Page 56 - Combat Aircraft (January 2020)

SQUADRON SHOWCASE // US NAVY FIGHTER WEAPONS SCHOOL

In the BFM phase they initially fly constantly evaluating where you could subject area. Buss adds, ‘A lot of it is just
against similar types. However, the have improved.’ about timing. The SME topics are all
NAWDC F-16A/B ‘Vipers’ are then drafted extremely complex and executed to the
in with BFM instructors so the students Staying on the staff exacting TOPGUN standard — it’s why
can fight against a dissimilar aircraft Having successfully completed the the process is infamous for how difficult
that has a significantly higher thrust-to- TOPGUN class, Buss got his number it is. Right now I’m reading everything
weight ratio. one choice of staying on at Fallon to the current SME has written, looking
This is all about live flights. At present become a TOPGUN instructor, which is at what has changed, absorbing as
there are no Super Hornet simulators a full three-year tour and reflects the much knowledge as possible. The only
at Fallon, as Gibbons explains: ‘Right complexity of the task at hand. ‘They say, interface I have with the students in this
now with respect to BFM it’s difficult to ‘Congratulations on getting your patch, current class is as an adversary. Probably
simulate the environment because the now the hard work begins’.’ even the next class will be the same
effect of g is significant. Under 7.5g in a Once pilots join the staff they receive because I’ll be going through my ‘murder
defensive break turn, trying to assess the the trademark light blue T-shirt and board’ process.’
nose position of another aircraft while initially train to get a ‘Red Air’ adversary Of the 42 instructors on the TOPGUN
trying to keep the lights on is relatively qualification, so they can fly as a staff, a small portion are like Buss who
difficult. That’s why we put so much wingman on those missions. They are have recently graduated the course and
emphasis on the flying.’ then assigned a ‘smee’, which means are undergoing the process of becoming The first TOPGUN
Reflecting on BFM from a student they will become a subject matter expert SMEs. That involves compiling their mission of the day
perspective, Buss recalls, ‘BFM is very (SME) in a particular area. Buss says, lecture and all the research required to is launched at
difficult right up front because of ‘I am going to be the AIM-9 and aerial be the TOPGUN expert on that topic, in dawn, such is the
need to maximise
the shock factor. It’s the introduction gunnery SME.’ This gets handed down order to then be able to teach this to the the day’s flying.
to what the standards are. Having as instructors move on and essentially students. Building the lecture is crucial TOPGUN does
everything you do on a one-hour entails becoming the single point of and is achieved through an ominous not fly any night
missions during
flight put under the microscope, you’re contact for all things related to the process of ‘pre-boards’ given to a hyper- the course.

56 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero

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50-59 TOPGUN C.indd 56 21/11/2019 21:02