F/A-18 Hornet Interview with Canadian pilot, 08/07

[k2477456]

@musclehedjesse it is a multirole fighter and attack aircraft

[origamipro1]

Good interview.

[Pigratcroc]

If I am an American high school junior but I have Canadian citizenship, can I become a Canadian fighter pilot? If so, I think it would be easier to become a pilot through the Canadian Air Force because there would be less competition. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Rowan849]

@Pigratcroc There are very few spots for Canadian fighter pilot training, this makes it very competitive.

[8010cookie]

Very cool we need more vids like these . I am thinking about being a pilot and wish to train at cold lake A.B. Do we Canadians mostly do work here at home. Every time i hear them zoom past my house in calgary i feel good.... I dont know why

[Thokko]

This is an awesome interview. I learned a few new stuff!

[Shazee083]

All that physic you have to know all about physics and weights you are carrying or

so called payload.

[bmskies1]

Someone please tell me why the Snowbirds aren't using F-18?

[macmotocrosse96]

@bmskies1 the aircraft that the snowbirds are using are way smaller therefore they be in tighter formation and they are more monouverable

[kuledrumergie87]

@macmotocrosse96 what are the snowbirds? are they a show group like the blue angels, or a military division?

[macmotocrosse96]

@kuledrumergie87 there a show group that uses military formation and military acrobatics, they are from the canadian military.

[kuledrumergie87]

@macmotocrosse96 cool. Idk why I thought they were russian /:-( But that made me realize, Canada has everything America has, plus more, like a better economy, less justin bieber and better hockey teams. Why is Canada so much cooler than the U.S.?! no pun intended.

[TallSky]

@kuledrumergie87 LoL - Yes, speaking for myself, if I didn't like Canada I would not have posted this, let alone interviewed this cool pilot (no pun intended). thanks for commenting

[macmotocrosse96]

@kuledrumergie87 haah lol ya i guesse so, but the u.s airforce is way more complete than the canadian airforce even know canadas airforce is better, and canada doesx have lots of good hockey teams lol, but with justin bieber its actualy more cuz he was born in canada

[kuledrumergie87]

@macmotocrosse96 THEN SCREW CANADA! lol jk

[JetMechMA]

@bmskies1: Someone please tell me why the Snowbirds aren't using F-18?

JM: Cost. F-18's cost too much. But I bet they eventually get a more modern aircraft. And like others said, it would fundamentally change the nature of a Snowbirds flight demo. But it is interesting to note that a plane spotter who notices these things, spotted a Blue Angels F-18 that has been making the flight demo circuit since 1983. Pretty amazing.

[Rowan849]

@bmskies1 The snowbirds use the CT-114 tutor, which bears a lot of history with the team. Also, the blue angels are fun to watch, every thing happens so quickly. It's fast and fun, versus the Snowbird's style which can be fast and fun - but also beautiful and amazing to watch, something canadians value very much.

[cnknguyen]

what a nice guy. clear explanations and very courteous.

[fa18chornet]

Ahhhhhhhh Canadian CF-18 pilots are gentlemens! Nice interview ;)

[TallSky]

thanks! Yes, they are.

[JetMechMA]

Hey TallSky, I've always wanted to ask one of these guys, do the modern fighters have autopilot? I mean, ferry flights can be very long affairs withy many in-flight refuels. That's a long way to go hand flying the aircraft. Did he mention whether the F-18 has autopilot? I think I've seen videos of them doing cat launches with hands off the stick, but what about autoland, or simply autopilot during cruise mode? I would think autopilot function would be easy with fly by wire system already in use.

[TallSky]

@JetMechMA

Yes, they do, although they're built for speed of operation rather than comfort. Flight specs are uploaded into FBW pre-flight. In flight, an A/P button enters Autopilot, but panel annunciators may not show ATTH(Attitude hold),HSEL(Heading Select),BALT(Barometric Altitude Hold),and more. Not so easy. A/P is for use in longer flights. In later models, of course,(like E/F Super Hornet), functions are more sophisticated. Often programmed w/ even as much as 4x redundancies

Great Q thx

[JetMechMA]

@TallSky Thanks very much...in all these years I never knew that. Thanks again.

[kuledrumergie87]

@JetMechMA lol I was wondering that while playing flight simulator today!

[JetMechMA]

@kuledrumergie87 Yeah, Tallsky gave us a very good answer, didn't he? I hope you're getting lots of practice with your flight sim. You own the sky, Tiger.

[SpartonDan]

i love the f/a 18 hornet its been my dream to go for a ride in one and its 2009 and i still havent been in one

[a4g0t3nF1ght3r]

When i join the navy and become a naval aviator, ill take you for a spin!

lol :p

[AussieSAS0007]

Good interview

[TallSky]

thanks

[pspboy7]

Australia uses the Super Hornet now as well if i'm not mistaken. I could be wrong. I know they are certainly thinking about it.

[TonyDog360]

24 Super Hornets are on order, first to be delivered midway through 2010.

[Hairysteed]

Lot of similarities between the RCAF and FAF, we both fly the hornet and for training we use Hawks. Our air forces would probably benefit from joint training. Cheers! :)

[blakeblake321]

just like RAAF

[f35myoffice]

so Does the RAAF ( Royal Australian Airforce)

we use thee F/A 18 a/c not sure about the a/c bit but  i think we fly those variants and we use the Hawk as our fighter trainer

[Gladiator0719]

Set these boys loose on the Taliban.

[americaowns11]

Nice interview, he seems like a very cool pilot. I respect Canadian armed services too.

[VuijkT]

Hi James,

No problemo;) and if I can't find the song I will let you know, apreciate it;).

At the moment I don't have any video's of Holland. But I will be going to some of the Air Force days here, and see if I can find a pilot just as willing as him;). And then I will upload them off course;).

Regards,

Tim

[VuijkT]

Nice interview!!! You asked just the questions I dindn't know the anwser to;)! So thank you for giving me a little more insight in the F/A-18! Seems like a nice guy too. Love the video! What's the song at the beginning btw i've been looking for it but couldn't find it anywhere! Keep up the good work!

Greetings From Holland,

Tim

[TallSky]

VuijkT, thanks for the comments. The song is "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravitz. If you still can't find it let me know and will send you more information. Yes, he is a nice guy; willing to answer all those questions; I learned new things also. Holland!!! Wow. That is a beautiful place! If you upload any videos of Holland I will be sure to view them.

[1cobradevildog]

Even though Im going to the Marine Corps for my Aviation duty, respect the Canadian military EMENSLY!

Semper Fi

[TallSky]

I just miss the mountains, Canada, Banff National Park; Oregon, Washington state, parts of California, and yes, I have heard many good things about BC! Thank you

[mirlin235]

Canada

is a great place to live

[TallSky]

It is, someday I may move there.

[mirlin235]

which part?

try BC it is the coolset place to live

[Paulchac2]

Ontario is!

[TallSky]

Okay, I'll visit both!