Training for student NFOs (SNFOs) starts out the same as for student naval aviators (SNAs), with the same academic requirements and nearly identical physical requirements. If you're interested in becoming a radar operator, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. While the war in Vietnam raged on, Thorsen knew he would be drafted, so he decided to enlist in 1966, the year he graduated from UTA, which was then known as Arlington State College. This one-day course located at Brooks City-Base, San Antonio, Texas, tests USAF WSOs selected for the F-15E in their ability to withstand the g-forces routinely experienced by fighter aircrew. So kind of like with a personality of Maverick, but a flying style of Iceman. Download Images of Radar intercept officer - Free for commercial use, no attribution required. NFOs have also served as instructors in the twin-seat F-5F Tiger II at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (now part of the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC)) and as instructors in twin-seat F/A-18Bs and F/A-18Fs in USN and USMC F/A-18 fleet replacement squadrons and the Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS, also known as TOPGUN). Make the right impression on employers and get better job offers. He was the first NFO from the land-based maritime patrol aviation community to command a numbered fleet, the U.S. 6th Fleet, and later commanded the U.S. Pacific Fleet. A flight is responsible for transmitting accurate information about their position to the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and Air Traffic Control (ATC). Easily apply: Our client, a global leader in vehicle safety and active driving technologies, is looking an expert in sensing technologies to develop vehicle safety . They respect the instructors and know that they have things to learn. Naval Forces Europe and retired from that position in 2001. He was the first NFO appointed to the position of Deputy Commander (then DCINC), U.S. Terms of Use He previously flew the P-2 Neptune and P-3 Orion. Blog. Prior to the introduction of the F/A-18F, they were known as Radar Intercept Officers (RIO) in the aft seats of the F-4 Phantom II and F-14 Tomcat; as Bombardier/Navigators (B/N) in the right seat of the A-6 Intruder and the A-3 Skywarrior and in the aft seat in the A-5 Vigilante; and Reconnaissance Attack Navigators (RAN) in the aft seat of the RA-5C Vigilante. (WANE) A crash on Interstate 69 just south of Auburn has stalled traffic in the area, according to the Indiana Department of . In this course, we will talk about two components of a cyber-physical system, namely hardware and operating systems. Co-pilots ensure a safe flight by assisting the PIC through the following 5 major duties. For Colleges But we filmed that, and later I found out that one other RIO did that, also. In the U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, the WSO can pilot the aircraft when required, although this is typically during non-tactical portions of the mission (e.g., en route to mission area or returning to base). Answer (1 of 2): Definitely easier than becoming a pilot, although if you intend to be an airborne RIO you do have to meet the same physical qualifications as a pilot, except for eyesight. It is a much shorter syllabus and consists of two phases: After graduating from Intermediate, SNFOs will select: E-2C/D Hawkeye selectees will continue on to the advanced maritime command and control curriculum at VT-4, while jet selectees will continue to intermediate training and remain at VT-10. The primary flight responsibilities are spelled out in the F-14 operating manual. Here is all you need to know about Naval Flight Officer, Radar Intercept Officer VF-103 of vCVW-17 is looking for new Radar Intercept Officers. U.S. F-15s have dominated the skies during Frisian Flag exercise in Central Europe, This is how the LRASM can be used to attack enemy warships, The New Tactical Combat Training System (TCTS) Increment II ACMI pod will replace the current TCTS/P5CTS pod used for training by Navy, Marines and Air Force. Air Crew Officers will most likely earn wages of zero dollars each year. Naval Academy in 1981, was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1982, and graduated from the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in 1985. where Maverick is flying inverted above the MiG, Kids Start Forgetting Early Childhood Around Age 7, Archaeologists Discover Wooden Spikes Described by Julius Caesar, 5,000-Year-Old Tavern With Food Still Inside Discovered in Iraq, Artificial Sweetener Tied to Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds, The Surprisingly Scientific Roots of Monkey Bars. To become a co-pilot, a restricted ATP certificate is required. Software Development. He retired in 1990. Two B-52s Fly Over Tallinn For Estonia Independence Day, F-35C Mishap