Fly Fight Win! Going Mach with an F-16 Fighter Pilot

July 20, 2023
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fighter, fighter pilot, military, top gun

Fly Fight Win!

Fly Fight Win!

Going Mach with an F-16 Fighter Pilot

Folks from the Flight Blog, this is Cap’n Aux speaking.

Recently, I had the great good fortune of sitting down for a chat with a bonafide, dyed-in-the-wool “Top Gun: Maverick”-type fighter pilot from the Air Force.

Throughout my 4-decade flying career, I think I’ve had some amazing adventures. But this pilot’s 5-year adventures with his F-16 flies circles ’round mine!

So, sit down, strap in, light the afterburners, and hang on!

But First…

Congratulations to Airman Gino!

Speaking of Air Force Heroes, this week, Bunny and I were thrilled beyond belief to witness the graduation of our oldest son, Gino, from Air Force Basic training!

Gino will now go to the advanced technical school of his choice, RF Transmission, where he will learn how to set up, operate and repair all that top secret stuff the Air Force uses to communicate!

And, while we’re at it…

Congratulations to Sergeant Matt!

Our middle son, Matthew, was recently promoted to Sergeant in the US Army!

What’s more, Sergeant Matt had his stripes pinned on him by none other than his own Sergeant—that is, his beloved wife, Sergeant Rochelle!

Congratulations, Sergeant Matt, but don’t forget who outranks you in your home—in more ways than one!

And Now…

Fly Fight Win!

Going Mach with an F-16 Fighter Pilot

Interview with F-16 Fighter Pilot, Capt. Ryan “Stormin'” S.

CA: Name, Rank and Serial Number, Airman?

Stormin’: Captain Ryan S., F-16 pilot, call sign “Stormin’.”

CA: Your mom calls you a “Top Gun.” What’s that mean for an Air Force Airman?

Stormin’: “Top Gun” is actually a Navy term used to refer to the Naval Fighter Weapons School (exactly what the original Top Gun movie was about.) In the Air Force, we don’t refer to it as “Top Gun,” we just call it Weapons School. I am not a graduate of Fighter Weapons School.

CA: What’s the mission of an F-16 in general, and specifically your model/squadron?

Stormin’: The F-16 is a multirole fighter aircraft capable of a multitude of Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface mission sets. The F-16 can execute DCA (Defensive Counter-Air), OCA (Offensive Counter-Air), AO (Attack Operations, aka Strike), CAS (Close Air Support), SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses), and DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses).

CA: In short, what was your journey to the F-16 cockpit?

Stormin’: First you have to become an Officer through a commissioning source, whether that is through the United States Air Force Academy, Officer Training School (OTS), or Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).

At the same time as you are almost complete through your commissioning source, you should find out whether or not you received a pilot training slot based on your performance.

Then you attend UPT at one of the 4 primary pilot training bases. At most bases, you will be competing with your class (both based on performance and sometimes personal choice) while flying the T-6 to determine who will go on to fly the T-38 (Fighter/bomber track), and who will fly the T-1 (heavy track), and then a few will choose the helicopter route and go off to an Army base for the rest of training.

Fly Fight Win!

Going Mach with an F-16 Fighter Pilot

Drop Night

Stormin’ (cont): Towards the very end of UPT, there will be a “Drop Night” where everyone in that graduating pilot training class will find out their next aircraft.

Again, this is influenced by a combination of performance throughout UPT as well as the “Dream sheet” the individual put together (read: you don’t always get your first choice).

Above: Airmen nervously await their aircraft assignments during the Air Force’s rowdy “Drop Night.”

“Drop Night” is always a huge shindig for the fledgeling pilots, as they are assigned their aircraft—in a very public and embarrassing way!

But, it’s all in good fun!

Stormin’ (cont.): From there, if you get a fighter, you will go through a short IFF (introduction to Fighter fundamentals) course in the T-38 prior to going on to your fighter B-course (basic course where you learn how to fly the new airplane and begin learning the tactics).

After completion of B-course, you will go off to your first assignment. In all from the start of UPT to showing up at your first fighter assignment is about 2-2.5 years.

