor pilot (IP) jobs in exotic locations and he lined us former Eagle pilots against the wall and started throwing darts at us. I got an assignment to Sidi Ahmed Air Base in Bizerte, Tunisia. I went on record as having volunteered for the job if I could come back to the Aggressors and convert to the F-16 (Remember? My number-one choice). The deal was done and after a year in a land of strange new sights and smells, I got an assignment to the PACAF Aggressors who were in the process of moving from Clark Air Base in The Philippines to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa and taking delivery of brand new Block 30 F-16C Vipers.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Evaluation of Fighter Evasive Maneuvers Against Proportional Navigation Missiles
    TURKISH NAVAL ACADEMY NAVAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INSTITUTE DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAM IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING EVALUATION OF FIGHTER EVASIVE MANEUVERS AGAINST PROPORTIONAL NAVIGATION MISSILES Master Thesis REMZ Đ AKDA Ğ Advisor: Assist.Prof. D.Turgay Altılar Đstanbul, 2005 Copyright by Naval Science and Engineering Institute, 2005 CERTIFICATE OF COMMITTEE APPROVAL EVALUATION OF FIGHTER EVASIVE MANEUVERS AGAINST PROPORTIONAL NAVIGATION MISSILES Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING from the TURKISH NAVAL ACADEMY Author: Remzi Akda ğ Defense Date : 13 / 07 / 2005 Approved by : 13 / 07 / 2005 Assist.Prof. Deniz Turgay Altılar (Advisor) Prof. Ercan Öztemel (Defense Committee Member) Assoc.Prof. Coşkun Sönmez (Defense Committee Member) ABSTRACT (TURKISH) SAVA Ş UÇAKLARININ ORANTISAL SEY ĐR YAPAN GÜDÜMLÜ MERM ĐLERDEN SAKINMA MANEVRALARININ DE ĞERLEND ĐRĐLMES Đ Anahtar Kelimeler : Orantısal seyir, sakınma manevraları, aerodinamik kuvvetler Bu tezde, orantısal seyir adı verilen güdüm sistemiyle ilerleyen güdümlü mermilere kar şı uçaklar tarafından icra edilen sakınma manevralarının etkinli ği ölçülmü ş, farklı güdümlü mermilerden kaçı ş için en uygun manevralar tanımlanmı ştır. Uçu ş aerodinamikleri, matematiksel modele bir temel oluşturmak amacıyla sunulmu ştur. Bir hava sava şında güdümlü mermilerden sakınmak için uçaklar tarafından icra edilen belli ba şlı manevraların matematiksel modelleri çıkarılıp uygulanılmı ş, görsel simülasyonu gerçekle ştirilmi ş ve bu manevraların de ğişik ba şlangıç de ğerlerine göre ba şarım çözümlemeleri yapılmıştır. Güdümlü mermi-uçak kar şıla şma senaryolarında güdümlü merminin terminal güdüm aşaması ele alınmı ştır. Gerçekçi çözümleme sonuçları elde edebilmek amacıyla uçu ş aerodinamiklerinin göz önüne alınmasıyla elde edilen yönlendirme kinematiklerini içeren geni şletilmi ş nokta kütleli uçak modeli kullanılmı ştır.