On USS Carl Vinson Caused By Pilot Error After Sierra Hotel Break, Successful First Flight For The Two-Seat KF-21 Boramae, First UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter For Ukraines Intelligence Service Breaks Cover, Large White Balloon Reported East of Hawaii, when it was eventually retired from U.S. Navy service in 2006, twenty-year experienced Tomcat Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) Dave Bio Baranek, Before Topgun Days: The Making of a Jet Fighter Instructor, structured training approach that begins in Pensacola, Gulf War 25th Anniversary Special: how a U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat shot down an Iraqi Mi-8 Hip helicopter 25 years ago today, Lets celebrate Top Gun Day with this cool video: F-14 versus Everything. In U.S. He previously flew the F-4 Phantom II and the F/A-18 Hornet. In the F/A-18F Super Hornet, the NFO position is known as the weapon systems officer (WSO) and may also be mission commander qualified. This specialization is intended for people with some programming experience who seek an approachable introduction to how operating systems work on a fundamental level. She was the first female NFO to command a warship, the amphibious assault ship USSBataan (LHD 5), and the first female naval officer to command an aircraft carrier strike group, Carrier Strike Group Two, aboard the USSGeorge H.W. People have been predicting that for decades now. With its incredible maneuverability, the Eagle was a challenge for the Tomcat., Noteworthy, given that the engagement took place in the skies over the range near Yuma, the rough terrain of the area challenged the AWG-9 in automatic modes and the Tomcat RIOs in manual modes. Generally, the bigger the airline (major vs regional air carriers), the better the salary they pay. Match your profile to jobs using keywords and apply. What is MyMajors? Co-pilots regularly monitor flight instruments for the pilot to make sure the flight operates as expected. Generally, co-pilots fly an aircraft when either the main pilot is on a break or there is an emergency. Carter flew 125 combat missions in support of joint operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. Cold War Era / F-14 Tomcat / Military Aviation . He graduated from the U.S. Recruiter.com helps find better paying jobs across Flown only within the U.S. Marine Corps, the last Marine Corps officers to be assigned to the F/A-18D as WSOs received their NFO wings in 2022. "The radar intercept officer played an integral part in enemy aircraft intercept and ordnance delivery," a section of the book states. Upon graduation from their respective advanced squadron, students receive their "wings of gold" and are designated as naval flight officers. Now the 20-year Navy man adds author to his credentials, with his. Commander William P. Driscoll was the first NFO to become a flying ace, having achieved five aerial kills of VPAF fighter aircraft during the Vietnam War. All training in VT-10 is done in the Beechcraft T-6A Texan II and consists of four phases (all phases consist of ground school, simulator events, and flight events): After graduating from Primary, SNFOs will select between multi crew aviation or strike aviation. But, as explained by Tomcat RIO with twenty years experience, Dave "Bio" Baranek in his book Before Topgun Days: The Making of a Jet Fighter Instructor, several stages of training were required to become a skilled F-14 Radar Intercept Officer. Download Images of Radar intercept officer - Free for commercial use, no attribution required. They are also eligible for promotion to senior flag rank positions, including command of aircraft carrier strike groups, expeditionary strike groups, joint task forces, numbered fleets, naval component commands and unified combatant commands. ), for inviting him to . It was a few years after I started loving airplanes and wanting to fly. A woman radar-intercept officer (RIO) disappears at night from an aircraft carrier in the Adriatic Sea. Cookie Settings, The close-ups were of pilots . Electronics Engineer. Delete My Account Just a huge, powerful, beautiful plane. All USAF aviators with parachutes on the aircraft attend this three-day course at NAS Pensacola, Florida. Calm, cool and in control, that's the stereotype of the fighter pilot, right? What Does a Radar Operator Do. For Counselors The RIO is the fundamental element of the Tomcat, whilst the Pilot flies the Plane, the RIO Communicates, Navigates, uses the Radar, fights the Tomcat, builds Situational awareness and so much more. Leverage your professional network, and get hired. You also have to look for opportunities to improve your company's brand and coordinate publicity for sales generation. ), Instrument phase (simulators and flights flown at a faster airspeed and used to bolster instrument procedures), Single ship instrument phase (building upon instrument procedures in primary 1 and 2, VFR pattern, GPS navigation), Section instrument phase (instrument flying in formation), Tactical formation phase (rendezvous, tactical formation, tail-chase), Section visual navigation phase (visual navigation flying in formation), Operational flight planning, instruments, and navigation (international flight rules and TACAN navigation), Communications and navigation systems (comm systems and INS, GPS, and RADAR theory and navigation), Sensor and link operations (RADAR, IFF, and IR theory and data link employment), Airborne early warning (E-2 capabilities and mission overview), Air intercept control (airborne battlefield command and control, tactics, and strike techniques), Overwater navigation and communication procedures, Surface search and littoral surveillance (community overview, target identification, sensor employment), Electronic warfare and acoustic operations (EW introduction, sonar theory), Maritime patrol and reconnaissance (coordinated operations), Communications and operations (community overview, operations, strategic command structure), Contact phase (T-45 systems, emergency procedures, carrier operations, night operations, communications), Strike phase (air-to-ground radar, low level flying, mission planning, fuel awareness), Close air support phase (CAS procedures and communications), Basic fighter maneuver phase (BFM practice), All weather intercepts phase (air-to-air radar, air intercepts, GPS), One of the key characters in the popular film, This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 04:17. So is that why you started taking pictures, because you had time to kill during flights? A Weapon Systems Officer (WSO), nicknamed "Wizzo", is an air flight officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of a military aircraft. Employers, learn how Recruiter.com's OnDemand solutions can help you hire. All SNFOs and SNAs start their aviation training with naval introductory flight evaluation (NIFE). After the instrument phase of training, students move to visual navigation (VNAV) "low levels" at 2000'AGL, and finish in the T-6 with a final training block called "forms" (formation flying). NIFE flights can be waived based on proficiency for students entering training with a private pilot license. Bill Miller and CAPT. Its mostly commercial airliners and some commercial helicopters that need co-pilots, while military planes dont need any. Report to Airline managers or heads of departments, Prepare the cabin and passengers for landing, Remain updated with federal and local flight regulations, Hold a commercial pilot license with instrument and multi-engine ratings, Pass a written knowledge and practical test, Helping the helicopters captain on request, Planning routes and accounting for the weather. The academics portion spans three weeks and covers aerodynamics, engines, FAA rules and regulations, navigation, and weather. But you have to be a pilot for that, and those are retired, too. Or did he just have a knack for fixing an AWG-9 during a dogfight? But the situation lasted one second, so there was no time to get nervous. The biggest adventure I had was when I ejected from an F-14 landing on an aircraft carrier. Today, SNFOs train under the Undergraduate Military Flight Officer (UMFO) program at Training Air Wing 6 at NAS Pensacola, alongside foreign students from various NATO, Allied and Coalition navies and air forces. MC2 training has two phases: Core and Strand. DEKALB COUNTY, Ind. Please enter a work email. But have you ever wondered what a co-pilot does? A lot of flying, especially back then, is pretty boring, so you want to fly with a pilot whos funny and entertaining, so you can tell stories . A pilot and I went up to Paramount for two days. A Weapon Systems Officer (WSO), nicknamed "Wizzo", is an air flight officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of a military aircraft. In the F/A-18D Hornet, the NFO position is known as the weapon systems officer (WSO) and may also be mission commander qualified. Coward Radar Intercept Officer has NO faith in expert pilot skills (EJECT) Falcon Took 61 subscribers Subscribe 1.1K 58K views 1 year ago Son of rodent Jester bastard how dare you eject and. He retired in 2005. These classes include a combination of SNFOs who are E-2C/D selectees and land-based maritime selectees. I started taking pictures in grade school, and its something I picked up. It wasn't. Dave Andersen, a former F-14 Tomcat Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) at the U.S. Navy, wrote on Quora that "back in the day, a typical U.S. Navy F . Co-pilots map the route before the flight departs. Director Donald P. Bellisario Writer Donald P. Bellisario Stars David James Elliott Andrea Parker Terry O'Quinn But then they threw in a bunch of Hollywood stuff, too You hook em, Ill fry em? Come on! Steven Collins, fired an AIM-7 that hit one of the MiGs at a range of roughly 5 miles. It appears that most of your experience was in the F-14. RIOs and WSOs may or may not have dual controls over the aircraft and may or may not be qualified to fly. Using our career map, a radar operator can determine their career goals through the career progression. Every student then enrolls in one of two civilian flight schools located near NAS Pensacola. linguists, loadmasters, crewman).