Page 78 - Never Fly Solo

5

Lift Versus Drag

Find What Gives You Lift,
and Jettison the Rest

The salty sweat stings my eyes as I cross-check my engine
instruments. Fuel flow, oil pressure, engine temperature—all
look good. I check them again. And again. Everything has to
be perfect. In seconds, the tower controller will clear me for
the most exciting mission of my life: my first flight in the
F-16.
In the backseat of the “D-model” training version of the
F-16 jet fighter is my highly experienced instructor pilot and
flight commander, Capt. John “Deke” Slaton. A decorated
Iraq War veteran, meticulous instructor, and patient leader, he
watches my every move. I trust him. He expects the best from
me, as he should. We both know we could be flying in combat
together a year from now, when I am deployed to an active
duty Air Force base as a mission-qualified F-16 pilot. In the
Air Force, we live by the saying “Fight like you train.”

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