Flight Training (D3, EE, Simulators)

[James Hall]

Mata was prepared and went to get it quickly.

James took the few moments she was gone to say, "Thank you, captain. Both of us greatly appreciate it."

[Alexei Herald]

"It's no problem. I was reminded recently how much I enjoy flying. It'd been a lifetime since I was last in the cockpit... and considering the grief the Shilone's flaps gave me... I may need to give her some care before I next take her out. I was lucky to land intact..."

Pulling on a cooling vest from the pod, he began tightening the straps of the bulky garment, pulling on a pair of fingerless gloves.

"Mata probably has a strong opinion of how quickly she should progress, but I'm going to have to disabuse her of some of that today. Flying Aero is a lot harder than piloting a mech. Mechwarriors may be glory hogs, but when they tip over, they can stand back up. Aero don't have that luxury."

[James Hall]

James nods. "That would be for the best. A warrior's discipline is not really something I can teach her."

Mata comes back with the helmet and a cooling suit. She was ready to go.

[Alexei Herald]

"All right, mount up, Pilot."

Alexei gestured to a simulation pod.

"Lesson plan for today - I show you some basic ideas for steady flight, I demonstrate them and then let you try, and then I give you reading material to study."

[James Hall]

Mata eagerly follows instructions.

James hangs back and begins working on... something.

[Alexei Herald]

"First thing, startup sequence. No starting the fighter in the air - that'll be your first homework."

Alexei took the seat, director Mata to the observer chair, tapping simulator controls to keep the heat off for now.

Then he began walking through the startup sequence for a Shilone Attack Aircraft. It was a long process, especially with him explaining each part, which meant it dragged out some 15 minutes. Normally it would take around five... and in an emergency, about 60 seconds.

As the last checks were cleared for mechanical control backups, he leaned back and grasped the throttle.

"Ready to fly?"

[James Hall]

James had showed her this. He didn't know how to fly per se, but he knew how the buttons worked. Still, she watched the man carefully. When he asks her if she is ready, she gives him a determined look. "Yes." She didn't know if she was fit to be a warrior, but she was going to try. And she was going to be the best student. She took a big risk in getting the captain down here. She wasn't going to let him think it was a waste of time.

[Alexei Herald]

"Watch - you'll be doing this next."

Flicking the throttle, he popped the brake release, and the pod shuddered, emulating the motion of a fighter beginning to taxi onto the launch rails.

With a soft click, the simulated fighter's wheels were captured by the rails, and then there was a tipping as the pod lifted, the fighting pointing 45 degrees into the sky.

"This won't be like the real thing - the pod can't re-create the Gs... so just take whatever you feel, and imagine it being three times more so."

The pod shook violently as he punched the throttle forward, the delta-wing craft roaring off the rails on twin trails of flame, and soaring upward. He held the stick steady, no sudden motions, despite the shaking and the seemingly erratic flight.

"Let yourself get speed - the initial burn will shake you up, but if you try to correct you'll do more harm than good. The fighter is designed to fly at a certain speed... until you get there, you aren't a plane... you're a missile."

As he spoke, the shaking eased, and finally faded to a dull sway. Pushing forward on the stick gently, he brought the nose down to level, lining up the HUD with the horizon.

"That's a textbook launch. Easy - and the safest way to get off the ground."

[James Hall]

"Ah! I kept trying to correct it as I was going up. It didn't work."

[Alexei Herald]

"It's an easy mistake to make."

Alexei unfurled his fingers, showing her how light his grip was on the stick.

"You need to get used to feeling how the plane wants to fly - that way you don't have to fight it so hard when the time comes to do harder maneuvers. And when you want to turn, it's best not to mess with your flaps and ailerons yet - just bank."

He tilted the craft gently, turning to a 45 degree angle, and then pulling back to perform a wide, graceful swing which pointed back toward the launch pad.

"Landing works quite differently depending on the fighter - have you ever seen a Shilone land?"