CA: What’s your plans for the future, both in and after the Air Force?

Stormin’: As of right now I still have a good amount of time left on my commitment, my plan is to stay in but obviously anything can change and who knows what I will be deciding years down the road.

CA: Plans to fly for an airline? Also fly Reserve/Guard during airline flying?

Stormin’: This decision is also a ways down the road for where my career currently sits, but if everything works out the way I imagine then I do think I will eventually fly for the airlines, and I also hope to pick up a Guard or Reserve job to continue to be able to fly a fighter from time to time.

Fly Fight Win!

Going Mach with an F-16 Fighter Pilot

Top Gun: Maverick

CA: I gotta ask: What’s your take on the recent hit movie, “Top Gun: Maverick?” How realistic?

Stormin’: I think it was a great movie that was able to relate to an audience who potentially has a limited understanding of the fighter world while also being enjoyable to an audience of fighter pilots as a good entertainment source. There were a lot of things not realistic, but in my opinion still a good movie.

___

To that end, recently, Stormin’ was interviewed regarding how realistic the latest “Top Gun” movie was. Check it out!

Direct Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVEzWIRILt4

Fly Fight Win!

Going Mach with an F-16 Fighter Pilot

Hemisphere Dancing in an F-16

CA: What’s your longest flight so far in an F-16? How many refuels did that take?

Stormin’: I flew a little over a 9 hour long sortie, I think it was 9 total fill ups from the tanker on the way.

CA: You’ve been all over the world. What’s the best experience you’ve had so far? Which experience/country/city is your favorite and why?

Stormin’: I would say Portugal. The weather was perfect for the beach in the summer, the cliffs and beaches were gorgeous. And also when flying the airspace is a huge factor and we were able to utilize a massive airspace with very limited restrictions which always makes the flying fun as well as makes the training as realistic as possible.

CA: What other things do you do ? A hobby, or project, that is totally different from flying if any?

Stormin’: I really enjoy traveling in general and seeing new places. The scenery, food, and cultures are all very unique and overall it is great to experience as much of the world as I possibly can.

Final Advice

CA: What do you recommend for upcoming “wannabe” fighter pilots?

Stormin’: I think the most important thing I would say is to find something you enjoy. Nothing is better than waking up and going to a job that you actually enjoy doing. If you want to be a pilot that’s great, if you want to be a fighter pilot that is awesome, but if you only want to be a pilot because you think it is a good career, I’m not so sure you will get the same satisfaction out of flying as someone who truly views it as a passion.

CA: I agree, Stormin’!

Folks, as I always say here, If you get into this flying career solely to be a 777 Captain (or an F-16 pilot), you will be miserable. But, if you fly because you can’t imagine doing anything else, you will love every minute!

Thank you, Cap’n Stormin’, for a stellar interview!

Finally…

Just because it’s so Bada$$, here’s the latest recruitment video from the U.S. Air Force!

Fly Fight Win!

Going Mach with an F-16 Fighter Pilot

Hemisphere Dancing Report

Viva Vivid SYD!

As mentioned in my last post, I got my “Far East” Qual check out by flying our 777 from LAX to SYD (Sydney, Australia.) Of course, I plan on writing a full blog post for you about that adventure, at least after I get a few more flights in Down Under. But, for now, I thought I’d share a few fun moments.

While most of our SYD layovers are 24 hours, I was blessed with a 48 hour one instead. We stayed right down town, spitting distance from the famous Opera House!

It’s winter down there now, which means the day time temperatures were a “bone-chilling” 70°! Clear blue skies were in the forecast as well.

What’s more, we hit town just at the height of their amazing “Vivid Sydney” extravaganza, which involves multiple light shows, the highlight of which is a coordinated light show with 100s of aerial drones!

Of course, the show attracts crowds by the thousands!

Below: a quick pic and vid of the amazing drone light show!

In the News

On my next trip, I flew to London out of LA. On the flight back, we were routed far to the north—and straight over the wildfires that suffocated New York City.

The fire line stretched for miles. Devastating!