    [Show full text]
  • Joint Land Use Study
    Fairbanks North Star Borough Joint Land Use Study United States Army, Fort Wainwright United States Air Force, Eielson Air Force Base Fairbanks North Star Borough, Planning Department July 2006 Produced by ASCG Incorporated of Alaska Fairbanks North Star Borough Joint Land Use Study Fairbanks Joint Land Use Study This study was prepared under contract with Fairbanks North Star Borough with financial support from the Office of Economic Adjustment, Department of Defense. The content reflects the views of Fairbanks North Star Borough and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Economic Adjustment. Historical Hangar, Fort Wainwright Army Base Eielson Air Force Base i Fairbanks North Star Borough Joint Land Use Study Table of Contents 1.0 Study Purpose and Process................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................1 1.2 Study Objectives ............................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Planning Area................................................................................................................. 2 1.4 Participating Stakeholders.............................................................................................. 4 1.5 Public Participation........................................................................................................ 5 1.6 Issue Identification........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Update on the F–35 Joint Strike Fighter Program
    i [H.A.S.C. No. 114–58] UPDATE ON THE F–35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER PROGRAM HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON TACTICAL AIR AND LAND FORCES OF THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION HEARING HELD OCTOBER 21, 2015 U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 97–492 WASHINGTON : 2016 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 SUBCOMMITTEE ON TACTICAL AIR AND LAND FORCES MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio, Chairman FRANK A. LOBIONDO, New Jersey LORETTA SANCHEZ, California JOHN FLEMING, Louisiana NIKI TSONGAS, Massachusetts CHRISTOPHER P. GIBSON, New York HENRY C. ‘‘HANK’’ JOHNSON, JR., Georgia PAUL COOK, California TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois BRAD R. WENSTRUP, Ohio MARC A. VEASEY, Texas JACKIE WALORSKI, Indiana TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota SAM GRAVES, Missouri DONALD NORCROSS, New Jersey MARTHA MCSALLY, Arizona RUBEN GALLEGO, Arizona STEPHEN KNIGHT, California MARK TAKAI, Hawaii THOMAS MACARTHUR, New Jersey GWEN GRAHAM, Florida WALTER B. JONES, North Carolina SETH MOULTON, Massachusetts JOE WILSON, South Carolina JOHN SULLIVAN, Professional Staff Member DOUG BUSH, Professional Staff Member NEVE SCHADLER, Clerk (II) C O N T E N T S Page STATEMENTS PRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS Turner, Hon. Michael R., a Representative from Ohio, Chairman, Subcommit- tee on Tactical Air and Land Forces .................................................................. 1 WITNESSES Bogdan, Lt Gen Christopher C., USAF, Program Executive Officer, F–35 Joint Program Office, U.S. Department of Defense .......................................... 2 Harrigian, Maj Gen Jeffrey L., USAF, Director, F–35 Integration Office, U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Autonomous Aerobatics: a Linear Algorithm and Implementation for a Slow Roll Student: Michael Brett Pearce1 Professors: Dr
    Autonomous Aerobatics: A Linear Algorithm and Implementation for a Slow Roll Student: Michael Brett Pearce1 Professors: Dr. Larry Silverberg2, Dr. Ashok Golpalarathnam3, Dr. Gregory Buckner4 Technical Expert on Aerobatics: John White, Master Aerobatic Instructor 2061858 CFI5 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Introduction Control Algorithm Methodology Custom Designed Airframe Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles ( ’s) are becoming common on the battlefield airspace but to date UCAV 1.21:1 Thrust to Twin Rudders for Yaw A pilot is essentially a PID Controller. The author’s unique aviation Control they have not been implemented in fighters due to the complexity of executing maneuvers required and VF-1 Valkyrie Weight Ratio the nonlinearities in aerodynamics, control response, control inputs required, and extreme attitudes. experience as a Certificated Flight Instructor and competition aerobatic pilot Custom Designed for project requirements Flapperons for Split Elevons for Thrust in powered and sailplanes is applied and converted to a mathematical basis. Hyper maneuverable aerobatic airframe with Slow Speed Flight Vectoring Such maneuvers are crucial for , low level penetration Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM, “dogfighting”) full 3-axis thrust vectoring with extreme maneuvering for bombing targets, escape and evasion from missiles, and "jinking" for This reduces the control problem to a linear system, bypassing the analytical, Capable of unlimited aerobatics and post stall avoiding ground to air gunfire. Such flying is collectively known as Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM). maneuvering computational, and monetary issues with a typical engineering approach. Onboard autopilot in a custom chassis BFM is fundamentally composed of aerobatics, and aerobatics itself is fundamentally composed of a few Foam core composite airframe stressed for in basic maneuvers.
    [Show full text]
  • Love of Modeling Squadron – Loving the Hobby Since 1968!
