Originally Posted by
UAL T38 Phlyer
Agreed on departure characteristics. I've been told the two-seat Eagles are the same way (easy to depart).
My point on the rudder input: usually, especially on a first-flight, a guy is going to line-up VERY straight. On brake release, unless there is a sizeable crosswind (or the ABs don't light symmetrically...but wait!! This only has one) it is rare to see such a huge stabbing motion of an input.
Yes, All the tactical planes I flew in the Air force had the rudder tied to the NWS, so that's not surprising.
If it was crosswind, we'd have probably seen a series of progressively smaller---or just one small steady---input(s).
It seemed like it didn't want to go where he wanted it, whether initial line-up, a dragging brake, a crosswind...and took a surprisingly (to me) large boot-full to fix it.
Maybe the pilot is a tail wheel guy, flight control gains at low speed, nose wheel steering gain at high speed or with power up, short coupled gear, rudder gain at low speed, etc etc etc
I wouldn't read too much into it. It's a Boeing product so whatever happens, handeling will be the least of its problems.