Week 46 to 48 - November 21 to December 10

It's been four month already ! December 10, 2011, TPS class 11A graduated !
Between that and my previous message, a lot happend, but nothing really new. What we really did was finishing anything that was left from the curriculum, and getting ready to PCS out, outprocessing, and so on.
As for flight, we did some Vista and glider flights, and for some lucky people Kc-135, C-17 and/or B-52 qual evals. We also had the HU-16 qual eval, which was awesome since we got to do water landings on lake Mead !!!
And then, obvisouly, we had to do our comp orals, TMP oral presentation and TMP final report, and finish any other report left (such as weapon delivery).
And then we had families coming over, red carpet day, patch night and graduation.
We had such an amazing year ! It was sometimes hard, but always fascinating and we all learned so much. The biggest thanks to TPS, its staff and its commander, Col "Shamu" Zamot, who's the greatest commander I have ever had.
We're now all scattered around the world, some assigned at Eglin or Edwards or other test bases, and our two international student back to their home countries (Canada and France).
If you run into someone wearing that patch, or talking about monkeys and football, you'll know you're talking to a TPS 11A grad !
It's been great writing to you all this time and I'm so sorry this last message came so late.
G-arf.

P.S : I read some of my messages lately, and I am very sorry for all the typos. Did not have that much free time last year I guess ....

Week 43 to 45 - November 01 to 20

What happened : After coming back from the field trips, we have been busy, as always. We finished all the checkrides, we took the comprehensive written exams, and half the class got the oral comp exams. We finished most of the curriculum flights, at the exception of the gliders and VISTA. VISTA is a hgly modified F-16 which can simulate almost any aircraft you could imagine. The great thing with VISTA is that everybody get to fly in the front cockpit, including FTEs. Waow, the view is great, so much better than from the backseat !!! We also had to work on some reports, including the capstone report and the TMP report. Two of the groups had their "murder board", a 4h long meeting to review the report before it get published. We also had great qual-eval : Extra 300, Zepplin and a trip to the USS Reagan !

 

 

The trip to the carrier was really awesome ! we got to fly on the COD (a twin prop aircraft) to a from the carrier, which mean that we got to experience a "trap" (landing) and a "cat" (take-off) !!!! We also got to see landings from the bridge and from the LSO platefrom. Nothing better than standing 15 feet from where an F-18 is going to catch one of the cable and slow down from 140 to 0 knots in about 2 seconds !!!

What's next : some vista and glider flights left, HU-16 qual eval, comp orals, TMP oral presentation, some reports to finish. In three weeks, we'll be graduating ! Three weeks, baby !!!

Week 38 to 42 - September 26 to October 31

Well, it's been 5 busy weeks, and I kind of forgot to update the blog.
The first three weeks have been very, very busy for most of us. After the TMP flights and SETP, we had many curriculum events to accomplish, many reports to write, include the first draft of the TIM, or technical information memorandum, which is the TMp report. Also, the engineers had to do their structure checkrides (and the first flight checkride for those of us that were left behind). The structure checkride happens in the control room, with a student and an IP flying the F16, and we have to closely monitor a large number of crtical parameters during dynamic maneuvers.
The other academic events included the engine out demo, weapon deliveries (pilots only), the F-15E system eval, the F-15D CFP (for the pilots only), the air to air lab, ASTAR (a modified Saab 340 with lots of systems inside to evaluate), Gliders (FQ and spins).
After that, we want on the field trips. First, 6 pilots went to Tucson, AZ, to fly the A-10 ! Then, we all went to Eglin AFB for tours and presentations of their activites, and to Patuxent River NAS, home to Navy TPS, where we got to fly a lot : F-18F for most of us, and helicopters : H-72 (also called EC-145), UH-60 (Blackhawk) or H-58 (Kiowa). Some also flew the U-6 Beaver, a tail dragger with a big radial engine. The week was quite busy but we still found the time to go to nice places in the evenings. We all got very jealous of USNTPS : they have trees and water !!!! (and a nice building). What a refreshing change after so many months in Edwards. It even rained for a while !
And then, the capstone trips : 2 went to China Lake to fly the Apache and the Growler (F-18G), 9 went to France and flew Mirage 2000 and Alphajet, and 5 to Spain to fly the Casa 101 and the Casa 212. These flight will be followed, as usual, by a report.
We are now ready for the home run to graduation : 40 days left, 6 weeks including the last one which will be mainly dedicated to outprocessing.
What we have left : systems checkride for the pilots and our CSO, some leftovers 1st flight or structure checkrides for FTEs, the Vista flights (a highly modifed F-16 which can simulate any flight qualities, similar the the Learjet VSS but with higher G performance), the ASI (avionics system intagration) lab, and glider spins. and also some qual evals : KC-135, C-17, HU-16, Extra 300 and the Blimp. Not everybody will get to fly on each of these aircraft though. That's for the fun. We also have to finish reports, including weapon deliveries, engine out, ASTARS, F-15 system Eval, Capstone, and obviously the TIM and the TMP PRR(test management project - preliminary review report, a one hour oral presntation which will be on monday of the last week of class). And then, on december 10th, graduation. It's getting closer !!!