[2]. What is a Naval Flight Officer, Radar Intercept Officer also known as. He previously flew the A-6 Intruder and retired in 2007. A naval flight officer (NFO) is a commissioned officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps who specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. Click the link in the email we sent to to verify your email address and activate your job alert. Harm, a former Naval aviator, unexpectedly becomes a hero. New Radar Intercept Officer jobs added daily. Sales communication operators create communication content to promote sales for their companies. Ill never know, but I do know I was in awe of his radar and communication skills. Dario Leone. Often, a senior NFO is paired with a junior pilot (and vice versa). After completing NIFE, all SNFOs report to VT-10 under Training Air Wing 6 to begin primary training. As an RIO, regarding the type of pilot youd rather fly with, are you a Maverick guy or an Iceman guy? In addition, the RIO shared responsibility for the safety of the airplane. Without a RIO the tomcat is nothing. However, the majority of NFOs (as well as Naval Aviators) from aircraft being retired have historically been afforded the opportunity to transition to another aircraft platform, such as F-4 and F-14 transitions to the F/A-18D and F/A-18F, A-6 transitions to the F-14, EA-6B, S-3 and F/A-18C, S-3 transitions to the P-3/P-8, E-2 and F/A-18F, EA-6B transitions to the EA-18G, and P-3 transitions to the P-8. Jeff Campagna is a photo editor at Smithsonian magazine. TOPGUN Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) David "Bio" Baranek's F-14A Tomcat. The common navigation strand consists of: SNFOs report to VT-86 and fly the T-45C Goshawk. Some current and recently retired naval aircraft with side-by-side seating are also authorized to operate under dual-piloted weather minimums with one pilot and one NFO. The final three months of some of the hardest training at Pensacola will leave the SWSO F/A-18 selectee with their wings of gold. I think its going to be awhile before we can turn everything over to unmanned vehicles. He was the first NFO to command the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, the second NFO to command a numbered fleet, the U.S. 5th Fleet, and was later deputy commander of U.S. Central Command. The information on this page will generally apply to all careers in this category but may not specifically apply to this career title. In contrast, T-6 ground school is four weeks. As a result, he was able to capture images of some of the Navys finest 1980s airpower from an intimate perspective. Now with the increase of unmanned drones, do you think dogfighting is dead? The courses listed below are affiliate links. If you dont get the message the first time, theyll do it again. In the E-6B Mercury, NFOs are initially designated as airborne communications officers (ACOs), then upgrade to combat systems officers (CSOs), and finally to mission commanders (CSO/MC). Sign up in our career community today! Fighter Pilot salaries at US Air Force can range from $77,980 - $147,552. He later served in four separate four-star assignments, to include command of two unified combatant commands. Students complete approximately 9 hours of flight training in a single engine aircraft. As a lieutenant general, he was also the first NFO to serve as deputy commandant for aviation. Eligible fleet platforms for NFOs are as of August 2022 are as follows: In the EA-18G Growler, NFOs are designated as electronic warfare officers (EWOs) and may also be mission commanders. He previously flew the P-3C Orion and retired in 2018. The intercept began and Bio started to direct the F-14s attack, when Driscoll came up on the radio and said: My radar is acting up, Dave, youre going to have to run this one. His radar problems left their section without Driscolls experience during the engagement, but also reminded the aircrews that in the real world radar sometimes fails. WSOs also learn about the culture of being a young aircrew member in a USAF fighter squadron. Baranek gives detailed descriptions of his early training, which was exciting and challenging, and tells about the times he thought he might not complete the program. *A job as a Naval Flight Officer, Radar Intercept Officer falls under the broader career category of Air Crew Officers. She previously flew the land-based EC-130Q