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 intense mental preparation, including "chair flying" and rote memorization, to internalize procedures and stay ahead of the aircraft's rapid pace.
Key strategies for staying ahead include meticulous planning, gaining experience, and adopting "aggressive thinking"—anticipating events rather than reacting—even while maintaining smooth physical control.
Pilots can enhance their mental speed and integration with the aircraft through self-administered "task saturation" training and by metaphorically "strapping the airplane on like it's a part of you."

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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).