Top Gun inside the RAF C4

[dazzler5440]

So, first flight in a Typhoon is flown in a single seater?they have got to be kidding!!!.

First flight in an F35B is in a single seater, albeit after hours in the SIM and accompanied by a very clever on board computer.

[Tooks]

Very sad to see the footage about S/Ldr Mark Long.

As somebody who once worked with Mark, I wasn’t quite prepared for how it would make me feel seeing him on screen at work and talking again, knowing what happened to him shortly after. As you say, very sad.

A fine man, who will be forever missed.

[NorvilleRogers]

So, first flight in a Typhoon is flown in a single seater?they have got to be kidding!!!.

Same for F-35A/B/C , A-10 and F-22 also.

[raptor9]

That is because there are no 2 seat variants, except one A.10 which was experimental. There was a proposal for 2 2seat F.22's but it was cancelled. So in the examples Norville described, all first flights had to be single seat. I was simply rather surprised that this was the case with the Typhoon, and still not convinced that the narrative was correct on T.V. Any Typhoon pilot's on here?. I don't feel it's an appropriate time to ask my friend if she would ask S/Ldr Long's Mother if this is the case, although I have no doubt she would know.

[Sparts99]

Loads of aircraft don't have two seat variants. The Typhoon is after all very intelligent so if the pilot tries to do something daft I expect it wouldn't allow it. And being software driven maybe flight parameters for inexperienced pilots can be easily set? Just a thought. I went to a Coningsby open day years ago, we had a lecture by a Typhoon pilot, really interesting. Most eye opening was his description of taking on USAF F-15s in a 2v2 when he only had 80 hours on type and beating them. His point being the Typhoon is easy to fly and very capable.

[Blackcat1]

Yep. The commentary was very misleading, because it said it was their first flight in a Typhoon, rather than their first solo in a single seater. Just me nitpicking!. Very sad to see the footage about S/Ldr Mark Long. Having coffee in town tomorrow with his Mother's Badminton partner.

Yes it was a poignant tribute to him. God bless him.

[Tooks]

That is because there are no 2 seat variants, except one A.10 which was experimental. There was a proposal for 2 2seat F.22's but it was cancelled. So in the examples Norville described, all first flights had to be single seat. I was simply rather surprised that this was the case with the Typhoon, and still not convinced that the narrative was correct on T.V. Any Typhoon pilot's on here?. I don't feel it's an appropriate time to ask my friend if she would ask S/Ldr Long's Mother if this is the case, although I have no doubt she would know.

Some pilots do go from the Typhoon Sims to first solo flight, but usually there will be at least one ‘check flight’ in a twin stick before first solo.

There aren’t many RAF twin sticks though, the Hawk T2 cockpit is designed to be similar to the Typhoon and the sims really are excellent so it’s not as hard a transition as on some other types.

The Typhoon is apparently ‘easy’ to fly, it’s the ‘fighting’ part that takes the time.

[raptor9]

Thanks for that 'Tooks'. Thought that would be the case. Cheers.

[toom317]

Over 8 years to get on an operational Sqn!

They also sped up the AAR refueling scenes.