# Are there any fighter pilots here? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 5, 2018, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fighter-pilots-here/805936 "2018-01-05T18:36:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2018, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fighter-pilots-here/805936/21 "2018-01-06T06:03:06Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > Is there anyone here on this board who has flown a supersonic fighter plane? “Backseaters” would also count. If so, I have some questions for you. Jump in the plane, look at the dash. If the buttons are dull poke em, if they are shiny , you dont need em. Put on some heavy metal in a sony walkman and go do some of that pilot shit. Back seater is just self loading freight. Veteran of Microprose ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2018, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fighter-pilots-here/805936/22 "2018-01-06T22:38:59Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > That’s okay. Haven’t seen LSL for a few days, so he’s out flying for a living. When he gets back, this will be buried. 😃 It won’t be buried, because I’m bumping it in the hope that he is off for the weekend and reading this board. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fighter-pilots-here/805936/23 "2018-01-08T21:18:44Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > As an aerial photographer, were you required to actually learn any different procedures for these different planes? In other words, were there specific operating procedures of the F-16, the F-4 and so on, which you were required to learn about and presumably pass some kind of qualification? > > Did you have to start out in the T-38 before you were able to operate as a photographer on the other planes? > > What kind of camera was used and how did it work exactly? Was it merely a matter of looking into a viewfinder and activating a shutter at the right time, or did various calibrations have to be done to ensure that the focus and exposure were correct? (Did the camera have an automatic light-metering system?) > > How frequently did you break the sound barrier, and what does it physically feel like? How long did it take you to get used to it? I hope that **Oakminster** returns to answer these questions. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fighter-pilots-here/805936/24 "2018-01-08T23:15:42Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > How frequently did you break the sound barrier, and what does it physically feel like? How long did it take you to get used to it? My Dad told me it was very unremarkable. Just a slight dip of the wing-tip. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fighter-pilots-here/805936/25 "2018-01-09T15:32:50Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Naaa, he was Air Force. OP said fighter pilots so you’ll have to find a Naval aviator. Who should be very happy to direct you to the Marine squadron, where the fighter pilots are. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fighter-pilots-here/805936/26 "2018-01-17T03:59:57Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Yes, \*\*LSLGuy \*\*is our go-to guy for that; he flew the F-16. Bumping it again in the hope that he sees this. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fighter-pilots-here/805936/27 "2018-02-22T00:12:46Z")
I am going to keep bumping it in the hopes that someone might see it. I have some interesting questions regarding the sound barrier, variable-geometry wings and how they change the physical handling of the aircraft, how one maintains mental composure, and what the training pipeline is like. I hope someone replies. Yeah, there are military forums where I’d be more likely to get an answer, but it’d be cool to have one just for this board. Thank you in advance. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fighter-pilots-here/805936/28 "2018-02-22T01:06:09Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > Bumping it again in the hope that he sees this. You could PM him with a link to the thread asking if he’s interested in participating. It might be more effective than hoping it is near the top at a time he checks the board. The mental composure piece isn’t strictly limited to fighter pilots unless I am missing something about what you want to know. There’s a number of Dopers who are prior military, let alone other high-stress occupations that require rapid decision making, who might be able to give insight from practical experience. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fighter-pilots-here/805936.md?page=1)