Page 92 - Never Fly Solo

6

Break Right!

Give Mission-Critical Feedback
When the Missiles Are Launched

It’s 12:30 a.m., and the moonless night sky appears peaceful
and serene. The only sound I hear is the steady hum of the
F-16’s jet engine. I’m flying 350 knots at twenty-two thou-
sand feet, on a combat mission in Serbia during Operation
Allied Force. My wingmen are five miles off my nose and five
miles in trail. We are all scanning our radar for enemy air-
craft, surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and radar activity. Over
half our time is spent looking for unseen threats and “check-
ing six”—covering our wingmen’s blind spots.
Suddenly, my wingman’s voice blares over the radio,
“Break right, break right! Missile launch your five o’clock!”
My heartbeat ramps up, and I feel a surge of adrenaline run
down my neck as my fight-or-flight reflex kicks in. I bank the
aircraft ninety degrees to the right and pull back on the stick
as hard as I can. The G forces flatten me into the seat as my
G-suit instantly inflates with a rush of air. The pressure on my
chest and legs almost squeezes the air right out of my lungs.

65