My First Three Students

Author:Bobo

When I returned from PIT, “O” Flight was just getting a new class just over from Tweets.  I was assigned 3 students: Lloyd B., Ty L. And Greg W.  As it turns out, Lloyd was ‘pretty good,’ Ty was my ‘challenge,’ and Greg was ‘undecided.’

Lloyd  

Lloyd was a good student to fly with.  He was always prepared and had ‘good hands,’ almost too good, as he nearly killed us one day because I was a bit too complacent.  We were flying a no-flap pattern when he flared too high.  “No worries,” I thought.  I knew he would recognize it and take the appropriate action - either relax back-stick pressure and land (he had the airspeed), or go around.  He did neither; he kept flaring, and we began to sink, and then the jet began to roll!  I took the aircraft, lit the burners, and executed a go-around.  I didn’t realize how serious it was until Jimmy P. came up to my desk as Lloyd and I were debriefing.  He stood there for a moment and then extended his hand for a handshake.

I was a bit confused but stood up and shook his hand, not sure why.  He went on to say, “Bob, I have never met a ‘dead man’ before!’  You let him go way too far on that no-flap.  When you went by the RSU (Runway Supervisory Unit), we could see your knee boards!’  I think he was more shaken than I was.  Sometimes ignorance is bliss.  However, from that moment on, I never let a student go as far as Lloyd did that day!

Ty

Ty was a great student.  He taught me a great deal about flying the T-38 and being an IP.  I liked the kid and enjoyed flying with him.  However, flying didn’t come easily to him; he had to work at it.  He would show progress for a while, then regress.  But his ‘learning curve’ continued to climb, however, not as fast as the UPT program was designed for.  To this end, Ty had to take a few review rides along the way, which put him on the verge of washing out a couple of times. 

I spent a fair amount of time with Jay B. discussing my approach with Ty.  I really wanted to see him make it.  

Just before his initial solo, Ty flew with Jay and ‘pinked’ the ride.  This put him in the review process.  In this vein, he got 2 rides, either solo or to go up for an Initial Progress Check (IPC).  Failing the IPC would give him 2 more rides before a Final Progress Check (FPC).  I didn’t want to see him go there.  So, on his second review ride, as we walked out of the squadron building to the trolley to take us to the jet, I abruptly stopped, turned, and grabbed him by his flight suit.  He was somewhat surprised.  As we stood there, I looked him right in the eyes and said, “Don’t you quit on me, Ty!  If you quit, there’s nothing I can do for you. Do you understand?”  In his typical laid-back way, he just replied,“No Sir,” and off we went.

Review rides were ungraded rides.  I could have soloed him after that first review ride, but he wasn’t ready.’  In the debrief, I told him how close he was - my only hesitation to send him solo was his tendency to let his airspeed drop about 8-10 knots just after coming off the perch.

The next day was a Friday, and I was scheduled to go cross-country after flying with Ty. Overall, Ty did well. However, he still tended to let his airspeed decay a bit before coming off the perch. We cleared the runway after his full stop, and I took the jet. I paused for a moment and asked him if he could see the aircraft now coming off the perch. He acknowledged that he could. So I told him, “I’m sending you solo, and if you end up killing yourself, I won’t feel sorry for you. Just don’t get slow at the perch! Do you understand me?” “Yes, Sir,” he replied, and that was that.

When I got down for the night at my out base, I called back to the squadron SOF and asked how it all went that day.  “No problems,” he replied, and that was that!  Ty continued improving throughout the program.  I truly enjoyed flying with him and was very proud of him when he graduated.

‘Picasso,’ or ‘Sky King?’ 

Greg was quite a character.  His father had been an F-4 wing commander, and he had an uncle (O6) in the headquarters of ATC (Air Training Command) at the time..  A lot of pressure on him.  In college, Greg had been an art major, and from a few drawings he showed us, he was very good.

My challenge with Greg was that I never knew who I was flying with, either ‘Picasso’ or ‘Sky King,’ until we were airborne!  Some days he did great, and then there were ‘those other days!’

Once during a debriefing, I marked him down to a ‘Fair’ on his single-engine approach.  I told him he was 6 to 8 knots slow on final approach.  Not good.  He then cocked his head and asked, “Are you sure that was me, Sir?”  Truth be told, I wasn’t.  We were flying two or three times a day at that time, and we were all tired.  So, I wasn’t sure and gave him the benefit of the doubt.  I gave him a “Good” on the maneuver.

The next day, we went up on another contact ride, and I was well rested.  After we configured for a single-engine approach, I watched our airspeed begin to decay. When he was 8 knots slow, I took control and told him to look at the airspeed!  He knew, as he had known the day before.  And now, I knew!