Forum: Future F-16 crew

Darn. Got all these diverse people on the forum and we still need a flight surgeon. Very Happy

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NO WE DON'T!!!

The flight doc can be friend or foe.... It TOTALLY depends on their relationship with your squadron. Back at Shaw, I had no problem going to our doc. If you needed healing, she would help. If she would have ever told me that something was that bad, I would have trusted her. There are some things that can make you a dangerous pilot. It's those docs (and they exist....alot) that go HUNTING for stuff to permanently remove you from flying (DNIF) that are just right out.

Even better, she ("Juggler") took care of my family so I could do my job better.... I wish more docs were like her.

Cylon

Okay so I was wondering about something...I knew min. height is 5'4''... I'm under that... as well as the sitting height... but I can sit in the viper and reach all controls as well as see through the HUD... is there any way BOTH of these heights can be waived?

Just because you can see through the HUD, doesn't mean you are at the proper sitting height. If you can not adjust the seat to design eye, then a lot of things will be "off" - for instance, you put the pipper on the target, pickle the bomb, but it doesn't go where it's supposed to because you weren't at design eye. There area also issues with the ejection seat. The ACES II is designed for a certain weight range, but also for a height range (mostly the weight). But if a really short, light person is in it, the CG can be off, not allowing the pitch control rocket to keep it stable.
Probably anything can be waved. Just depends on who you [Link pending approval] that's the way things work in the Air Force.

Grumpy

Oh that makes total sense...well...guess i'll go back to heavies...at least they've already said it's no problem. lol.

I knew the standing height could be waived...but they aren't about to waive me for sitting height...which because of what you just said makes total sense. im way under min. I just wanted to know why it mattered so much...thanks for clearing that up.

Damn guess I have no other reason to be on this site now... Sad

thanks yall...

jenn

Jenn, don't go away just because of that - you have a better shot than most on this board - including me.

I read somewhere that, when they filmed the scenes of Tom Cruise sitting in an F-14 in the movie Top Gun, he had to sit on several phone books so they could see him over the canopy rail... Razz

Gearupgal wrote:

oh that makes total sense...well...guess i'll go back to heavies...at least they've already said it's no problem. lol.

I knew the standing height could be waived...but they aren't about to waive me for sitting height...which because of what you just said makes total sense. im way under min. I just wanted to know why it mattered so much...thanks for clearing that up.

Damn guess I have no other reason to be on this site now... Sad

thanks yall...

jenn

I know how you feel... I ran through rollercoasters reading one thing on one site, thinking everything was for lost, then months later, reading something on another more reliable site that contradicts it. I sure hope you the best, though. The military really does need another female pilot! If nothing else, you can flirt your way in Razz

Just keep trying. Don't let this get you down too quick. I know things can change - they did for me, starting with that "Getting into pilot school" thread! I hope things work out for you too!

I called the medical guys here... I'm 2 inches under the min. sitting height...it's a lot. I'll just go airlines. I have the hookups there anyway. Thanks anyway yall... Sad

C17s have a stick Sad

, HUD, and fly by wire but they don't have 9Gs. BTW if you look at the numbers the heavies get shot at and hit a whole lot more than the bomb droppers, so you driving time won't be that boring. Good Luck.

Last edited by Gearupgal on Jun 30, 2004 - 05:09 PM; edited 1 time in total

yep I've been talking to the female pilot I know down with the MS ANG and even their medical guys aren't fond of how short I am. im still going to have to fly the T-37...which has an ejection seat...I would LOVE to fly the globemaster (i love the HUD, stick, and FBW) it's roomy as heck too!! (well compared to a Cessna 152 haha)...that's what I wanted even before someone got me interested in the viper. I drool over that C-17. who knows what'll happen in 4 yrs. there's a lot of pilots here...does anyone know any flight doctors I can contact and ask this to? about being under the min. sitting height?

i just got an email back from the female here with the 201st AW (c-38s) and she said she got a waiver to fly...but didn't know anything about sitting height...and I swear that she's a good couple of inches shorter than me.

oh what is that rack? is it a joke or is it a real procedure? i've heard a couple people use it when I mentioned my problem...

jenn

Gearupgal wrote:

Okay so I was wondering about something...I knew min. height is 5'4''...i'm under that...as well as the sitting height...but I can sit in the viper and reach all controls as well as see through the HUD...is there any way BOTH of these heights can be waived?

There may be hope for you in the pipeline. Goodrich and Oregon Aero have been working on a new set of cushions for the ACES II that will raise your seated height to the proper design eye range. To compensate for CG issues the back cushion is thick as well to move you forward and upward. The headrest also gets a set of pads. Goal is to have these issued to a pilot. Will take 5-10 min to install and 5-10 to de-install. Gonna be a pain when you have to switch jets if something goes wrong pre-launch.

I have to check the article, but I believe they will be in service in the next year or two.

Kevin
The Ejection Site

Oh and sorry I know what the rack is... can't believe I'm that gullable. lol. sorry...:-p

And great!!! as long as it'll get me through T-37 training... then I'd be good to go for the C-17. To be honest I'd prefer the C-17 to the Viper... no offense to yall... it's a great aircraft. I'm more of a trashhauler... Very Happy

Wait the T-37 doesn't use the ACES II though does it? if not...then I'm back to square one... unless that project your talking about will work for the T-37 as well...

Gearupgal wrote:

wait the T-37 doesn't use the ACES II though does it? if not...then i'm back to square one...unless that project your talking about will work for the T-37 as well...

'Fraid not. The T-37 uses a Weber seat with a separate backpack parachute. Old technology. No new development on that, that I have heard of. Can't put the cushions on it easily because of the parachute issue. No plans to upgrade the seats in the T-37 (although the T-38 upgrade is still in the works.)

Kevin
The Ejection Site

Thank you all so much for your help...yall have been so informative. Not what I'm wanting to hear...but hey, crap happens I guess...look at it this way...at least I can still fly airliners and continue with my aerobatics...some people don't have the ability to fly at all...those are the poor souls I feel for. Sad

Who knows what will happen in a few years, maybe they'll change things and I can fly military...if not, no biggie...I can join in another field and still serve my country...cause I will...you have my word. If I can't fly for the US...I'm going to protect it somehow.

Jenn

So how tall is Patty Wagstaff?

Forum: Future F-16 crew

Pilots with <20/20 vision