FLIGHT TRAINING INSTRUCTION T-45 WEAPONS/STRIKE - Cnatra

T-45 WEAPONS/STRIKE CHAPTER SEVEN
number of aircraft they have in sight. A typical call would be, “Three off safe, off-target
rendezvous, two in sight.” If blind on everyone, say “(#) off safe, off target rendezvous, Blind.”
Once sight is gained, update your status to lead until you have the required number of aircraft
preceding you in sight. Example: “Four has three in sight.”
When -2 calls off, lead will begin a 250 knot, 30-degree AOB turn in a pre-briefed direction,
usually in the same direction as the pattern. Finding the lead can be a daunting task, but knowing
where to look will help you efficiently gain sight. As -2 comes off target, lead should be at the
12 o’clock to 11 o’clock position. As -3 comes off, lead should normally be about the “prior” or
10 o’clock position. As -4 comes off, lead should normally be at the “abeam” or 9 o’clock
position. Regardless of the number of aircraft in sight, each member of the flight climbs to their
sanctuary altitude, which is 500 ft below the preceding aircraft, and performs a standard CV
rendezvous on lead. Stay 500 ft below the preceding aircraft until fuselage alignment, bearing,
and closure are under control. Never climb above your interval during the rendezvous. Once the
preceding aircraft vacates its altitude sanctuary, the following aircraft may step up to the
preceding aircraft’s old altitude sanctuary, until everyone has joined. It is not required or is it
desired to wait until the preceding aircraft is fully joined before leaving your altitude sanctuary.
For example: During the OTR, -2 has gained fuselage alignment and relatively on bearing, -2
now can vacate its altitude sanctuary and climb to lead’s OTR altitude. Once -2 vacates its
altitude, -3 can now step up to -2’s old altitude and -4 to -3’s old altitude, and so on, until all
aircraft have either joined or are established on bearing and altitude.
If you come off target and do not have your interval in sight, climb to your sanctuary altitude and
begin a 250 knot, 30-degree AOB turn in the direction of the flight until you regain sight. Lead
should give his position relative to target positions (prior, abeam, past, etc.) or will give it
relative to the target waypoint (“2.3, SW”). DO NOT delay your climb while looking for your
interval.
At the rendezvous, you should have expended all your ordnance. If you have not done so, plan
on performing a Hung (unexpended) Ordnance Approach. Rockets must be released prior to the
last run as you must not fire forward into the rendezvous – the last rocket run is always cold.
Hung Ordnance Check / “Fenced Out” Call
The hung ordnance check is made during the off-target rendezvous. On the join-up, the flight
typically joins crossing under to Parade Turn Echelon Away, as in Division Form B&R’s. In this
case, -2 will checkout lead on the cross-under; -3 checks out -2; lead checks out -4 prior to the
cross-under; and, -4 checks out -3 on the cross-under. The flight lead places the flight in cruise
at which time -2 balances the formation. Upon lead’s command, the flight members check in and
report “(#) Fenced Out, (Highest g pulled), (fuel state)”; -4 adds “Flight’s Clean” or states
which aircraft have ordnance remaining. The aircraft with ordnance remaining will then
communicate to lead whether or not the ordnance remaining is actually hung or unexpended.
This information is helpful to lead’s flight path planning, to Tower/Ground and to Maintenance
Control. Either way, in the event of ordnance on board, plan on executing a HOA/straight-in
approach.
TARGET AREA PROCEDURES 7-33