This post is appearing on Autoblog Military, Autoblog's sub-site dedicated to the vehicles, aircraft and ships of the world's armed forces.
There's always some befuddlement when switching from the reliable and familiar. You get a new phone or laptop, there's a learning curve. A new car? You've got even more to come to grips with. Now imagine you're a fighter pilot, and after years of relying on a trusty aircraft to keep you alive, you're asked to try something new, that's notorious for its unreliability. That is a steep learning curve.
But it's one that Maj. Jayson Rickard is climbing. After years at the controls of an F-16, the Air Force reservist was the first in the 419th Fighter Squadron to transition to the new and controversial F-35 Lightning II. And now he's putting what that move is like into video, with an official spot for the Air Force.
Now yes, as an official document, there's a propaganda-ish slant to the entire vid, so there's not a single negative remark about the new fighter. But you still get some interesting insights into what the move from the F-16 to the F-35 is like, and how the two aircraft go about their business very differently.
Check out the video at the top of the page.
There's always some befuddlement when switching from the reliable and familiar. You get a new phone or laptop, there's a learning curve. A new car? You've got even more to come to grips with. Now imagine you're a fighter pilot, and after years of relying on a trusty aircraft to keep you alive, you're asked to try something new, that's notorious for its unreliability. That is a steep learning curve.
But it's one that Maj. Jayson Rickard is climbing. After years at the controls of an F-16, the Air Force reservist was the first in the 419th Fighter Squadron to transition to the new and controversial F-35 Lightning II. And now he's putting what that move is like into video, with an official spot for the Air Force.
Now yes, as an official document, there's a propaganda-ish slant to the entire vid, so there's not a single negative remark about the new fighter. But you still get some interesting insights into what the move from the F-16 to the F-35 is like, and how the two aircraft go about their business very differently.
Check out the video at the top of the page.
Sign in to post
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Continue