THE NOISE ABOVE
Who’s your Maverick?
I wonder to myself what pilots must do to dig down and stay airborne; also am I giving it my all and pushing my physical bouts for at least 20 minutes a day? Am I getting a workout in, or gardening with more vigor, or tackle a bigger house project? Do I have the heart of a Maverick?
ESSAYS & MEMOIRS
An F-35A Lightning II at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Senior Airman Erica Webster
I’ll tell you what, after over 20 years of affiliation with the Air Force and zero years training as a pilot I’m not really qualified to speak to you what goes on in a pilot’s head while in flight. I haven’t had any formal pilot training, though I have interviewed pilots, been invited to fly in the cockpits of military aircraft in a war zone, been in the back of a Blackhawk during European training missions, have flown an F-16 simulator, and a virtual reality parachute training. All that does mostly jack for me understanding a pilot’s stressors in flight. It’s just fun to brag sometimes. And in all honesty it does widen my understanding. Hearing about and seeing the equipment used by fighter pilots that allows them to withstand the forces on the body during those intense flights give me better perspective. Feeling the forces of a helicopter whose pilot put the screws to it to impress the guests allowed me to feel a portion of those forces. I’ll still not know what that experience is like for the fighter pilot. Makes you think though.
As I work out, I’m listening to the sound of the fighters training above and find myself in the head of a pilot for a moment. I think about what well of resolve they must be able to reach into. I also think to myself what kind of condition these pilots needed to be in and the dedication it takes to get there. Because even with our modern technologies, the strain placed on the body in one of those aircrafts must be immense. I’m listening for what must be over 20 minutes of flying. That’s probably a lot under those conditions—if the rattle on my house’s windows is any indication to the stuff going on in the cockpit it sure is. Not to mention these pilots were on the runway before flight and will soon return to what must be a hellish tarmac in mid- June, adding to the overall stress. I wonder to myself what pilots must do to dig down and stay airborne; also am I giving it my all and pushing my physical bouts for at least 20 minutes a day? Am I getting a workout in, or gardening with more vigor, or tackle a bigger house project? Do I have the heart of a Maverick? Do we all have the heart of a Maverick?
Or Goose, Iceman, Rooster, or your own family hero? Now the question is: Where do you go to “dig down deep?” As I listen to these jets overhead, I happen to be working out in my house. Finding myself digging down a bit deeper as I listen to thunder from up above. Thinking, what would it take to push through G forces greater than most roller coasters can provide? You know, and still maintain course in the middle of the sky. I didn’t have much frame of reference other than a hasty take off from the Middle East, an exhilarating helicopter ride, and my most recent trip to Lagoon. And while that imagery aided in prompting me, I find myself also thinking of when I have given more during a thing ... some race, a PT test, a shift on the ice where I kept going on what seemed to be on “E.” As instances percolate up, I try to grasp on each one and push a bit further each time. Each dip closer to burnout: I was a pilot banking around the obstacle course in basic training. With each chin-up: I was a pilot looping around the end of the triathlon finish line in Oahu. I used these visualizations to push through. How do you push through?
The interesting thing to me is that this push was encouraged by an external factor. Just some jets passing overhead like most any other day in these parts. The common backdrop providing a moment of inspiration. When I think of it, there are Mavericks all over inspiring me; in life, home, and around town. To all of those who push it and put in a hard day’s work know there is little that is more inspiring. Thanks to all of you, you are all somebody’s Maverick!
