by Leigh Dreyer
MOA: Military Operating Area. Each base has a specific area that they work with, for example the Meryton MOA. These areas are broken into sections, which are confusingly also referred to as area. For example, the Meryton MOA may have ten numbered sections (e.g., Meryton MOA area 2) where
T-6: The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine turboprop aircraft used for basic pilot training in the United States Air Force since 2003 replacing the T-37 Tweet. Since then, every pilot training student has flown in the T-6 as their initial plane in Undergraduate Pilot Training before tracking to either T-1s or T-38s. It cruises at 320 mph and can pull up to seven Gs.
T-1: The T-1 Jayhawk is the trainer jet for pilots who will be tracked to tankers and cargo jets. It has cockpit seating for an instructor pilot and two students and can carry four additional passengers. It looks like a little white business jet. The maximum speed is 539 miles per hour.
Drop Night: During pilot training, there are two big events that the students look forward to: track night and Drop Night. Track night is when a pilot tracks from T-6 (the beginning plane) to either T-1 or T-38 (in most cases) which determines whether they will fly cargo/tanker jets (T-1) or fighter/attacker (T-38). Drop Night takes place just before graduation and presents each student with their official first assignment after pilot training. All students turn in a “dream sheet” that lists all the planes and bases they would like to be assigned to, after which those in charge of placement look at the sheet, the bases and planes available and make a determination of where to assign each student. At Drop Night, the students, along with family and friends, congregate to receive their assignment. Typically, the student is called up and the assigned plane is shown on a projection screen along with the base location. The nights often have themes; “ugly sweater” is a popular one at Christmas, for example, and the students wear related items.
Guard: The National Guard is the name for state operated militia forces under their state governor as commander-in-chief (rather than the President who is commander-in-chief of Active Duty forces). Guard units can be mobilized by the President when called into federal service. New York has approximately 5,500 Air National Guard members.
Low-Manning/Undermanned: low staffing or understaffed. The Air Force uses various methods to count personnel and refer to staffing numbers as “manning” generally.
Last Go: the final flight of the day
DNIF: Stands for “Duties Not-to-Include Flying.” If a pilot “goes DNIF,” they cannot fly. Once well and evaluated by a Flight Surgeon they are RTFS, Return To Flight Status. Sometimes pilots go DNIF for simple reasons, like a head cold or a broken leg. Other times, they are permanently placed on the DNIF list for other more serious reasons, like mental health difficulties or blindness—something that causes them to be unable to safely fly permanently.
AETC: Air Education Training Command. This is the section of the Air Force in charge of all training, including various forms of pilot training (initial, pilot instructor, aircraft specific training, etc.)
Friday Patch: a squadron patch traditionally worn only on Fridays. Often the design of the patch will be different, historic or silly to differentiate it from the regular patch. Additionally, in squadrons with nicknames, many of the airmen wear their nicknames in place of their regular name tags.
Immelmann: An Immelmann maneuver is an ascending half-loop followed by a half-roll, resulting in level flight in the exact opposite direction at a higher altitude. Essentially, the pilot pulls up into a loop, stopping when they are upside down, then roll back right-side up.
Lancair Legacy: a two-seat, single-engine propeller plane. It cruises at 276 mph. They are popular amongst pilots in the sports class of the Reno Air Races.
Notes
Chapter 1
1 The T-38 Talon is the training jet which funnels pilots into the fighter program. The “T” in T-38 stands for trainer. These twin-engine jets have two tandem seats, one in the front (student), one in the back (instructor). They are sleek and pointy, made for flying fast and learning quick movements and maneuvers typically used in fighter and attack planes. Their top speed is Mach 1.3 or 812 mph, which means they are supersonic or can go faster than the speed of sound. They can climb from sea level to 30,000 feet in one minute. Because they fly quickly, they use fuel faster and have a typical flight time of one hour to one hour fifteen minutes.
2 The F-22 Raptor is a single seat stealth fighter jet. It has two engines, and is capable of air attack (shooting other planes), ground attack (shooting things on the ground), electronic warfare (can jam signals being sent), and signal intelligence (gathers communication or electronic signals in order to gather intelligence about them). The F in F-22 stands for “fighter.” The F-22 is a stealth jet because it is difficult to track on radar. The F-22 can do really cool things, like drop a bomb at Mach 1.4 (faster than the speed of sound) and accurately hit a moving target twenty-five miles away. The top speed is Mach 2.25 (or 2.25 times the speed of sound, 1500 mph) and the plane can cruise at faster than the speed of sound. Because the F-22 flies so fast and so high, pilots are required to wear specialized g-suits that can help them regulate their bodies for the speed, gravitational forces, and temperature changes.
3 The F-35 Lightening II is a single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole fighter. It performs ground attack (shooting things on the ground) and air superiority missions (fighting for control over air space). The F-35 has been heavily criticized for being the most expensive military program at more than $163 billion over budget. The F-35 can carry both air to surface missiles or bombs and air to air missiles.
