Tagged: Instructor

March 18, 2015

Luke 1 flies first ‘student’ F-35 sortie

The 56th Fighter Wing officially began training new F-35 pilots today when the first student, Brigadier General Scott Pleus, 56th Fighter Wing commander, flew the wing’s first training sortie. Luke has a long and storied history of training fighter...

featured / fighters / military / navy

November 17, 2013

Topgun in the Mid-1980s: Building on the Legacy – Part One

(F-5F, F-5E, and A-4 provided a wide range of threats to challenge Navy fighter pilots and RIOs.) Have you ever wondered how the Navy’s Topgun program became a world-renowned center of excellence in the serious business of air combat?...

Interviews / navy

November 7, 2013

Dr.Sky Interviews TOPGUN Instructor- Dave “Bio” Baranek….

(photo by David Brown) I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Dave “Bio” Baranek, a former TOPGUN instructor and author in his own right! He is the author of “TOPGUN DAYS, Dogfighting, Cheating Death and Hollywood Glory As One...

featured / Marines / military / tribute

August 16, 2013

Meet the C.O.

This is the first in a series, where we informally sit down and speak with the Commanding Officer of various military units. Simply called the C.O. he/she is responsible for everything, and I do mean everything that happens within...

assignments / post

May 24, 2013

American Bonanza Society Flies-In to Savannah GA

The American Bonanza Society (ABS) convened its Spring 2013 Fly-In in the historic and elegant city of Savannah Georgia during the long weekend of May 16th through the 19th. The more than 200 registered participants (pilots, spouses, friends and...

assignments / featured / Marines / military

February 14, 2012

Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI 1-12)

Weapons and Tactics Instructor In October 2011, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma was once again home for the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course or as it’s more commonly known as “WTI.” I was fortunate enough to be invited to...

assignments / fighters / friends / Marines / military / post

May 16, 2011

Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Yuma2011

Yuma Arizona’s main airport is a joint-use facility that’s home to a busy Marine Corps base and an interesting mix of civilian operators. In fact, the Marines say that MCAS Yuma (on the south side of the main runways)...