    FebruaryFFeebbrruaryuaarry 201722001177 BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE See Page 24 for Complete Details Celebrate Your Love of Modeling Squadron – Loving the Hobby Since 1968! Over 160 NEW Kits and Accessories Inside These Pages! PLASTIC MODELOD E L KITSK I T S • MODEL ACCESSORIES SeeSSe bback cover for full details. BOOKS & MAGAZINES • PAINTS & TOOLS • GIFTS & COLLECTIBLES OrderO Today at WWW.SQUADRON.COM or call 1-877-414-0434 Dear Friends SQUADRON If you are anything like me, the winter chill has kept you indoors and busy building. This PRODUCTS is the time when I use more glue than in any other season. Deskbound, warm and cozy in my model room, drinking hot chocolate and surrounded by my best friends; models! With great fanfare, we are thrilled to announce the inaugural kit from our new SquadronModels product line - the long awaited HAUNEBU II German Flying Saucer. In stock and available for purchase, you won’t want to miss the quality and innovation that are hallmarks of our very first, developed from scratch model kit. Unique in all its form and description, the history of the Haunbu project is both fascinating and charismatic. Derived from the deepest and darkest Nazi se- crets, development of this German flying space vessel is still to today, part truth, part mystery. No matter if you are an airplane, armor, ship or fantasy builder, the Haunebu will captivate you with its detail and size. Check it out on Page 24 and be sure to check out the in-box video review on Squadron.com under the Squadron TV tab.
    [Show full text]
  • Afi 11-2F-16V3, F-16
    BY ORDER OF THE AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 11-2F-16, SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE VOLUME 3 1 JULY 1999 Flying Operations F-16--OPERATIONS PROCEDURES COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY NOTICE: This publication is available digitally on the AFDPO WWW site at: http://afpubs.hq.af.mil. If you lack access, contact your Publishing Distribution Office (PDO). OPR: HQ ACC/XOFT Certified by: HQ USAF/XOO (Maj Douglas E. Young) (Maj Gen Michael S. Kudlacz) Supersedes MCI 11-F16V3, 21 April 1995; EMC Pages: 94 96-1, 041750Z Mar 96; IC 98-1, Distribution: F 211355Z Jan 98; IC 98-2, 162055Z Jul 98 This volume implements AFPD 11-2, Aircraft Rules and Procedures; AFPD 11-4, Aviation Service; and AFI 11-202V3, General Flight Rules. It applies to all F-16 units. MAJCOM/DRU/FOA-level supple- ments to this volume are to be approved prior to publication IAW AFPD 11-2. Copies of MAJCOM/ DRU/FOA-level supplements, after approved and published, will be provided by the issuing MAJCOM/ DRU/FOA to HQ AFFSA/XOF, HQ ACC/XOFT, and the user MAJCOM and ANG offices of primary responsibility. Field units below MAJCOM/DRU/FOA level will forward copies of their supplements to this publication to their parent MAJCOM/DRU/FOA office of primary responsibility for post publication review. NOTE: The terms direct reporting unit (DRU) and field operating agency (FOA) as used in this paragraph refer only to those DRUs/FOAs that report directly to HQ USAF. Keep supplements current by complying with AFI 33-360V1, Publications Management Program.
    [Show full text]
  • 2017 the Magazine
    SCANDINAVIAN AVIATION MAGAZINE NO the MAGAzINE 03 2017 18th Aggressor Squadron - the blue foxes Eielson Air Force base in Alaska is home to one of only two USAF Aggressor Squadrons, the 18th Aggressor Squadron – also known as The Blue Foxes. BALTOPS & SABER STRIKE The Red Devils Tornado Dawn Strike 2017 Between May 28 and June 24, The 6° Stormo“Diavoli Rossi”, “Dawn Strike 17” was the final the exercises Baltops and Saber also know as the Red Devils, exercise in a six month long Royal Strike were taking place above are the last wing to fly the Australian Air Force “Air Warfare the Baltic Region. Tornado in the Italian Air Force. Instructor Course 2017”. SCANDINAVIAN AVIATION MAGAZINE This magazine features a look into the major exercises Baltops and Saber Strike, which has taking place in the Baltic Region, as well as a close look to one of the USAF aggressor units, the 18th Aggressor Squadron. We hope you like the magazine - enjoy! THE MAGAzINE The Red Devils Tornado 04 The 6° Stormo“Diavoli Rossi”, also know as the Red Devils, are the last wing to fly the Tornado in the Italian Air Force. Andrea Avian gives us a closer look at the the Red Devils. Exercise Dawn Strike 2017 18 Exercise “Dawn Strike 2017” was the final exercise in a six month long Royal Australian Air Force “Air Warfare Instructor Course 2017”. Jeroen Oude Wolbers reports from Australia. BALTOPS & SABER STRIKE 2017 24 Between the 28th of May and the 24th of June, the exercises Baltops and Saber Strike were taking place above the Baltic Region.
