Posted on 06/16/2005 3:00:04 PM PDT by Racehorse
Women do fly in combat.
Ramstein 2 coming?
We are talking about combat jets which in most situations have to be modified to conform with the body size and special requirements for women. If these planes are needed in an emergency they would have to be remodified for the normal fighter pilot configuration. This is what I have been told by a 25 yr A/F Veteran. Is he a liar? Or has P.C. gone so far that we would weaken our forces just to placate the feminists that have infested our Armed Forces?
That was uncalled for.
Not PC, I know.
I don't know what modifications the cockpit would need. It's a chair with a rocket attached. That chair is adjustable over about 12" fore/aft and a couple of inches up and down. As long as the pilot can work the rudder pedals and the stick/throttle, no mods are necessary.
I think your veteran friend is pulling your leg. Male pilots come in all sizes. I met one who was very short, he did fine in the U-2 and came from Tweet training instructor.
Only real problem would be if the person has a very slight build... the G-suit may not work optimally. I had a friend win an incentive ride in an F-15. He was about 5' 7" and 110 pounds, soaking wet. The first time his pilot pulled 5-6 G's he was out like a light and doesn't remember anything after the first 10 minutes of the flight. LOL.
When you look at the top aces in air combat history, most of them are small, slight men, and there are very few who would be considered big men (Well, Goering, who was a WWI Ace, was pretty big, not the big tub of goo he was in WWII though.)
Oddly the number that are blue-eyed is way above the general population as well, nobody quite knows what to make of that.
I know this isn't politically correct either, but I hope and pray that this situation isn't reminicent of the Kara S. Hultgreen affair. Advancement in the name of PCness can be tragic.
#17 bump!
Good for her! Maybe she can bring some excitement to the T-birds. The Thunderbirds are extrodinary pilots, no doubt about that, but not exciting to watch perform. The Blue Angels, on the otherhand, always wow the crowd.
So long as she flies to the same standards as the rest of the team, no problem. Also, she looks a lot better than the Steve Canyons standing in front of their ride!!!
Do you HONESTLY think the Thunderbirds - who fly within feet of each other at speeds in excess of 400 mph would hire a woman - just because she was a woman and not because she was highly qualified?
This is nothing like 'Revlon', the F-16 is super easy to fly, unlike the Tomcat.
This is a notion that must end. The pilots who fly for the Thunderbirds (and the Blue Angels) are not better pilots, and do not do anything that other trained fighter pilots cant do. These individuals are chosen first for their professionalism, their attitude and their ability to 'represent' their respective branch of the service. There ability to fly is not often exceptional within their peer group.
They also have to be able to smile and kiss babies for months on end.
The constant media and public attention gets tiresome - FAST!
Even the Blue Angels have toned down their show in recent years. I remember a maneuver called the "Tuck Away Roll" which was spectacular. #5 and #6 would appear as one and when the rolled apart - you would realize that there were actually two.
It was stunning - I've seen it on tape a 100 times and still think it rocks.
I'm still in awe of all three of the jet teams that we see here in the US. The Canadian Snowbirds are spectacular as well.
This year at Reno - we will have both the Snowbirds and Thunderbirds. Should be deafeningly amazing!
;-)
Dasher
And autograph seekers are weird.
Remind me to tell you a story about me signing autographs sometime.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.