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-   -   Heads Up! Fighter Pilot: The Real Top Gun (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/624763-heads-up-fighter-pilot-real-top-gun.html)

Specaircrew 20th Aug 2019 21:54

As an ex graduate of No 1(Hunter) Cse I found myself reminiscing about those halcyon days of my youth. Drunken Sundays at the 'Sandymount Club' at Rhosneigr, paddling across the lake on a Sabre drop tank etc. Not sure that I remember being distracted by ATC on an IP to Tgt run or calling my instructor mate though!

The F35 stuff was interesting, I'm ex 617 too! Hopefully it'll encourage a few more millennials to give it a go......even if they do think 4G is 'awesome' !

Lima Juliet 20th Aug 2019 22:46


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....137c425dd5.gif
Good grief...PPruNe really is the home of old fossils...

Tankertrashnav 20th Aug 2019 23:48


4G? Four ******* G? Christ on a bike, JP5A was 5.5G without a bloody G Suit!
I'm only an ex nav so what do I know but I certainly remember 6g in a JP5 when doing a low level nav course at Linton (sans G suit). As for calling your instructor "mate"!!! :*

TTN (proud to be an old fossil ;))

just another jocky 21st Aug 2019 05:10


Originally Posted by Lima Juliet (Post 10550201)

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....137c425dd5.gif
Good grief...PPruNe really is the home of old fossils...

Thank goodness none of us still serving care what they think of us.

4everAD 21st Aug 2019 06:04

So can Pruners tell m e what they expect the students to call the instructor? They were both equivalent ranks (OF2) and no doubt got on well from the bits I saw, It certainly doesn't call for a sir, maybe staff?

Bob Viking 21st Aug 2019 06:13

ITV Series
 
I haven’t seen it (and I’m not in it) so can’t and won’t comment on its content.

What strikes me as funny though is that the series that was made in the 1980s attracts much comment on how bad the instruction was (also never seen it so can’t comment). It also led to adverse affects for some of its participants. The new series has already attracted comment for how it is not like the good old days.

So my question is, are some people ever going to be happy with any documentary? Also, when exactly were the good old days? And if people don’t like what’s on show now, didn’t like what was on show 35 years ago when exactly was instruction to their liking?

Would I be right in thinking that, since this is a documentary for the masses and probably to aid recruitment, it is not targeted at long retired RAF members?

Yes I have opened myself up to yet more criticism from the usual suspects. I am beginning to care less and less though.

BV

[email protected] 21st Aug 2019 06:29

Is it me or is the course size really small nowadays - is this a MFTS thing or were they just cherry-picking the most media-friendly students?

Bleating Betty seems a big distraction at low level - isn't there an audio inhibit?

Nice to see the progress made with the F35. Harrier mates used to do a hovering course at Shawbury before the OCU, does this happen for the F 35?

Overall - some cringy bits and some good bits (the flying)

Lima Juliet 21st Aug 2019 06:42

Before this descends into Monty Python’s Yorkshireman Sketch of “Luxury...we had it tough...”

Let’s answer some of the ‘outrage bus’ questions.

1. The 4g to 5g sortie was a famil trip - no point in pulling the wings off of the jet, it’s there to familiarise the student in the aircraft before the harder stuff starts (ie. to ease them in).
2. Where are the maps and charts? You will have seen the Mission Planning Aid in the TV programme and oddly enough we plan electronically these days - colour printed maps and IP/Tgt runs are still carried in case the kit stops playing.
3. 6g in a JP? Really? I don’t recall more than 5g for most of my JP flying.
4. Calling instructors ‘Sir’ on Advanced Jet Training (AJT) - this is equivalent of a little bit of the old AFT and TWU - I don’t recall calling my instructors “Sir” on TWU or even on 4FTS. So I suspect that some folks’ memories are playing tricks on them, as I can’t recall calling any of my instructors “Sir”, unless a Sqn Ldr/Wg Cdr/Gp Capt, and I have been flying in the RAF for 30 years.

So how about looking at the positive stuff - we still have a fast jet flying training system that other countries pay good money to use, we now have a far lower ‘chop’ rate as we actually teach and test these days, it is a far healthier learning environment, we have a modernised trg aircraft that now reflects the FL type they will go to (with airborne electronic threat simulation that instructor can bring up during the sortie), we now have a fast jet trainer with a basic collision warning system and the aircraft that we are training them to fly on the FL are far more capable than any than went before - 9g Typhoons and 5th generation F35s. So let’s just enjoy the filming and the insight to a trg system that is vastly different to even the one 15 years ago. The only real criticism I have over this trg system is the fact that we didn’t plan enough capacity in it from SDSR10/SDSR15 and so now we have too little capacity/aircraft for what we really need.

Finally, the young men and women that will be the future of the RAF and FAA are still very fine individuals indeed - there are still very few “w**k*rs on your wing” - probably as many, by percentage, as there ever were. It’s just that this new breed are culturally different, but underneath they still have what it takes to do what is asked of them.

Bob Viking 21st Aug 2019 06:51

LJ
 
Great post. I must go flying now. Toodle pip.

BV

Specaircrew 21st Aug 2019 07:24


Originally Posted by just another jocky (Post 10550330)
Thank goodness none of us still serving care what they think of us.

