Strike Fighter Ball 2019…
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And this just came up on my YT suggestions. I grew up with the boom operator (she’s now a hardware hacking expert for IBM).
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Another YT Suggestion:
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Know I am old as dirt. All of them look like they should still be in High School.
Wheels
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That’s the thing that strikes almost everybody when you watch things like fighter pilot documentaries. Most of the guys look pretty young, even the “older guys”.
That’s why they cast ridiculously old people for movies (TopGun being a prime example). Reality looks unrealistic. 
And in recent years I notice the same with guys playing sports. Half of the NFL players look like huge kids whenever they take their helmets off. …which is kinda natural as the average NFL player is ~10 years younger than me.
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The “old” NFL guys are at least 15 to 20 and the young ones 25 to 30 for me…
Wheels
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Well, yeah. You are old.
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I mean, our ‘experienced’ senior enlisted leadership was in their late 20’s- early 30’s, and a junior officer could be 23-25, while a ship’s captain could be juat over 40. Military is a game for the young, at least in the US.
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Grumble, grumble…third shift type work…grumble, grumble…
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When I was overseeing the initial training of new Eurofighter pilots it was almost cute the way this sometimes-just-turned-20’s kids would wander through the simulator’s hall.
At the time I knew the fighter’s system for over 10 years so they were asking me all sort of questions during the first few solo cockpit familiarisation sim-hours.
I literally could have been their father.
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That was awesome to see
Look at all those old school gauges!
Wheels
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I did a recurrent training event with an instructor who used to fly F15C’s. I asked him if he missed it, and his answer was yes, but it was a young man/woman’s game. He thought that after 35 you are past your prime, especially in a true air to air fighter role.
Fortunately, we don’t tend to pull too many G’s in the Global, so I should be good for awhile 
.
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Happily swap with you 
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Interesting choice on the canopy opening mechanism. I did not know that the F-35 canopy opened backwards compared to most other fighter designs.
Wheels
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F16 goes down in New Mexico…
Caught on tape here also pilot’s ejection which saved his life.
He’s being treated for light injuries caused my the ejection.
Causes and all that jazz not disclosed yet.
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It does have it’s advantages. I have to admit I enjoy flying in the wee hours of the night. Nobody else is out there…ATC is super accommodating. FBOs are empty and we get great service. And the entertainment at the Waffle House at 2AM…well…most people would pay to see that…!
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