Hercules and the E-6 Mercury TACAMO aircraft. Years of experience Per year; Less than 1 year: $54,166: 1 to 2 years: $53,489: 3 to 5 years: $60,484: Those SNFOs destined for the carrier-based E-2C or E-2D Hawkeye will be known as air control officers and combat information center officers, while those destined for the EA-18G Growler (USN only) will be electronic warfare officers (EWO). Although it is true that Naval Aviators can also transition their piloting expertise into civilian careers as commercial airline pilots and that NFOs are not able to similarly translate their skills into this career field unless augmented by associated FAA pilot certificates, the military aviation career opportunities of NFOs remain on par with their Naval Aviator counterparts, as do their post-military career prospects in the civilian sector in defense, aviation & aerospace, as well as other career pursuits beyond that of commercial airline pilot. For example, NFOs only serve aboard multi-crew naval aircraft and as certain multi-crew aircraft are retired from the active inventory, NFOs can become displaced, as happened with the withdrawal of the A-3 and EA-3, A-5 and RA-5, A-6, EA-6A, EA-6B, F-4 and RF-4, F-14 and S-3 and ES-3 from active service. F-4 with tandem pilot & WSO canopies open, The examples and perspective in this article, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "RAF Recruitment | Weapon Systems Officer | Royal Air Force", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Weapon_systems_officer&oldid=1126266876, This page was last edited on 8 December 2022, at 12:07. LCDR Fred Staudenmayer, who was the first RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) to command an East Coast F-4J operational USN squadron (the VF-33 Tarsiers from Jun. Naval Flight Officer, Bombardier/Navigator Jobs. Generally, co-pilots receive half to less-than-half the salary of a PIC, with the difference in salary being greatest among larger airlines. Systems Engineer - Sensing Technologies. Before Topgun Days tells how student RIOs were brought to this level of skill through a structured training approach that begins in Pensacola. Mach 2.34 was supposed to be the limit. Job specializations: Get notified about new Radar Intercept Officer jobs in United States. Magazines As a captain, Vice Admiral Richard Dunleavy was the first NFO to command an aircraft carrier, the USSCoral Sea (CV 43). The counterpart to the NFO in the United States Air Force is the combat systems officer (CSO), encompassing the previous roles of navigator, weapon systems officer and electronic warfare officer. All Student NFOs begin primary training at Training Squadron TEN (VT-10), flying the T-6A Texan II trainer, eventually moving on to advanced training at Training Squadron 4 (VT-4) or Training Squadron 86 (VT-86). I wanted to go back to that time and talk about the things I worried about and not do it from hindsight, Baranek said. NFOs also flew in these retired aircraft, including as mission commander: NFOs have also served as instructors/mission commanders in since retired training aircraft such as the UC-45 Expeditor, T-29 Flying Classroom, several variants of the T-39 Sabreliner, the TC-4C Academe, T-47A Citation II and the USAF T-43A Bobcat. Perform and direct in-flight duties to ensure the successful completion of combat, reconnaissance, transport, and search and rescue missions. Job specializations: IT/Tech. Did I get sandbagged, an old trick of instructors to see how I would handle it? Their choices are: E-6B Mercury, P-3C Orion, EP-3E Aries II, and P-8A Poseidon. A co-pilot is essentially a backup pilot whos onboard to take command when the Pilot in Charge (PIC) cant. Upon completion of strand training, students receive their "wings of gold" and are aeronautically designated as naval flight officers. As a former graduate and a former instructor, what kinds of things were done to really push the buttons of pilots selected for TOPGUN? TOPGUN Days: Dogfighting, Cheating Death, and Hollywood Glory as One of Americas Best Fighter Jocks. Job Description As a Captain, Colonel Church, "the Silver Fox", had previously served with VMFA-115 during the Vietnam War, during which time he and his pilot, Captain James "Rebel" Denton, were shot down and subsequently rescued. IFF As long as youve got humans in tactical airplanes, they better be prepared to meet enemy airplanes. In the Royal Air Force, a WSO is a commissioned officer that operates aircraft mission systems formerly on the Tornado GR4, however now on the Reaper, Sentinel R1 drones, the Boeing Rivet Joint, Boeing E-3 Sentry and the Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. After the flight phase, students will complete training in aerospace physiology, egress, and water & land survival. General William L. Nyland, USMC was the first Marine Corps NFO to achieve four-star rank