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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/REQUEST OF EXPLANATIONS ABOUT WORDS AND PHRASE TAKEN FROM THE BOOK

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Expert: - 4/16/2008


Question
QUESTION: Could you please explain me  what does the phrase "ROLLED THE PLANE INVERTED" means?
What does the phrase "THE EARTH AND SKY REVERSED OUTSIDE THE CANOPY" mean?
Could you be so kind to describe me in details the following scene below? In which way the pilot could snap a picture of himself?  That is:

"ON MY NEXT SOLO,I FLEW OUT TO THE TRAINING AREA,SWIVELED MY HEAD AROUND THE SKY TO MAKE CERTAIN NOBODY WAS NEARBY,AND ROLLED THE PLANE INVERTED.
HANGING FROM MY HARNESS,I KEPT MY RIGHT HAND ON THE STICK AND USED THE LEFT TO SNAP A PHOTO OF MYSELF WITH THE EARTH AND SKY REVERSED OUTSIDE THE CANOPY. OF COURSE THIS WASN'T AN AUTHORIZED NAVY PROCEDURE,BUT A LOT OF PILOTS DID IT,AND I COULDN'T RESIST."

         Thank you.
         Take care.
         Giuliano






ANSWER: Greetings again, Giuliano -

Rolling the plane inverted means to roll it upside down.  Planes do fly that way, but not for long.  Gravity pulls the fuel to the top of the wings and the fuel pumps can't keep the supply of gas flowing to the engines.

The sky being reversed simply means that, as he looked forward out the canopy, the ground was on top and the sky on bottom.

You can actually see videos of it on YouTube if you do a search.  Just put in "inverted roll" and it will return several videos.

Check this one out ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sOOYznz-tw&feature=related

James


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Could you be so kind to explain me in details in which way the pilot  snapped a picture of himself when he rolled his plane inverted? Could you describe me the action?

         Thank you.
         Take care.
         Giuliano

GREETINGS FROM ITALY!


Answer
Giuliano -

Most pilots wanting to snap a quick picture would simply hold the camera at arms length and point the camera towards them.  They would probably hold it off to the side so they can get a shot of the outside along with it.  After all, in the context of this part of the book, he wanted it to be seen that he had the plane upside down.

James

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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James Bell

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I am a retired MSgt (2004) with 24 years experience in the aircrew career field, both as a loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1) and flight engineer (AFSC 1A1x1). I have been to every continent at one time or another, and regularly flew 300 to 500 hours a year. I have been involved in the operations in Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. I can answer most questions you may have about enlisted Air Force life in general, assignments, benefits, and enlisted aircrew operations. NOTE: If you have specific recruiting and/or medical questions about how to get into this career field as a civilian, they have changed since my time, so that is best answered by a recruiter or MEPS. I can answer questions about military personnel wanting to RETRAIN. If you are asking about being an Air Force pilot, please be advised my area of expertise is ENLISTED aircrew operations, NOT OFFICERS.

Experience

Loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1): 7 years - 2,000 hours - C-5A Galaxy cargo plane. Flight Engineer (AFSC 1A1x1C): 7 years - 2,500 hours - C-141B Starlifter cargo plane, 10 years - 3,800 hours - KC-10A Extender aerial tanker. Served as aircrew Flight Instructor, Flight Evaluator and Training Manager

Education/Credentials
Aircraft Loadmaster Initial Qualification - 1980. Mission Qualification (C-5A) - 1981. Fixed Wing Aircraft Performance Course - 1987. Initial Flight Engineer Qualification (C-141B) - 1987. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1988. KC-10 Initial Qualification Course - 1994. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1995. Instructor Qualficiation (KC-10A) - 1997. Evaluator Qualification (KC-10A) - 2000.

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