"Our mission today is target training." In the flight preparation room, the Gunners' squadron commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mark, said: "After the target training is qualified, our pilots can look for their radar officer. You will meet Goodbye to my own instructor, and then embark on a solo trip."
There are many types of target training, but there will continue to be instructors' guidance, and there is only one kind without the rear seat radar officer's guidance, and that is gun shooting.
"As we all know, we made a mistake on the F-4 Phantom and did not install a fixed cannon on it. This made us face passive in air combat many times. Therefore, our Tomcat fighter has restored the built-in cannon. "Lieutenant Colonel Mark said: "In air combat, we use missiles as much as possible to solve it, but when necessary, we also have to give it a go and use the cannon to kill the enemy aircraft."
The omnipotence theory of missiles was very marketable at that time. As a result, the F-4 missile aircraft was humiliated over Vietnam. After learning from it, the U.S. Navy and Air Force quickly developed the SUU- for the F-4 based on the M61A 120mm Vulcan cannon. The 16/A cannon pod is usually mounted in the middle of the abdomen of the F-4.
The problem of presence or absence was finally solved, but because the SUU-16/A cannon pod is connected to the fighter with a sub-tank universal pylon, it shakes laterally when firing, which greatly reduces the accuracy. In addition, the SUU-16/A is added. The cannon cannot be used when the airspeed exceeds 640 kilometers per hour, making it unsuitable for attacking fighters.
The result is that something is better than nothing, but it is about the same as nothing.
The U.S. Air Force was later equipped with the F-4E, which was considered to have a built-in cannon.
And now, at the beginning of the development of the Tomcat fighter, a plan for a built-in cannon has been determined. It is equipped with the most common M61 Vulcan machine gun in the U.S. Army, which is a 6-tube 20mm Gatling machine gun. The F-104 "Star Fighter" fighter, which will be carried by later F-22 fighters, can be described as a veteran cannon that has been in service for more than half a century.
For pilots, training to shoot missiles is simply boring. In all training items, shooting machine guns is the most fun.
(Air combat movies are not easy to shoot, laymen don’t know, but experts know it. Press a few buttons and launch missiles without any excitement. Therefore, no matter what era, air combat movies must have dog fights to be wonderful.)
Lieutenant Colonel Mark's words won everyone's approval. Up to now, even the most arrogant experts in missile omnipotence have admitted that the missiles at this stage have many shortcomings. The cannon is the last weapon of the pilot and is a must.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark continued: "The normal subject we are training today is the squirrel cage. I will take the drone."
If you want to conduct target shooting training, you must have a target drone. In later generations, drones have been replaced by drones. This is safer. However, in this era, target drones are still served by ordinary aircraft. Drag a target behind to fly, and then let the aircraft behind hit the target. In this process, there is a great danger.
Even if it is a coach bomb, the warhead is not a solid lead bomb, and hitting the skin of the aircraft may cause damage to the aircraft, hitting the engine, and even more damage to the engine.
Therefore, the drones are all flying with the most experienced veterans.
Of course, if there is an accident, it is also clear who did it. The cannon shells of each Tomcat fighter will be painted with different colors, and when they are hit on the white nylon target, the bullet holes will be colored. In this way, after returning home, the shooting results can be calculated from above after the target is thrown at the airport.
If you hit an airplane, even if the airplane crashes into the sea, you will be able to investigate it in the end. Of course, this possibility is very small. After all, all the veterans who fly the Tomcat fighters now are changed to fly, and the newcomers will not immediately touch a fighter such as the Tomcat.
They are to compare who has the highest score.
"I'll fly the last one." Just after Lieutenant Colonel Mark finished his target drone, the people below began to determine the order of attack as the target aircraft.
Nathan’s training in the past few days has made everyone admire. In just a few days, Nathan completed the training subjects that others took one or two months to complete. Every time he flew, he dared to fly in the bag. The edge of the line is like deliberately teasing the engine to lose its temper, but giving up at the last minute.
Nathan is actually going to fly the last one today? This is not in line with his character!
Could it be that this kid got fucked yesterday, and is boring today? Thinking of this, the eyes of several people looked at him differently.
Nathan saw this look yesterday, and now, he is extremely disgusted with the look in his eyes, looking at it, with a smirk! Today I went to the sky for the last target shooting, because if I were the first target, none of you would have to shoot!
Nathan ignored them. After determining the order, the meeting ended and they began to prepare before the flight.
"Nathan, why did you fly the last one today?" the instructor Lyman asked.
"I don't like fighting with others," Nathan said.
Lehman shook his head: "It's definitely not the reason. Let's talk about it. Anyway, we are the last time. After the shooting is finished today, my task will be completed. You are the fastest student I have ever taken."
The role of the instructor is to help the students adapt to the operation of the aircraft. After the students have learned the basic flight movements, all that is left is for the students to explore for themselves, and the instructor does not need to go to the sky to follow.
Nathan had read the thick aircraft operating manuals on the upper and lower sides in two days, and he was able to memorize it backwards, which made Lehmann admire.
All kinds of emergency measures can be accurately stated. This guy is simply born to fly the Tomcat fighter!
"If I did, you would definitely not let me fly." Nathan said.
Lyman's face changed. What kind of moth is this guy going to have? Is your flight experience today destined to be unforgettable for a lifetime
Soon, on the runway, a Tomcat fighter unfolded its wings and flew toward the sky.
During the climb to the west, it flew directly over the Pacific Ocean. This is also the best training place. Even if there is an accident during the flight, you can skydive at any time. Don't worry about the residents below and miss the best opportunity to skydive. However, For American pilots, there is no psychological pressure to jump when it is time to jump.
Lehman in the rear cabin looked at the blue sky and white clouds on both sides. From his perspective, he could also see the front target drone, the Tomcat fighter piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Mark, the squadron leader, dragging a 12.2 meter long. The line is like flying a kite, except that the person flying is above and the kite is below.
The target was flying, and soon arrived in the training airspace. The first Tomcat fighter, rolled with a standard barrel, turned to the target. Then, under the nose, the M61 cannon emitted a puff of black smoke. One after another, the shells flew towards the target in front.
The target has been hit with a lot of holes, and the hit rate is good!
Then came the second one, the third...
"Young Eagle, shoot a target, pay attention to the angle, and don't accidentally injure the drone in front."
"Understand!" Nathan pushed the joystick, and the Tomcat fighter, with a chic and majestic posture, headed towards the target, and an aerial target shooting that was enough to be recorded in the annals of history began. (End of this chapter)