FAMs

Flying from the front cockpit is exactly what I always imagined flying a jet would be like. In position on the runway I released the brakes on my first Familiarization flight Wednesday afternoon and the jet just leaped forward like some huge cat. It went from zero to 50kts (~60mph) in about 3 seconds and kept accelerating. I could really feel the 5,527lbs of thrust put out by my Rolls Royce F405 jet engine, like a big hand behind my back pushing me down the runway. No offense to my MG but for the few seconds I was on the runway, the jet was the greatest sports car I've ever driven, and then it took off.

Once in the air, the acceleration continued and it was a fight to keep the aircraft under the FAA speed limit of 250kts (300mph). Once above 10,000 feet and inside our "Military Operating Area" I was free to accelerate as required for whatever maneuver I was doing.

After the work in the area, we went back to the pattern and I flew about 6 passes, flying the ball and trying to hit my numbers. Landing is nothing like what your airline pilot did on your last commercial flight. To enter the pattern I fly over the runway at 900 feet and 350kts reaching the end of the runway I turn 180 degrees at 3-4gs bleed off my airspeed, drop my landing gear when I'm slow enough and then descend to the pattern altitude. In the pattern I'm only about 600 feet off the ground paralleling the runway in the opposite direction and opposite my touchdown point plus a few seconds I turn sharply and descend while looking for the "Ball."

The ball tells me my glideslope, in other words, if I'm too high or too low as I descend to the end of the runway. We have a box exactly the size of the carrier's landing area painted on the left side of the runway which I use to line up instead of the normal runway centerline. I focus only on the lense (Ball) and my airspeed (er AOA) and use my peripheral vision to line up. When I touch down not only is it a surprise (because I'm not looking at the runway, just the "Ball") but it's a jarring surprise because I don't flare at all. It's both easier and so much harder.

After the last pass, I full-stopped, taxied back to the line and shut down. I was exhausted but it was a really good flight. I'm not saying I didn't makes any mistakes while up there, but overall it was awesome and I can't wait to do it again.This is not one of my gradesheets, this is from an article in "The Onion" (Thanks Richard, I'm still laughing)
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/blue_angels_hold_first_ever_open