Im going on a flight in one of these a/c. any tips or advice? i know its capable of exceeding the sound barrier but whats the likelihood of it happening?
another thing just came to mind. the paper says that im only cleared for flight up to 18,000. whats the purpose of this?
First off, is it a civilian or military '38? Where will you be flying?
Highly unlikely that you'll be going supersonic, as that requires specific airspace and agreements with the FAA, and to the best of my knowledge all of the USAF training bases let their LOAs lapse when the supersonic ride was dropped from the SUPT syllabus. If you're flying out of one of the ACC bases (Beale, Holloman, Whiteman), they may have some range airspace to do it in. My advice: don't even bother. It's completely anticlimactic, and except just to say you've done it, it's a complete waste of fuel in an all-ready fuel limited aircraft.
The 18K limitation is because you haven't been to the altitude chamber. The rationale is if there is some kind of depressurization up there, you won't know how to take care of yourself properly. Don't fret -- there's plenty of fun to be had below 18K in the Talon.
The two things I most frequently with incentive riders in the T-38: canopy operation problems and getting sick. The mechanism for raising and lowering the canopy has not aged gracefully, so today it requires two hands in an orchestrated sequence to accomplish. Make sure you PRACTICE lowering and locking the lid while you are in the chocks -- you won't want to get stuck at the end of the runway before takeoff and not be able to get the lid closed (very embarassing!).
Second, for folks not used to the roll rate and G that the Talon produces, there's a high potential for airsickness. Standard airsickness rules apply: light food before flying, stay hydrated, and have puke bags out of the package and easily accessible (I recommend shoving them under the thigh portion of your G-suit). There's a big air vent near your right knee -- know how to open, close, and aim that vent in flight. Aim it at your upper chest/neck for best cooling, as there are no other air conditioning vents anywhere in the cockpit. Keeping cool will help you feel better, as will flying the airplane whenever the pilot gives you the chance. As usual, if you feel sick, just puke and get it over, as you'll feel tons better afterward.
What kind of flight is it? If it's single ship, make sure you do aerobatics, including demonstrating the roll rate and some 6+G sustained turns. If it's formation, get as much hands-on stick time as possible in formation, keep a light grip on the stick, and wiggle your fingers and toes so as to not tense up.
Most of all, RELAX and ENJOY it.
