On to Jets: The T-37

Finally everything felt right; he was flying. Below are both my Dad’s written words setting this story to paper in August 2020 and a video of our discussion about this time period.

IN HIS WORDS:

Actual Air Force flying was a whole different animal. We had procedures; you could read the manual and visualize how to do a maneuver. The first time I strapped into the T-37 twin jet side-by-side seated trainer with my parachute and oxygen mask, I felt comfortable. The first takeoff was exhilarating. The airplane was smooth, easy to fly and just plain fun - with the exception of spins (not my favorite). I didn’t like purposely placing the aircraft out of control, then trying to recover. A fair amount of traffic pattern work was done at an auxiliary field called Barfly with its own controller. If the pilot forgot to lower the landing gear, a warning would go beep, beep. On several occasions, the plane would turn final and the instructor would call “Beep, beep, dump ship; beep, beep, dumb shit.” Sometimes students got it; sometimes not.

That program when so smoothly that I finished before my 90 hour flight time minimum. So I had to take three solo flights with no check rides and no real training requirements to get my hours. “Here, take this little jet out and have some fun, just don’t break it.” They reconsidered on the last flight and kept me in the Laredo traffic pattern for some supervision. Oh well.

I finished eighth out of a class that started with 85 and ended up with 52 graduating. A couple of guys got fighter assignments, but I got my second choice - to come back as a T-38 instructor pilot. I was assigned to Craig AFB in Selma, Alabama.