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Newbie Joined: Sep 11, 2006 Posts: 2 Status: Offline

Where does WSO put their hands during flying? I understand that they are not supposed to hold the control stick or any other flight manouver things so as not to disturb pilot. Do they have any place to hold a grip?

Will pilots warns them when they pull g's? What happened if WSO meddle with the control stick?

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On an F-15E, the WSO has two "joysticks" similar to the side stick controller in the F-16, that he uses as a "HOTAS" type system to operate many of the weapons systems on the jet.

I got a good lesson in the back of an F-4E. In the 1 v 1 the WSO is way to busy working with both hands. In fact the stick banging back and forth tends to get in the way. G's come and go positive and negative without much warning except you're telling the pilot which way to turn for the intercept. I found the handles of the radar scope were a good place to hold on to but only with the left hand or switching back and forth as fast as I could.

Meddling with the control stick? One: A WSO nevers meddles, but is ready to take the jet at any moment. That's crew coordination. FUF: "Take the jet." GIB: "I've got the jet". That sort of thing. I have been bitched at for bumping rudder pedals. "Get off the ****** rudder" was what he said if memory serves.

Newbie Joined: May 10, 2007 Posts: 1 Status: Offline

I typically place my arms up on and long the rail. Probably not too smart if the FUF decides he wants put the "top down" in the family model for a little air, but it's a comfy place to put your arms.

Under "g", however, and since you have no "joysticks" or system controls in the back seat other than the flight controls, it's better to give yourself a bear hug to prevent your arms from either failing in such a way to cause you pain or interfere with the flight controls. Occasionally I have a pilot that pulls g's while my arms are still up at the rails and that can hurt your shoulders a bit. In BFM, my arms are either crossed across me or holding on to the handles on the canopy to brace while I'm twisting around trying help the FUF to look for the bad guys.

Enthusiast Joined: Jan 26, 2006 Posts: 75 Status: Offline

I generally have the WSO to stay put and lock him into the jet. My WSO never talks to me, nor does he ever come close to touching the controls. I never tell him anything I'm about to do. The best part about my WSO is that he plays along when I taxi by F-15E's and make fun of them. I remove my WSO, smack it around a little bit and then put it back in the DTE. The best part about my WSO is that they are upgrading him to record GPS data so I can download him on the ACMI computers without having an ACMI pod on the jet and I can still have debrief lines! Now that's a great WSO...doesn't talk, doesn't try to fly and debriefs for me...doesn't even take up a seat.

Newbie Joined: Apr 26, 2007 Posts: 16 Status: Offline

Well said, Magnum.

The Viper is single seat for a reason...

Last edited by maddog2840 on May 31, 2007 - 04:33 AM; edited 1 time in total

http://luckypuppy.bravehost.com/F16bumpers.html

It's funny. I post over at AirWarriors (the evil, I mean Navy, equivalent of f-16.net) and most of those guys say they wouldn't want to go into a fight without a WSO. Even the Hornet guys say they would rather be in a Rhino specifically because of the backseater. Well, most of them do.

A WSO can do one thing a DTE cartridge can't. They can SEE that MiG sneaking up on you.

Newbie Joined: Apr 26, 2007 Posts: 16 Status: Offline

I don't have to LISTEN to a DTE.

I'm not surprised the seamen like a "backseater." Laughing

Well-known aviation rule: "Cockpit situational awareness is inversely proportional to the number of aircrew."

I've posted this before on another thread, but it's been a while:

What's the deadliest thing in the air with two men, two engines, and two tails?

A two-ship of Vipers.

I'd take my wingman in his own airplane over a WSO any day of the week.

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Some silly question about WSO