as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. - WSOs also learn how to survive an aircraft ejection over land. Its difficult to hear the phrase TOPGUN and not immediately have F-14 Tomcats zooming around in your brain against a rocking Kenny Loggins soundtrack. You can update your choices at any time in your settings. For most of us, the epic 1986 movie, Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise as fighter pilot "Maverick" and Anthony Edwards as his trusty co-pilot "Goose," is the beginning and end of our knowledge of the Navys elite specialized fighter training academy, the U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Instructions Program. Centrifuge training Radar jobs in Michigan. What does a Naval Flight Officer, Radar Intercept Officer do? A retired Marine major and F-4 radar intercept officer, he edited and compiled the History Division book Pathbreakers: U.S. Marine African American Officers in Their Own Words (2013) and updated the division's second edition of History of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (2015). And how did you help Paramount with the dialogue? After about two minutes the fight ended with Knock it off on the radio. Marine SWSOs by default select the F/A-18D Hornet. Primary ends with a final instrument checkride. During your time as air-to-air combat instructor, what was the most important advice you passed on to your students? The requirements to obtain a restricted ATP certificate are as follows: A captain or co-pilots salary is mostly dependent on the type of aircraft they fly, their experience, qualifications, and the airlines policies. Want a new opportunity where you can earn a higher salary? Join worky and create your professional profile. Its hard to say. Take the MyMajors Quiz and find out if it fits one of your top recommended majors! LinkedIn and 3rd parties use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our Services, and to show you relevant ads (including professional and job ads) on and off LinkedIn. He commanded VMFA-115, the Silver Eagles, from 1983 to 1984. We looked at the film clips over and over again, and we helped one of the film editors to stitch clips into logical sequences for dogfights. Training consists of five phases: After graduating from advanced strike training, Navy SNFOs will select: Naval flight officers operate some of the advanced systems on board most multi-crew naval aircraft, and some may also act as the overall tactical mission commanders of single or multiple aircraft assets during a given mission. In terms of flying the black jets, Im pretty sure that its me in the scene where Maverick is flying inverted above the MiG . 13 Radar jobs available in Thompson, CA on Indeed.com. We got a tally-ho on both adversaries, streaked past them at the mergeand the fight was on! There are several types of radar operator, including: Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Radar Operator templates, and provides you with expert advice. Ensuring navigation manuals and charts are updated. For USN and USMC WSOs, this program was previously completed at NAS Pensacola during their Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API) training. I have to admit that the details are a blur: I dont remember who took shots, who won or lost. Jeff Campagna USAF WSOs selected for the F-15E learn basic fighter maneuvers (BFM) and surface attack in the T-38C at Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals (IFF). And two, the F-14 had no flight controls in the back seat. Hed keep track of the people he could, and hed hand people off to me. Vice Admiral Nora W. Tyson was the Commander, United States Third Fleet from 2015 to 2017, and previously Deputy Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. As the first recipient of the big new all-weather fighter, the role of VF-121 "Pacemakers" was tasked to train up pilots and radar intercept officers (RIOs) for the Phantom, as the West Coast . For that reason, they also receive lower salaries and require slightly fewer qualifications and certifications. In his first posting following promotion to Flag rank, he became the first NFO and first carrier aviator to command the Iceland Defense Force in Keflavik, Iceland in 1994. Which country . Rear Admiral Benjamin Thurman Hacker was the first NFO flag officer, having been selected in 1980. Get email updates for new F 14 Radar Intercept Officer jobs in United States. Even though some radar operators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED. Co-pilots also learn other flight-related information, like the aircrafts weight and balance. J.R. Foster, the pilot and radar intercept officer of a 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, F-4E Phantom II aircraft, cross the flight line after returning from a successful flight during exercise Cope Tora '90, a Pacific Air Forces (PACAF .