AMA Coming up with an actual F-14 and F-18 pilot on Hoggit

[OneBlueSky]

For anyone interested, or even LNS folks themselves - Hoggit has tracked down a guy who flew the F-14B briefly, F-14D primarily, and later moved to the F/A-18F when the Tomcat retired, having flown the F-14D and F/A-18F on combat missions as well.

 

Could be a fun chance to learn about the Tomcat, and to a lesser degree the Super Bug (though he's already set several limits on what he will answer about the Super Bug). The AMA takes place on July 23 at 08:00 CDT

 

Check it out:

[Darkbrotherhood7]

Thanks for sharing, I have a lot questions about the F-14 lol

[OneBlueSky]

He seems more than willing to share from what that thread is showing! Great to see people like that be a part of our community!

[OverSweep]

Was a pleasure to do it for you guys!

[Vampyre]

I read through the AMA and was wondering if you were on the 2003 Cruise on the Roosevelt with VF-213? I was in VS-24 at the time on nights and really enjoying the good chow and full support services during the vampire ops.

[QuiGon]

I just noticed this AMA and read through all of it. Really interesting stuff! Thank you very much for that!

 

I've also got a question in case you're still around here:

- Are RIOs/WSOs qualified (or "basic") pilots? I mean, do they learn how to fly an aircraft at all?

[near_blind]

I just noticed this AMA and read through all of it. Really interesting stuff! Thank you very much for that!

 

I've also got a question in case you're still around here:

- Are RIOs/WSOs qualified (or "basic") pilots? I mean, do they learn how to fly an aircraft at all?

 

As far as I know Navy RIOs/WSOs aren't given flying instruction and Navy tactical aircraft don't have flight controls in the back seat.

 

 

The Air Force approaches this differently, their jets have controls in the back, and their WSOs receive at least a rudimentary amount of stick time so they're comfortable with the jet and can conceivably bring it back in an emergency. This does not count as an actual pilots qualification however.

[BlackLion213]

I just noticed this AMA and read through all of it. Really interesting stuff! Thank you very much for that!

 

I've also got a question in case you're still around here:

- Are RIOs/WSOs qualified (or "basic") pilots? I mean, do they learn how to fly an aircraft at all?

 

Quite sure that RIOs (and now WSOs) go through the NFO route and do not have any flight training. Same for NFOs in EA-6Bs, A-6 BNs, E-2Cs, EA-18s, etc.

 

The USAF does have flight training for their WSOs and requires that they maintain a certain number of flight hours. All USAF Phantoms (and export F-4Es and F-4Fs) are dual control while all USN Phantoms lack rear-seat controls.

 

Of note, the IIAF chose to go the "GIB" approach with their F-14 RIOs - meaning that RIOs where pilots who received extra training and spent more time in the rear seat than other pilots. Most considered this undesirable as pilots pretty much always prefer to fly. USN RIOs were much more dedicated to their role and therefore, more proficient in RADAR operations and intercept tactics. The "GIB" approach was a point of US criticism concerning the IIAF Tomcat program.

 

Also, thank you for the outstanding AMA Oversweep! :thumbup:

 

It was fun to read and very informative. I hope you hang out around here and help to educate all of us. :)

 

Discussions like your AMA are especially good for dispelling the long-standing myth that the Tomcat was a "truck" in the handling department. Glad to hear that it stacked up very favorably with the Rhino / Super Hornet.

 

Thanks again and welcome,

 

Nick

[QuiGon]

Interesting. I would have expected that WSOs also get to fly some. Our Tornado WSOs, who don't have a flight stick in the back, are getting some stick time as part of their initial flight training. That happens at NAS Pensacola, where they learn to fly the T-45 and T-38. They're getting trained in navigation as well as basic ACM, resulting in about 165 flight hours. It doesn't count as an official pilots qualification though.

I thought it might be similar for USN WSOs.

Edited July 26, 2016 by QuiGon

[OverSweep]

I read through the AMA and was wondering if you were on the 2003 Cruise on the Roosevelt with VF-213? I was in VS-24 at the time on nights and really enjoying the good chow and full support services during the vampire ops.

 

I wasn't unfortunately! But on the chow, hard to beat isn't it?? How'd you like the vampire ops on your end??

[OverSweep]

Quite sure that RIOs (and now WSOs) go through the NFO route and do not have any flight training. Same for NFOs in EA-6Bs, A-6 BNs, E-2Cs, EA-18s, etc.

 

The USAF does have flight training for their WSOs and requires that they maintain a certain number of flight hours. All USAF Phantoms (and export F-4Es and F-4Fs) are dual control while all USN Phantoms lack rear-seat controls.

 

Of note, the IIAF chose to go the "GIB" approach with their F-14 RIOs - meaning that RIOs where pilots who received extra training and spent more time in the rear seat than other pilots. Most considered this undesirable as pilots pretty much always prefer to fly. USN RIOs were much more dedicated to their role and therefore, more proficient in RADAR operations and intercept tactics. The "GIB" approach was a point of US criticism concerning the IIAF Tomcat program.

 

Also, thank you for the outstanding AMA Oversweep! :thumbup:

 

It was fun to read and very informative. I hope you hang out around here and help to educate all of us. :)

 

Discussions like your AMA are especially good for dispelling the long-standing myth that the Tomcat was a "truck" in the handling department. Glad to hear that it stacked up very favorably with the Rhino / Super Hornet.

 

Thanks again and welcome,

 

Nick

 

Correct. Our WSO/RIO crews receive no flight training, and do not take control at any time. Nor can we do their job from the front seat.

 

And you're welcome! I enjoyed doing it, and I'm glad to hang out and participate in the community however I can!

 

As to that myth, yeah it's exactly that. Let's just say we had no trouble with the Super Bug or Viper aggressors. She's not just good at dancing for her size, she can turn with just about anything she needs to. Very, very agile aircraft. Both at low speed, and up to Mach 2 and a bit over. Definitely better than her peers in all regards, and her replacements in many.

[QuiGon]

Correct. Our WSO/RIO crews receive no flight training, and do not take control at any time. Nor can we do their job from the front seat.

 

And you're welcome! I enjoyed doing it, and I'm glad to hang out and participate in the community however I can!

 

As to that myth, yeah it's exactly that. Let's just say we had no trouble with the Super Bug or Viper aggressors. She's not just good at dancing for her size, she can turn with just about anything she needs to. Very, very agile aircraft. Both at low speed, and up to Mach 2 and a bit over. Definitely better than her peers in all regards, and her replacements in many.

 

Thank you for confirming that! It's a real pleasure to have you here. :thumbup:

[turkeydriver]

Correct. Our WSO/RIO crews receive no flight training, and do not take control at any time. Nor can we do their job from the front seat.

 

And you're welcome! I enjoyed doing it, and I'm glad to hang out and participate in the community however I can!

 

As to that myth, yeah it's exactly that. Let's just say we had no trouble with the Super Bug or Viper aggressors. She's not just good at dancing for her size, she can turn with just about anything she needs to. Very, very agile aircraft. Both at low speed, and up to Mach 2 and a bit over. Definitely better than her peers in all regards, and her replacements in many.

 

From the educated horses mouth, as it were. F-14 is an air dominance king. End of story.