    [Show full text]
  • 2015 Operations Pre-Conference Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Orlando, Florida 26 August 2015 Presenter Biographies
    2015 Operations Pre-Conference Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Orlando, Florida 26 August 2015 Presenter Biographies Annie is a Patient and Pilot Outreach Coordinator for PALS and flies missions with Jim Platz. Her efforts have been focused on Northern Maine where there is a concentration of patients in need of reaching medical facilities. Ms. Annie Beaulieu Lt Col Chuck Bishop is CAP NHQ Communications Engineering Division Head and is currently also serving as the interim ARWG/CC. He has been a CAP member for 45 years and was Spaatz Cadet #219. Lt Col Chuck Bishop, CAP Captain Chuck Brudtkuhl is CAP NHQ Communications Operations Division Head. He is responsible for the team that conducts the daily CAP National Traffic Net on HF and operates as Triblade 33. He is a retired telecommunications industry engineer with USWest/Quest who specialized in Intelligent Networks primarily using SONET. Capt Chuck Brudtkuhl, CAP Col Buschmann is the CAP National Glider Program Manager as well as a retired Lt Col from the USAF, founding partner and past president & CEO of Meadow Homes, Inc., former History Instructor at the Community College of Aurora, CO. Jack is also past Commander of Colorado Wing, and a 59 year member of CAP. He principally has a general aviation flying background with an ASEL, ASES, and glider experience. Currently he flies an RV-7A that he built from a kit. He is here to speak on “Glider Hot Topics” Col Jack Buschmann, CAP 1 Lt Col Cameron “Glover” Dadgar is the commander of the 549th Combat Training Squadron and still maintains his qualifications in the Viper with the 64th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Vase.
    [Show full text]
  • Open Thorsen Dissertation.Pdf
    The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School College of Engineering A UNIFIED FLIGHT CONTROL METHODOLOGY FOR A COMPOUND ROTORCRAFT IN FUNDAMENTAL AND AEROBATIC MANEUVERING FLIGHT A Dissertation in Aerospace Engineering by Adam Thorsen 2016 Adam Thorsen Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy December 2016 The dissertation of Adam Thorsen was reviewed and approved* by the following: Joseph F. Horn Professor of Aerospace Engineering Dissertation Advisor Chair of Committee Edward C. Smith Professor of Aerospace Engineering Christopher Rahn Professor of Mechanical Engineering Associate Dean for Innovation of the College of Engineering Kenneth S. Brentner Professor of Aerospace Engineering Philip J. Morris Boeing, A.D. Welliver Professor of Aerospace Engineering Interim Head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School iii ABSTRACT This study investigates a novel approach to flight control for a compound rotorcraft in a variety of maneuvers ranging from fundamental to aerobatic in nature. Fundamental maneuvers are a class of maneuvers with design significance that are useful for testing and tuning flight control systems along with uncovering control law deficiencies. Aerobatic maneuvers are a class of aggressive and complex maneuvers with more operational significance. The process culminating in a unified approach to flight control includes various control allocation studies for redundant controls in trim and maneuvering flight, an efficient methodology to simulate non- piloted maneuvers with varying degrees of complexity, and the setup of an unconventional control inceptor configuration along with the use of a flight simulator to gather pilot feedback in order to improve the unified control architecture.
