Week 10 (10-14 Apr 06)

Week 10... 22% complete.
This was a short week thanks to the Easter break. BUT, even though it was short, it was still busy as ever, and I have homework to do this weekend.

I didn't fly at all this week, but it was still fun!

Monday: I was one of 4 people to attend the Atlantic Test Range (ATR) facility to monitor a Pitot-Static calibration flight. The ATR looks a lot like mission control. We monitor one of our T-38s as it flies up the Chesapeake Bay and record it's height above the water at specific intervals. That, along with instrumentation on the T-38, allows us to get an accurate air data calibration for altitude and airspeed. It's a fairly complex thing to explain, so I won't bore you with the details. Needless to say, THAT is the homework I have this weekend... reduce that data and figure out the true airspeed and altitude of our T-38.

Tuesday: Headed down to the simulation lab for a controls event. That too was pretty neat. The simulator is set up to show us how changing the amount of force needed to move a control stick (and a lot of other variables) can affect what we like and how the aircraft will respond.

Wednesday: Safety standdown that morning. Classes that afternoon. That's it. Then headed home for a 4-day holiday weekend. Come Monday, its back to the grind!
-Vanna