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the information I read in Dan’s recent Twin & Turbine article (“L-39 Albatros: Own and Fly a Fighter Jet,” Feb. 2019), I feel that I have a decent working knowl- edge of the airplane.
Dan offers to let me f ly from the front seat of the aircraft and I excitedly accept. He then spends a few minutes discuss- ing the location and use of the different systems that I will be required to op- erate, specifically the ones he will not have access to in the back seat (Sapphire and engine start controls, f laps, gear, GPS navigation). Following the cockpit tour, Dan dives into the ejection seat training – a briefing utterly unique to me.
are no toe brakes. Instead, there is a brake handle (think bicycle) mounted vertically on the control stick that can be squeezed to apply brakes evenly to both main wheels, or alternatively full rudder pedal deflection in either direction will apply differential braking. Slowly, I lurch the jet left then right and we make our way toward Runway 23.
“Keep in mind that the brakes are $35,000,” Dan says as I once again bring the aircraft to an abrupt and inadvertent stop while trying to make a left-hand turn. I laugh nervously and try again to taxi to the hold short line without any more trouble.
If you haven’t really seen it or felt it, will you
be able to follow the crucial procedures when you unexpectedly find yourself in an upset situation with seconds to react?
Maybe it’s the thought of strapping myself to a rocket capable of launching me from the aircraft with a force of 16 G’s or just the possibility that it could be required, brings me a level of anxiety. Things are getting real.
My harness is strapped and cinched, a helmet is put on my head, the canopy is lowered and I latch it closed. “Go ahead and turn on all of the red switches on the front of the lower right-hand panel,” I hear Dan yell forward to me.
“Battery – On, Engine Bus – On, Radio Master – On,” I yell back. With the last switch, I hear the intercom crackle to life.
“OK, com check one,” I hear clearly through my headset. Now working like a seasoned crew, Dan walks me through the before engine start and starting en- gine checklist with a very natural call and response method. We monitor the engine start indications then quickly complete the remaining switch flips and before taxi checks. I finally look out of the cockpit and am struck by the incredible visibility from the wide-open canopy.
Dan continues to coach as I start to taxi to the runway, which I discover is no small feat considering that the nosewheel is free-castering and there
Flight
With the engine run-up complete and takeoff clearance obtained, I clumsily bring us into position on Runway 23 and push the power lever all the way up. With 3,800 pounds of thrust coming out the tailpipe of the AI-25TL engine, I release the brakes and my back is pushed into the ejection seat as we quickly accelerate down the runway. We rapidly reach 100 knots and Dan instructs me to raise the nose 5 degrees. We set our initial climb attitude, retract the gear and bring up the flaps. Anyone familiar with flying CJ’s or
Concorde Battery Corporation 1/3 page vert (jet checked)
Jet Journal June 2019 / TWIN & TURBINE • 21