Although it's been out for a couple of years at this point, I've kept away from military aircraft until very recently. That all ended with the arrival of the OV-10 Bronco, the Panavia Tornado, and now the F-35. I guess you could say I'm making up for lost time. There's obiously a lot more to learn about the F-35, so this is VERY much a "first look" - I'm hugely impressed though.
I guess we have to remind ourselves that the systems simulation within this aircraft is almost entirely fictional. It's still great fun though.
Can't wait to take the F-35 to both the Mach loop, and the Sidewinder low-level route in the US :)
I wrote a check-list to help get started - you can download it here:
Hi Jonathan. A big thank you for your renewed interest, assessments and start-up procedures for fighter jets.
I too was never a big fan of throwing these machines around the sky and making endless spaghetti loops and barrel rolls.
However, your approach of learning to fly them as an aviator rather than a gamer is a brilliant idea. I have started learning to fly some of the earlier fighter releases and I am now thoroughly enjoying the experience.
Perhaps it is an idea for an additional category option in VFO. Invite the members to design and submit AFB to AFB tours within countries. Publish the best of the best on VFO. Just an idea.
We have ~15 AFBs scattered around South Africa. It's quite thrilling flying low level at mach 1 through the Maluti mountains (Lesotho, 4,000m ASL), Drakensberg mountains (3.500m ASL, many hundreds of km along the length of the country) and the Swartberg Mountains of the Western Cape, North of Cape Town.
Best regards
David.G