4 Military Operating Area. Each base has a specific area that they work with, for example the Meryton MOA. These areas are broken into sections, which are confusingly also referred to as area. For example, the Meryton MOA may have ten numbered sections (e.g., Meryton MOA area 2)
Chapter 2
1 During pilot training, there are two big events that the students look forward to: track night and Drop Night. Track night is when a pilot tracks from T-6 (the beginning plane) to either T-1 or T-38 (in most cases) which determines whether they will fly cargo/tanker jets (T-1) or fighter/attacker (T-38). Drop Night takes place just before graduation and presents each student with their official first assignment after pilot training. All students turn in a “dream sheet” that lists all the planes and bases they would like to be assigned to, after which those in charge of placement look at the sheet, the bases and planes available and make a determination of where to assign each student. At Drop Night, the students, along with family and friends, congregate to receive their assignment. Typically, the student is called up and the assigned plane is shown on a projection screen along with the base location. The nights often have themes; “ugly sweater” is a popular one at Christmas, for example, and the students wear related items.
2 The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine turboprop aircraft used for basic pilot training in the United States Air Force since 2003 replacing the T-37 Tweet. Since then, every pilot training student has flown in the T-6 as their initial plane in Undergraduate Pilot Training before tracking to either T-1s or T-38s. It cruises at 320 mph and can pull up to seven Gs.
3 The T-1 Jayhawk is the trainer jet for pilots who will be tracked to tankers and cargo jets. It has cockpit seating for an instructor pilot and two students and can carry four additional passengers. It looks like a little white business jet. The maximum speed is 539 miles per hour.
4 The National Guard is the name for state operated militia forces under their state governor as commander-in-chief (rather than the President who is commander-in-chief of Active Duty forces). Guard units can be mobilized by the President when called into federal service. New York has approximately 5,500 Air National Guard members.
Chapter 3
1 Low staffing or understaffed. The Air Force uses various methods to count personnel and refer to staffing numbers as “manning” generally.
2 Stands for “Duties Not-to-Include Flying.
” If a pilot “goes DNIF,” they cannot fly. Once well and evaluated by a Flight Surgeon they are RTFS, Return To Flight Status. Sometimes pilots go DNIF for simple reasons, like a head cold or a broken leg. Other times, they are permanently placed on the DNIF list for other more serious reasons, like mental health difficulties or blindness—something that causes them to be unable to safely fly permanently.
Chapter 4
1 The final flight of the day
Chapter 6
1 Air Education Training Command. This is the section of the Air Force in charge of all training, including various forms of pilot training (initial, pilot instructor, aircraft specific training, etc.)
Chapter 17
1 Friday Patch: a squadron patch traditionally worn only on Fridays. Often the design of the patch will be different, historic or silly to differentiate it from the regular patch. Additionally, in squadrons with nicknames, many of the airmen wear their nicknames in place of their regular name tags.
Chapter 23
1 Immelmann: An Immelmann maneuver is an ascending half-loop followed by a half-roll, resulting in level flight in the exact opposite direction at a higher altitude. Essentially, the pilot pulls up into a loop, stopping when they are upside down, then roll back right-side up.
Chapter 26
1 A two-seat, single-engine propeller plane. It cruises at 276 mph. They are popular amongst pilots in the sports class of the Reno Air Races.
Note from the Author
There are several references to postpartum depression, and it’s symptoms including of suicidal thoughts, mood swings, a mother’s difficulty bonding with her baby, difficulty thinking, and difficulty making decisions. These are based on real stories from real women who are close to me. Many of these women have shared their stories in hushed tones, nervous that someone “might find out” and think less of them. Approximately ten to fifteen percent of mothers are later diagnosed with postpartum depression, though that number is likely much higher. Fathers can also be affected by this condition. If there is any message I could convey to the reader, it is that postpartum depression is treatable and the most effective way to diagnose and treat it is by visiting a doctor. There are some who benefit from psychotherapy, antidepressants, a combination of both, and other coping techniques including diet, exercise, self-care, sleep, omega-3s, and reducing isolation. Mrs. Bennet has a somewhat miraculous recovery, which is not necessarily realistic for many women. Please remember that you are not alone and that there is help out there for you.
Some helpful resources:
Postpartum Support International 1-800-944-4773 or text 503-894-9453
National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
National Alliance on Mental Illness, 800-950-NAMI (6264)
Depression during and after pregnancy: A resource for women, their families and friends from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Maternal and Child Health
Mothertobaby.org
These are US-based resources only, but, if you, or someone you know, is suffering in another country, please reach out, and I can help you find additional resources local to you.
About the Author
Leigh Dreyer is a huge fan of Jane Austen variations and the JAFF community. She is blessed to have multi-generational military connections through herself and her husband, who she met in pilot training. She often describes her formative years in this way: “You know the ‘Great Balls of Fire’ scene in Top Gun (‘Goose, you big stud!’), where Goose and Meg Ryan have their kid on the piano? I was that kid.” Leigh lives with her pilot husband, a plane-obsessed son, a daughter who will one day be old enough to watch romantic movies with her, and another little one expected in September 2019.