Dollar Ride!

Earlier this week Jordan flew his first flight in the Air Force! 

Yes it was at training, and yes his instructor pilot (IP) did most of the work, by design - BUT - he finally got strapped in to the T-6! 

Yup, there he is, doing his checklists with his helmet above his controls, 

he was ready to go! 

SO exciting!! 

I have to thank his classmates for taking these pictures because families aren't allowed to go out and see the first ride. 

The first ride. They call it the dollar ride. It still doesn't make a whole ton of sense to me, but there is a story & tradition behind it. Just like there is behind every facet of their training here. So because the first time flying is so unknown for many of the trainees, they give the IP a dollar to 'compensate' them for the extra work they have to put into the flight. I thought that came with the job description of being a flight instructor, I mean I think I would want a dollar after every flight! 

Getting prepared!

So Jordan did his flight and he said it went pretty well. This is MUCH different flying than he does in his civilian job, and he's had to adjust quite a bit to the military style of flying & radio calls. They also do more acrobatic stuff and pull G's with their turns and rolls & anything else they do. This adds an extra challenge to flying - battling airsickness. A bunch of guys barf on their first flight. And by a bunch, I mean most of them barf. Its normal and they expect it (maybe that's where the dollar part comes in?!). Jordan didn't get sick, but he said he was definitely queasy and didn't feel all that great after the flight. He compared it to going up and down the 'power tower' at Cedar Point over and over, and over and over again. That makes me want to barf just thinking about it. 

The T-6! 

We have hit the official flight line portion of pilot training which means long, 12 hour days for Jordan every day. He has flights, simulator flights, tests & lots of paperwork to do everyday at work. He comes home and studies for another 2-3 hours each night. On the weekends he does get some time off, but his whole world revolves around studying and preparing for his next flight or his next test. 

This is the fun part, right? 

Its a good thing we have good friends to keep Evelyn and I busy as we both will start to miss Jordan as the weeks go on. The end is not near, but time is passing quickly and we have so many fun events to look forward to while we're down here. Solos, track select, drop nights & celebrating with our friends as they get their assignments, are all things that we have to look forward to. And with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, that will help break up the daily grind of training. 

With all the hard work & studying Jordan is putting in, we are so proud of everything he is doing and we feel so lucky to be here as he lives out his dream of being an Air Force Pilot! 

More updates to come!!!