Viper question

[talondriver]

I don't know where that story came from, but the Fighting Falcon was not named after USAFA's mascot.

I was once told they named the F-16 the "Fighting" Falcon because the name "Falcon" was a copywrite (or something like that) of the Falcon business jets.

 

[Merlin'05]

That's exactly what I heard as well.







Rainman, I walked past the -16 tonight. I was unable to check because even though I could see the sign itself, it was behind a 2 foot high, 4 foot wide snow bank and the face was covered by snow and ice.

I didn't exactly feel like tromping through that in my blues and parka in the blowing snow.


/bows

Forgive me (and the Academy) for my (our) current weakness

 

[spanky2]

Someboday pinch USMC and wake him (her?) up. Most AF 0-6's couldn't handle a RTU stud. You really ned to stop jumping Vipers after they put their gear down when descending out of Hi-key. Hey...you are late for your slot time.

Seriously...once had the great honor of being invited to a USMC birthday bash. GREAT tradition. God Bless the US Marines.

 

[spanky2]

Merlin...stay off the marble strips when it is snowing. Ahh, the dark ages...been there...done that. Nothing like throwing snowballs at doolies.

 

[usmc33]

Spanky2, at least you have a better sense of humor than CrewDawg. You MUST be a fighter pilot with that sense of humor and thick skin.

If you see my profile I flew KC-130s, unglamorous, but it was seriously the most demanding plane I ever flew; especially landing on dirt and grass strips.

All pilots are GODs, not just USMC types. We are a Dept of the NAVY, yes, but we're the MENs DEPT.

 

[spanky2]

USMC,
Hornets to Herks...geeez that's a switch.

You would have gotten a laugh watching me during my ATP checkout flailing around in the piper seminole after flying the Viper for many years. Rudders? You mean the things used for nosewheel steering? Throttles in my right hand? What's this yoke looking thing in front of me? Taxi, T/O, climb, cruise, land..at all 80 knots...tough to get lost when you are only doing 80 knots. Critical engine...THEY BOTH ARE CRITICAL.

 

[usmc33]

Spanky2

Yes, a switcharoo! Not only an airframe switch, but the USMC sent me to Little Rock to do Herc transition. So not only a new airplane, but a different set of rules and lifestyle to learn, and 12,000 foot-long runways.

I think I crashed the Herc SIM about 12 times initially because on short final I subconsciously transitioned to an AOA approach and jockeyed the throttles so much I lost lift and crashed in a firey explosion. Once I learned to flare to land (squat to pee) I became a very good turboprop driver, but the transition was painful.

Yes, it's very humbling to go to asym multi after flying a rocket with wings.

Good times!