Page 1 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, February 2019
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“We train the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat ready Airmen†February 2019
Vol. 18, No. 2
INSIDE
StorIES
ï® EMS puts planes in sky, 3
ï® Nurses graduate, 4
ï® Resiliency pays off, 5
ï® Alcatraz Gang, 8
ï® CUW gives scholarships, 12
FEAtUrE
Senior Airman Alexander Cook
Capt. Andrew Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander, performs a weapons bay doors pass Jan. 16 during an
F-35 demo practice at Luke Air Force Base. During the off-season, the F-35 Demo Team has been practicing and refining their
new demonstration, which will highlight the F-35A Lightning II’s full maneuvering capabilities.
F-35 demo program has new bag of tricks
Senior Airman Caleb Worpel by Staff Sgt. maneuver but spoke about the Pedal Turn “I’m just a human trying to fly this thing
JENSEN STIDHAM with enthusiasm. as best as I can, making sure my mistakes
Team luke honors mlk are small, manageable and correctable every
F-35A Demo Team Public Affairs “When you watch the ground footage from time,†Olson said.
See Page 10 the Pedal Turn, it’s almost unbelievable to
Capt. Andrew Olson, F-35A Lightning II witness what you’re seeing,†he said. “Any in- Just as a lot of flying time is important to the
Continue to get Luke’s latest Demonstration Team commander and pilot, verted maneuver, where you’re up-side-down training,the simple things are just as essential
news and information from has spent much of the last three months, at negative 1G and hanging from the straps to a high-performance athlete like Olson.
these sources: http://www. designing, developing and practicing the ma- in the seat, is a really fun maneuver to do.
aerotechnews.com/lukeafb/ neuvers of the all new demo profile. You’re seeing the world from a whole different He says getting in the gym, staying fit, eat-
perspective.†ing right and getting plenty of sleep are just a
http://www.luke.af.mil Fourteen maneuvers make up the aerobatic few of the things he keeps in mind, saying the
and social media performance, many of which have never been Olson mentioned that hanging in the straps flight is a workout in-and-of-itself.
seen by public audiences. is not something often done in fighter aircraft,
Luke56thFW @LukeAFB so seeing this one-of-a-kind performance “Other demo teams may give you a sample
“The maneuvers showcase the full envelope is sure to be a spectacle. To achieve such a of one or two of these maneuvers, but nowhere
Date of publication of the F-35,†Olson said.“On the slow end, we’ll unique demo profile, he has been preparing else will you see all of the best maneuvers
get down to less than 100 miles per hour of air in many ways. on the planet combined into one epic demo,â€
First Friday speed, just barely hanging there but in com- Olson said. “There’s no filler in this flight. It’s
plete control.Then on the high end,we’re going “By the time it’s done, we’ll be at close to 30 a light-the-afterburner-and-rage-for-30-min-
of the month to take it up to just below the sound barrier training flights,†Olson said.“Countless hours utes kind of show.â€
for the high-speed pass. We’re also going to be in the simulator, academics on the ground
Submission deadline pulling up to 9Gs, 9 times the force of gravity, before the first flight ever occurred and then The F-35 Demo Team is scheduled to
and carving the jet into the air at huge angles after every training event there is careful perform at air shows across the country in
15th day of the month of attack of more than 50 degrees.†analysis of the video from both the ground 2019. During their historic inaugural season,
and in the cockpit.†Olson and the team of six maintainers and
prior to date of publication Some maneuvers in the demonstration support personnel plan to interact with as
include: High Alpha Half Cuban, Weapons Viewing the videos after each flight has many air show attendees as they can. So get
Bay Doors Pass, Minimum Radius Turn to proven essential to this historic demo pilot’s your sunscreen out and earplugs in, because
High Alpha Loop, Pedal Turn, Square Loop, training, as he continues to refine his skills 2019 is shaping up to be the most intense air
Slow Speed to Power Climb with a Split-S in the aircraft. show season ever.
Reposition, Inverted to Inverted Roll and
Veterans Tactical Pitch. F-35 Lightning II Demonstration Team performs at
Tell us Your Story Each air show demonstration is scheduled Lightning Over Arizona Air Show
Active-duty, Reserve, Retirees to last approximately 30 minutes. Half of the
All military branches are included show will be spent performing jaw-dropping March 23 and 24 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
maneuvers and the other half performing the Questions? Go to https://thunderandlightningoverarizona.com.
Email name, phone number and a Heritage Flight profile with select vintage
brief description of your service to war planes.
56fwpathunderbolt@us.af.mil Olson said that he does not have a favorite
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