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:

Successfully flying high-performance aircraft like the T-38 demands pilots constantly stay "ahead of the aircraft" mentally, anticipating actions and making rapid decisions.
Key preparation strategies include extensive "chair flying" (simulating procedures in real-time), rigorous studying, and meticulous planning to build muscle memory and understanding.
Developing experience, cultivating an "aggressive thinking" mindset (focused on mental anticipation rather than rapid physical movements), and seamlessly integrating with the aircraft are crucial for smooth, fast operation.
Techniques like deliberate "task saturation" training and anticipating instructions help pilots speed up their mental processing and maintain control under pressure.

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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).