Yes, like "ATM machine" and "CAC card" and other redundancies.



The Jedi Master

Just today got to read this. Really nice read, thanks Weasel for preparing it.

And I just got to read it today; it certainly was enjoyable. Weasel is now launching aircraft out of Balad AFB in Iraq, and I think the article lets us know that he won't be letting anybody down.

I felt the heat blowing through my hair while reading the article.
Well done!

AFAIK, one reason for the AIM120s being on the wingtips instead of the AIM9s may be due to
their profile which provide better wing tip oscillation "flutter" dampening compared to the AIM9.
Without any missiles on the tips, apparently the wingtips actually move around and cause some
noticable vibration in the cockpit which is translated to the Pilot's hands.

Store induced limit cycle oscillations (LCOs) and wing flutter are dynamic forces that engineers
strive to understand and to control, as they affect aircraft structural failure and performance.

Right, which makes total sense to me. However, if you're carrying ONLY 9s and no 120s, shouldn't the 9s then be on the wingtips instead? "Something better than nothing" and all? That was my only question.



The Jedi Master

Yes, if thats all you have are AIM9s and the wing tip launcher is built for it.
Its likely to be true that some dampening is better than no dampening, hence AIM9 on the wing tip.
(As long as you stay away from loading something at the wing's "natural frequency").

Even the orange training duds probably still provide the pilot some value in how to
expect the a/c to handle and feel. They can also load up the dud (blue tipped) 20mm ammo to
simulate loadout too. Seems to also follow with the Top Gun motto of:

"Fight like you train, train like you fight"

What I missed (would have expected) that you do a total count for all pins before putting them in the box? Seems like a simple way to make sure you didn't leave one in somewhere.

Also, would be interesting to see this procedure done for a QRA aircraft. That startup goes down a lot shorter.

Good question RS. We don't do a pin count (maybe some people do). I, and most Crew Chiefs, have a routine that we follow and I just know my pins are pulled and stowed. After all pins are pulled and stowed and I disconnect from the comm I always linger around under the jet for a minute doing my own inspection making sure all doors are closed, pins are pulled, no delta Ps are popped on hydraulic filters, and nothing's leaking or falling off. Then when the jet taxis out it stops at the arm/dearm area where we have an EOR (end of runway) or "last chance" crew go over the jet again checking the same things I just checked, and the weapons folks pull their pins to arm the munitions and flare/chaff.