Fly Boy 2

Wow, interesting posts. But I personally have a thing for the 777, but wouldn't mind the 767 nor th 787, when it comes around.

UAL T38 Phlyer

USMC and rthompson:

1. The 777 was designed in the age of computers, composites, and calculators. Too easy. And the -400 has a redline of .92--I can't remember the 777, but I know it's less--about .88, I think.

When flying the -400, we referred to the 777 as "...a medium twin..." (the -400 outweighs it by about 200,000 lbs)

I also didn't like the way the EICAS and automatic checklists worked in the 777. The A-320 was far more pilot-friendly.

2. Both the A-4 and T-38 have been listed in aviation books as having a roll-rate of 720. The T-38 really has a roll of about 360/sec, and that is me using full aileron AND rudder.

I think the A-4 actually will do close to 720. It also turns a helluva lot tighter--the -38 makes 8-10,000 ft loops, bottom to top.

I can't speak for control forces in the A-4, but in the T-38, you just "think" roll--or bank--and you are there.

The two advantages of the T-38 over the A-4: the Skyhawk has the smallest jet cockpit I have ever seen. I'm 5' 9" and 143 lbs; I fit in one pretty well.

The T-38 accomodates guys up to 6' 3" and 240 lbs pretty well. Much bigger canopy.

And it will go supersonic in idle--if you put the nose down low enough. (about 50 degrees from FL300)

rthompsonjr

I think the early Scooters are much more attractive than the T-38s. Once they started adding the dorsal humps, not quite so much, but Ed Heineman got it right.

rthompsonjr

I wonder how much it'd take to "civilize" a TA-4......

Probably more than you'd pay for a L-39.

USMCFLYR

I LOVE THE COCKPIT OF THE 777! Not saying that the 747-400 doesn't have a sweet cockpit; but somethign about those 777 cockpit pictures just gets to me

Having never flown the T-38 I didn't know that it had nearly a 720 deg/sec roll rate. I had always heard that the A-4 had the fastest.
Now I can attest that the same hold true for the A-4 though. **Think** about moving it and it is already gone. It didn't get that nickname 'Scooter' for nothing and I only flew it in the two-seat version WITH two drop tanks

As for size - I had an instructor who had to **squeeze** himself into the cockpit of the TA-4J - then TURN SIDEWAYS to close the canopy and then basically wedge himself back facing forward. I'm sure he would have lost his torso if he had ever ejected!

Yes - Ed had it right - though I did like the Super Mike versions with the hump and the bigger engines.

USMCFLYR

UAL T38 Phlyer

USMCFLYER:

Actually, the cockpits of the 747-400 and 777 are almost identical in general layout. I think the 777 had one more glass screen, but when I went to 777 school after the -400, the most noticable difference in the two cockpits was the number of throttles.

The 777 has a "mouse," or more acurately, a scratchpad, where you select items on an EICAS screen by moving your finger over a pressure-sensitive pad on the center pedestal. (One on each side of the pedestal).

I found it awkward to use, even in the sim, with random turbulence-inputs. I could only imagine what it was like in real flight. The -400 didn't have this feature.

I still think the -38 is a sexy beast. Ed Heinnemann is an aviation legend for designing airplanes, but another legend was involved with the T-38:

Edgar Schmued was the VP in charge of developing Northrop Project N-156, whcih became the F-5 and T-38. Schmued was previously at North American, where he was in charge of the P-51, F-86, and F-100.

Both jets have quite a legacy.

And, for all, there have been a couple of A-4s for sale for a couple of years at Tuscon. I think they are an A-4A and C. Problem is, they are missing a few parts, and realistically, it would take at least $500,000 to get them airworthy; $700,000 to make them airshow quality.

Five jets (A-4Js, single-seat variety) were being rebuilt by Sabreliner, at Perryville, southeast of St. Louis, two years ago, for a Navy contract. The Navy currently contracts a private company to fly Israeli Kfirs as MiG-simulators. Believe they are based at Oceana. They even gave the Kfirs the designation F-21A. I was told the A-4s were going to pick up the Agressor role when the Kfir contract expired.

Mitragorz

I'll take a seat in a Falcon 900.

tpaRob

Right now my dream plane is every jet that pulls into my local FBO. Then there is every commercial jet that fly's overhead to land at TIA. Then there is every jet in the pages of Controller magazine. I'm particularly fond of the ones with the bedrooms and bars in them :-)

rthompsonjr

There's a company here at KIWA that does contract training and aggressor work in A-4s. I can't remeber the name but its some acronym. They have about 6 sitting on the south ramp right now.

Ottopilot

I've flown:
ATR-42/72
EMB-145/135 (ER/LR/XR)
737-300/500/700/800/900/900ER
757-200/300
767-200/400

What's my favorite?
The 757-200 and 767-200.

What do I want to fly in the future?
I'd like to try our 777 and 787's when they come. I'd also like to try an Airbus, since I've never flown one (unless you count the ATR).

What aircraft of the past would I like to try?
The 727 and DC-10. From what I hear from people who flew them, I would enjoy it.

What military aircraft? I was always a fan of the F-15 and A-10 back in the 80's.