Behind The Airplane?

Getting and staying ahead of even the fastest airplane is simply a matter of planning, practice and, well, aggression.

Matt Johnson

Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Mastering high-performance aircraft requires pilots to consistently stay *mentally ahead* of the aircraft by anticipating actions and processing information rapidly.
Key preparation strategies include extensive "chair flying" (simulating procedures in real-time), intensive studying, meticulous planning, and self-induced "task saturation" training to speed up mental processing.
"Aggressive flying" is defined as a proactive, smooth mental state of anticipating and executing, not rapid or jerky physical control movements.
Ultimately, the author emphasizes that the most challenging and crucial aspect of flying fast-movers is the mental component, demanding continuous vigilance and proactive thought to maintain control and safety.

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My buddy, talking about the first time he flew in a jet: “I was so far behind the aircraft, I was still walking out of the FBO when we rotated.” This reminded me of the first time I flew in a T-38, the “White Rocket.” It felt like I was being shot out of a cannon.

There I was, a U.S. Air Force student pilot on my first T-38 flight, a flight-suited lump of clay in the front seat, watching in terror as the world blasted by. As the main gear left the ground at what seemed like 500 knots, I thought, “No WAY can I ever fly this thing! Less than 20 flight hours in the jet later, I soloed it. It was either learn how to fly the ’38 in a very short period of time or “go sell shoes in Omaha,” as the instructor pilots (IPs) frequently threatened (not that there’s anything wrong with that).