Week 36 and 37 - September 12 to 25

What happened over the last two weeks ? We completed the second week of TMP flights, with a couple FTT briefs in the middle. Then, we had three days of class with academics in the morning and flight in the afternoon. Because USN TPS was visiting, they used most of the jets and IPs and we did not fly that much (one or two first flight checkrides, IFAST vs F16+ECM pod, and some weapon deliveries sim). The academics were FTT briefs or ground schools : ASTARS, F15 system eval, F15 CFP (captive flight profile, or weapon vibration validation), KC135 ground school, C12 engine out, structures checkrides, ... We will be busy in the next couple weeks.
(ASTARS is a modified Saab 340 with lots of systems inside that we will evalute during a 4h, partly night time, flight)(the IFAST vs F-16 + ECM ride is a demo to teach us how to test electronic countermeasures in flight).
Then, thursday, friday and saturday we all went to Anaheim for the SETP (society of experimental test pilots) symposium. 3 days of technical lectures mixed with free food, free drinks in the hospitality suites, and disney fun (on firday night).
Next week, we are back to the regular schedule for three intense weeks, with a lot of rides planned / ASTARS, weapon deliveries, EO demo in the F16, Vista HQ demo, the end of the first flight checkrides, the beginning of the structure checkrides, glider HQ, C12 engine out, F15 systems and F15 CFP, and KC-135 multi engine HQ. And to make it easier, there will be reports to write for a lot of these rides (EO, sys eval, weapon del, KC135, engine out, VISTA and ASTARS). Plus of course the big TMP report.

Week 34 and 35 - August 29 to September 11

What happened over the last two week : Week 34 was really the same as the previous couple weeks with C12 checkrides for FTE, AN-2 flights, gliders, EO labs, EO demo flights in the F-16 for a couple people, and a lot of prep for the TMPs.
End then, for the first time this year, we only had one thing to worry about with the first week of TMP flying. Have pain got it, Have splash did not find any splash at first but finally got some data, Hav Hal declared they had the best TMP ever and Speed Pacer flew straight and level, except for the odd turn.
We also took the "count down board" up and running : less than 100 days until graduation !!! To celebrate, we had the most awesome 80's party saturday night. Shamu certainly will remember this night for a long time (never, ever, leave your car unattended next to a bunch of pilots).
Next week will be the second week of TMP flights. Monday, we have to present our preliminary results and review our test mangement, in an oral exercise called a "PAR" (no idea what it really means). The rest of the week should be TMP only. The week after, we'll go back to our regular schedule with some FTT briefs and curriculum flights. The F-15 should be here for a couple flights. Then, on the same week, we'll all go to SETP (near Disneyland) for three days.

Week 33 - August 22 to 28

The navigation systems exam last week was our last academic exam - not counting the comprehensive written and orals obviously. But that will by in october/november....
After navigation systems, we had classes on integrated avionic systems and on weapons.
All the rest was pretty much the rest, more flying, more reports, more checkrides .....
The two new events were the first AN-2 qual eval, and flying qualities evaluations in the glidres (ASK-21 and GroB103)

Next week, we'll have : more weapon classes (weapon delivery, smart weapons, and some FTT briefs). More checkrides (for the FTEs), gliders FQ demo, AN-2, and many labs and sims.
And the last run before the TMP flight window (which start on tuesday, september 6th)

Week 32 - August 15 to 22

Last week, we finished the EW (electronic warfare) class, including a lecture by Shamu himself (the TPS commandant), submitted our EO/IR exams, and took the EW exam. Then we had two briefs for new FTTs (the air to air combat system sim and the EO demo in the F-16). Both sim and flight should begin over the next couple weeks. And finally, we begun the "integrated navigation systems" class.
On the flying side, there was more checkrides for the pilots in the T-38, more of the VSS flights, including the famous "fly-off" : since we have validated our FCS designs, pilots get to test 4 of them and vote for the best. Of course, they all try to guess if the design they are testing is the one they worked on ....
We also had some more labs, including EO labs and IFAST radar lab. IFAST is a facility here at Edwards that has an F-16 radar stuck on an outside wall. Rather convenient to work on it without being restricted by flight time or the number of people on board !
Finally, the first FTEs had their "first flight checkride". The objective is to perform the first flight of the C-12 (even though we all flew a  lot in that aircraft). That is a good challenge and requires a lot of work.
We have to present a brief the day prior to the flight, and based on IPs feedback, we then need to change our test cards for the next day, which is the checkride itself. We also have a chase for this ride, which had a good amount of planning. As always, planning is really important, and about 55% of the grade is decided before we even board the C12. And since it's a checkride, the grade is worth about 35% of the whole flying qualities part of the curriculum !!

Next week, we'll have : the end of the navigation systems class (and the exam), and the beginning of integrated avionics. More checkrides (both pilots and FTEs), gliders FQ demo, and many labs and sims.
And since we finally got feedback on our Lat-Dir 5314, we'll have to submit our Lat-Dir  group technical reports.