So....are you like.....disrespecting us? Hashtag Ageist Hashtag Weeandbiscuits ;-)

Hamish 123 21st Aug 2019 07:31

NINE years into an RAF career before you even got into a Hawk??? I'm assuming the pilot quoted hadn't switched branches either. Is that length of time typical these days? 10+ years before you're combat ready?

sharpend 21st Aug 2019 08:09

Lima Juliet, Well maybe we are a bunch of old fogies, but personally I have found a sea-change in attitudes over the years caused by lack of discipline & respect for authority/elders, all across the whole spectrum of society. . The whole point of the armed forces is to fight and that means sometimes telling soldiers to do unpleasant things. Without discipline and respect for authority (one of these students said he had a problem with authority; FFS), soldiers will do as they please. Sadly, we are in a touchy-feely society today; drill Sgts cannot shout as students etc etc. I could go on mentioning the softening of rules etc... but ultimately the RAF is a fighting force; disciple, respect and standards are vital. But what do I know, I'm just an old fogie.

muppetofthenorth 21st Aug 2019 08:19


Originally Posted by sharpend (Post 10550442)
Lima Juliet, Well maybe we are a bunch of old fogies, but personally I have found a sea-change in attitudes over the years caused by lack of discipline & respect for authority/elders, all across the whole spectrum of society. . The whole point of the armed forces is to fight and that means sometimes telling soldiers to do unpleasant things. Without discipline and respect for authority (one of these students said he had a problem with authority; FFS), soldiers will do as they please. Sadly, we are in a touchy-feely society today; drill Sgts cannot shout as students etc etc. I could go on mentioning the softening of rules etc... but ultimately the RAF is a fighting force; disciple, respect and standards are vital. But what do I know, I'm just an old fogie.

Society is shaped by the people in it.
The people you bemoan are the ones your generation created. So who's to blame?

sharpend 21st Aug 2019 08:24


Originally Posted by muppetofthenorth (Post 10550450)
Society is shaped by the people in it.
The people you bemoan are the ones your generation created. So who's to blame?


Not me personally. This generation is shaped by the media, the internet and social media.

Asturias56 21st Aug 2019 08:25

"drill Sgts cannot shout at students " ... and you wonder why no-one wants to join up

these days you EXPLAIN what you want and why and hope the trainees will use their intelligence to achieve the results - in fact that approach often leads to better outcomes as they can adapt to changes in circumstances rather than blindly "Obey orders" or freeze and have to call back in for new instructions

The days of blind obedience are long gone

Nige321 21st Aug 2019 08:51


Originally Posted by sharpend (Post 10550442)
Lima Juliet, Well maybe we are a bunch of old fogies, but personally I have found a sea-change in attitudes over the years caused by lack of discipline & respect for authority/elders, all across the whole spectrum of society. . The whole point of the armed forces is to fight and that means sometimes telling soldiers to do unpleasant things. Without discipline and respect for authority (one of these students said he had a problem with authority; FFS), soldiers will do as they please. Sadly, we are in a touchy-feely society today; drill Sgts cannot shout as students etc etc. I could go on mentioning the softening of rules etc... but ultimately the RAF is a fighting force; disciple, respect and standards are vital. But what do I know, I'm just an old fogie.

Judging by Channel 5's recent documentarys on the Household Cavalry and the Paras, I'd say that's completely wrong...

Stuff 21st Aug 2019 09:14


Originally Posted by [email protected] (Post 10550369)
Harrier mates used to do a hovering course at Shawbury before the OCU, does this happen for the F 35?

The Harrier hover course was highly entertaining but of fairly questionable value. For a start the cyclic operates in the opposite sense to the throttle (pull for up vs push for up). Much of the requirement for the Shawbury hours came from the Harrier sim's low-fidelity visuals and lag from the eye tracker. I would assume, but I don't know, that the F35 sim should be able to display everything needed for hover training, obviating the need to use a helicopter.

Tankertrashnav 21st Aug 2019 09:26


The days of blind obedience are long gone
Instant obedience has a purpose. Father in law, a REME staff sergeant, was pinned down by sniper fire in Normandy when his team were attempting a tank recovery. His corporal thought he would pop up and have a look and try and locate the sniper. FIL shouted to the corporal to get his head down. "Hang on staff, I think I can see the bugger --- bang. Corporal no longer had much of a head to get down. Shame FIL didn't have time to give the corporal detailed reasoning for his order!

Toadstool 21st Aug 2019 09:34


Originally Posted by sharpend (Post 10550442)
Lima Juliet, Well maybe we are a bunch of old fogies, but personally I have found a sea-change in attitudes over the years caused by lack of discipline & respect for authority/elders, all across the whole spectrum of society. . The whole point of the armed forces is to fight and that means sometimes telling soldiers to do unpleasant things. Without discipline and respect for authority (one of these students said he had a problem with authority; FFS), soldiers will do as they please. Sadly, we are in a touchy-feely society today; drill Sgts cannot shout as students etc etc. I could go on mentioning the softening of rules etc... but ultimately the RAF is a fighting force; disciple, respect and standards are vital. But what do I know, I'm just an old fogie.

The whole point of the armed forces is to fight and that means sometimes telling soldiers to do unpleasant things - Still happens

Without discipline and respect for authority (one of these students said he had a problem with authority; FFS), soldiers will do as they please - Soldiers and Airmen will still do as they please when they please, should they be so inclined, as they used to do when I first joined up in the 80s. Soldiers and Airmen still have respect and discipline now, as I can attest to on a daily basis.

Sadly, we are in a touchy-feely society today; drill Sgts cannot shout as students etc etc - Yes they can and yes they do. Perhaps things are slightly different, but its called Emotional Intelligence. Times change.

ultimately the RAF is a fighting force; disciple, respect and standards are vital. - Op TELIC, Op Herrick, Op Ellamy and Op SHADER proved the RAF was a fighting force and still is. If you remember AP 1, Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence is still extant.

Happy to discuss via PM.

Regards

Timelord 21st Aug 2019 09:41

Had to laugh though when Bally couldn’t log into his jet. Who controls that database I wonder?
“You want me on the boat over Christmas? Not if you ever want your jet to start again”

I bet when the instructor asked the cameras to leave he gave Bally his own log in!


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