Week #2, Aerospace Physiology

It's hard to believe week #2 is over with already...time flies when you're having fun! Monday started with the last day of the weather section before we had our first test on Tuesday. It was a 30 question multiple choice test, which wasn't too bad...I was able to pull a 100%, so praise God! I'm pretty sure our class average was around 97%-98%. There were a couple questions that seemed a little tricky, but thankfully my reasoning skills were working well that day. We also picked up our helmets that had been fitted to us the previous week on Monday. They had us try them on, attach the oxygen mask and hook up to a oxygen regulator similar to what's in the plane to make sure we had no leaks or other problems. Needless to say, it was an exciting day knowing that we were that much closer to getting to the flightline and flying!

On Wednesday, we started a new block of classes in Aerospace Physiology which deals with how the body reacts to no oxygen at high altitudes (we get do the altitude chamber next week) and pulling G's, how to use the ejection seat and parachute in the T-37, how to land properly after ejection, etc. So far, it's been a good time learning the different things and getting to practice on the equipment they have in the room. Our first class in this block taught us how to strap into the parachute and use the different mechanisms on it. At one point, our instructor asked for a volunteer...after a brief moment of silence and no one standing up, I did.

Thursday was more of "death by PowerPoint." I say that jokingly because a lot of the things are pretty interesting. But, you know how it is when you're sitting a lot listening to an instructor talk for hours...it gets a little mundane. Anyway, that day we also had a commander's luncheon where we're welcomed to the base by a few of the different commander's over lunch. They gave a little presentation about what to expect, and had us all introduce ourselves as did they. My introduction went something like this, "Hi, my name is Lt Lance Ferguson. I'm a farm boy from the north, went to Cedarville University in Ohio and then was commissioned through OTS. I'm very thankful to be here and would like to fly an F-15 or F-16 after graduation." The reason I write that out is because most of the guys didn't say what they wanted to fly, which I found strange. But, I wanted to appear confident to the class and commander's and show I have goals I'm striving for. It wasn't a cocky thing, but more of a "hey, this is what I'm here for" kind of thing. Oh yeah, we finally passed two consecutive BOLDFACE tests 100% and were in our flight suits on Tuesday!! They're affectionately called the green bad.

After lunch is was time to put into practice what we had been taught in the classroom. Before we we able to use the stand, we had to practice the parachute landing fall (PLF) sufficiently. Prior to landing, preparation goes something like this. After ejecting and the chute has opened, keep eyes on the horizon, put knees and feet together, point toes towards the ground, place hands over the clamp releases, bend the knees and prepare for landing. Of course the landing is where the PLF takes place. The PLF goes like this...land on the balls of the feet and hit the calf, thigh, hip and back in that order. It's not tough, but I'm sure the real thing will be a little different.

Next we practiced how to release the canopy once down if the winds were strong causing us to be drug along the ground. They hooked us up in the harness to two riser ropes and told us to lay down on the ground. Four people grabbed to ropes and we were off to the races...

At every SUPT base they have a chute stand to practice proper parachute techniques. You can see the one at Columbus AFB in the PLF picture above. I has six sections for six people to work on different things. We practiced the Decent Checklist, forward right and left PLFs, left and right PLFs and rear right and left PLFs. The decent checklist is as follows:

CANOPY - CHECK
VISOR - UP
OXYGEN MASK - OFF (AS REQUIRED)
SURVIVAL KIT - DEPLOY
LPUs - AS REQUIRED (life preserver units)
RISER ROPES - PULL
PREPARE FOR LANDING

Lucas in the above picture (3rd from the left) is one of our Airmen Leadership Pilots (ALPs). This is an exchange program our government had with other countries where they come here for nine months of training in the T-37. I've been helping him out some with rides around base and town and other things. I've come to find out he is also a Christian, which had been pretty cool. No matter the country or the skin color, Jesus is the one true Lord and Savior of all.