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t-34 comfort

skidkid

CAS Czar
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
When they come back to instruct. In later fams you will start to feel comfortable in the aircraft but the syllabus switches you from front to back and puts you in different regimes that you really wont be truly comfortable or know the aircraft before it is time to fly something else. You get about 100 hours in primary and that jsut isnt enough. I honestly started getting comfortable in the Cobra around the 500-600 time in model area.

You will as you progress learn to strap in get set and start the aircraft much quicker and will be set for an RI wondering what is taking the new IP so laong but dont say anything (trust me)
 

BrittO

Registered User
pilot
time to get comfortable..

WEll i have just finished primary (waiting for selection) and did primary this way, fams through 4004, BIs (all) fams through solo 4401 then all though RIs, x ctry and all the navs then back to PAs and forms and my final flight was a night contact!!...I would have to agree with the previous post to a large degree but also add that if you are confident on the procedures etc, while in the plane you will be able to get more comfortable as you wont have an IP on you ass nearly as much while doing them. After RIs my basic air work was soooooo much better and doing PAs and forms felt relatively easy.....(less wasted time having to correct for altitude etc)...dont sweat it though...the IPs are realistic in their expectations and dont expect to make a test pilot out of you in the mere 100 hours.
 

Raptor2216

Registered User
Little off topic but for those of you who went though IFS prior to P-cola and had little to no trouble during IFS, how would you compare your learning experience flying the T-34? In other words, if someone is able to handle a cessna 172 with relative comfort with 15 hours, will he be able to handle a T-34 in the same manner within a similar timeframe? I'm not talking about navigation or instrumentation work but rather just being able to handle the aircraft in VFR conditions.
 

KBayDog

Well-Known Member
^ Bring a barf bag on the first flight or two - just in case. No kidding.

Other than the plane being a wee bit faster than the -172, you should have no problems whatsoever "transitioning." In fact, you'll be so much more prepared to fly the -34 before you ever sit in the cockpit than you were in the -172, since you will have had systems, EPs, course rules, comms, etc. ground into your head well before FAM-1.
 

zippy

Freedom!
pilot
Contributor
P_ubhi18 said:
Little off topic but for those of you who went though IFS prior to P-cola and had little to no trouble during IFS, how would you compare your learning experience flying the T-34? In other words, if someone is able to handle a cessna 172 with relative comfort with 15 hours, will he be able to handle a T-34 in the same manner within a similar timeframe? I'm not talking about navigation or instrumentation work but rather just being able to handle the aircraft in VFR conditions.

Theres a huge difference between a 172 and a 34 speed wise, and that whole rudder trim thing. Not including sim time, 15hrs would put you at BI-2 or Fam 6... yeah, your still gonna suck (flying straight and level is one thing, but start throwing in the different FTI maneuvers and/or EPs and you start having head explosions). I found that i got pretty comfortable with it around the time i solo'd. I got a lot more comfortable with it during forms (once i could control my motion relative to another moving aircraft in close proximity, everything else seemed easier).

Edit- Oh yeah... bring barf bags. Dont rely on those skimpy bags in the paraloft... get those resealible ziplock freezer bags. Don't just bring it for the first few flights. Have one all of the time- you might get sick when you least expect it.
 

ThetaChi

Member
pilot
By the time you solo your instructors will see to it that you are comfortable (well, at least safe) in the aircraft. I didn't really start to enjoy primary until PA's....solo flights will do that for you. After that, you aren't worried about being able to handle the aircraft, you will be more concerned with procedures, radio calls, where the heck you are, and so on.

And yeah, there was nothing more frustrating that making a small power adjustment and watching that ball slam into one side or the other. Always trimming.....
 

Bevo16

Registered User
pilot
Practice your procedures in the aircraft as much as possible. There is always a hangar bird that you can go and sit in, and there are mock-ups in the sim building. It is one thing to be able to say the procedures on your couch, actually flipping the switches is a different deal. The more time that you spend actually sitting in the aircraft will increase your comfort level.
 

Dennis

C-17 Co
There's no such thing as comfort in the T-34C. There isn't enough room in the cockpit for the cushioning that would be required to make the seat not hurt. I find it cruel and ironic that the Air Force sends studs with back problems here (no ejection seat).

Oh, THAT kind of comfort. By the time you think you know what you're doing you'll have to add something else to the mix to make it difficult again. If it were easy for too long, it wouldn't be pilot training.
 

Fly Navy

...Great Job!
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
T-34 comfort > T-45 comfort.

Don't be a dork and get a seat cushion though. Suck it up, it isn't that bad.
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
Fly Navy said:
T-34 comfort > T-45 comfort.

Don't be a dork and get a seat cushion though. Suck it up, it isn't that bad.

They actually have different seat cushions now. Not sure if they were there when you went through, but different from when I was a stud. They use close cell foam now, so it gets crushed a lot quicker. And if it's cold, it reminds me of the lovely seating accomidations I had while in SERE.
 

Fly Navy

...Great Job!
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
gatordev said:
They actually have different seat cushions now. Not sure if they were there when you went through, but different from when I was a stud. They use close cell foam now, so it gets crushed a lot quicker. And if it's cold, it reminds me of the lovely seating accomidations I had while in SERE.

Not sure when they switched, but I remember each aircraft being different. Some were pretty comfy, some were non-existent they were so crushed.
 

skidkid

CAS Czar
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
Dennis said:
There's no such thing as comfort in the T-34C. There isn't enough room in the cockpit for the cushioning that would be required to make the seat not hurt. I find it cruel and ironic that the Air Force sends studs with back problems here (no ejection seat).

Oh, THAT kind of comfort. By the time you think you know what you're doing you'll have to add something else to the mix to make it difficult again. If it were easy for too long, it wouldn't be pilot training.


Try a Cobra, the T-34 is luxurious compared. Once you add seat armor and a TSU it gets a little cramped.
 
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