    [Show full text]
  • Fall 2015, Vol
    Fall 2015, Vol. LVI No.3 CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS FEATURES 04 06 Newsbeat Daedalian Citation of Honor 05 09 Commander’s Perspective The WASP Uniforms 06 15 Adjutant’s Column Experiences of being among the first fifty 07 female pilots in the modern Air Force Linda Martin Phillips Book Reviews 08 34 Jackie Cochran Caitlin’s Corner 35 10 Chuck Yeager Awards Jack Oliver 18 Flightline America’s Premier Fraternal Order of Military Pilots 36 Promoting Leadership in Air and Space New/Rejoining Daedalians 37 Eagle Wing/Reunions 38 In Memoriam 39 Flight Addresses THE ORDER OF DAEDALIANS was organized on 26 March 1934 by a representative group of American World War I pilots to perpetuate the spirit of patriotism, the love of country, and the high ideals of sacrifice which place service to nation above personal safety or position. The Order is dedicated to: insuring that America will always be preeminent in air and space—the encourage- ment of flight safety—fostering an esprit de corps in the military air forces—promoting the adoption of military service as a career—and aiding deserving young individuals in specialized higher education through the establishment of scholarships. THE DAEDALIAN FOUNDATION was incorporated in 1959 as a non-profit organization to carry on activities in furtherance of the ideals and purposes of the Order. The Foundation publishes the Daedalus Flyer and sponsors the Daedalian Scholarship Program. The Foundation is a GuideStar Exchange member. The Scholarship Program recognizes scholars who indicate a desire to become military pilots and pursue a career in the military. Other scholarships are presented to younger individuals interested in aviation but not enrolled in college.
    [Show full text]
  • America's Secret Migs
    THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE SECRET COLD WAR TRAINING PROGRAM RED EAGLES America’s Secret MiGs STEVE DAVIES FOREWORD BY GENERAL J. JUMPER © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com RED EAGLES America’s Secret MiGs OSPREY PUBLISHING © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com CONTENTS DEDICATION 6 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 7 FOREWORD 10 INTRODUCTION 12 PART 1 ACQUIRING “THE ASSETS” 15 Chapter 1: HAVE MiGs, 1968–69 16 Chapter 2: A Genesis for the Red Eagles, 1972–77 21 PART 2 LAYING THE GROUND WORK 49 Chapter 3: CONSTANT PEG and Tonopah, 1977–79 50 Chapter 4: The Red Eagles’ First Days and the Early MiGs 78 Chapter 5: The “Flogger” Arrives, 1980 126 Chapter 6: Gold Wings, 1981 138 PART 3 EXPANDED EXPOSURES AND RED FLAG, 1982–85 155 Chapter 7: The Fatalists, 1982 156 Chapter 8: Postai’s Crash 176 Chapter 9: Exposing the TAF, 1983 193 Chapter 10: “The Air Force is Coming,” 1984 221 Chapter 11: From Black to Gray, 1985 256 PART 4 THE FINAL YEARS, 1986–88 275 Chapter 12: Increasing Blue Air Exposures, 1986 276 Chapter 13: “Red Country,” 1987 293 Chapter 14: Arrival Shows, 1988 318 POSTSCRIPT 327 ENDNOTES 330 APPENDICES 334 GLOSSARY 342 INDEX 346 © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com DEDICATION In memory of LtCdr Hugh “Bandit” Brown and Capt Mark “Toast” Postai — 6 — © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This is a story about the Red Eagles: a group of men, and a handful of women, who provided America’s fighter pilots with a level of training that was the stuff of dreams. It was codenamed CONSTANT PEG.
    [Show full text]
  • 21 St Century Air-To-Air Short Range Weapon Requirements
    AU/ACSC/210/1998-04 AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE AIR UNIVERSITY 21ST CENTURY AIR-TO-AIR SHORT RANGE WEAPON REQUIREMENTS by Stuart O. Nichols, Major, USAF A Research Report Submitted to the Faculty In Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements Advisor: Major Woody Watkins Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama April 1998 Disclaimer The views expressed in this academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US government or the Department of Defense. In accordance with Air Force Instruction 51-303, it is not copyrighted, but is the property of the United States government. ii Contents Page DISCLAIMER................................................................................................................ ii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... v INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 HISTORY OF AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT.......................................................................... 1 World War I.............................................................................................................. 2 World War II ............................................................................................................ 3 Korean War............................................................................................................... 3 Vietnam War............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]