Rob de Bie Posted August 10, 2022 Share Posted August 10, 2022 I'll be interviewing two rather senior gentlemen, who flew the F-84F in the RNLAF. It's part of my research into the weapons and stores of the Dutch F-84F (see here). Apart from questions on that subject, of course I also want to ask them about their flying careers. I've come up with a question list, but I'm not too impressed with my questions, they are a bit bland. Does anyone have a suggestion for a surprising question? Thanks in advance! Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Geoff M Posted August 10, 2022 Share Posted August 10, 2022 What was your scariest moment in the cockpit? Every pilot must have a narrow escape story. Geoff M Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted August 10, 2022 Share Posted August 10, 2022 Tell me how and why you became a pilot, what drew you to it and held your interest? (What flying means to you and how it changed your life) What advice would you offer to someone who is considering a flying career? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob de Bie Posted August 11, 2022 Author Share Posted August 11, 2022 Geoff and Habu, thanks for your suggestions! I updated my question list. All set for next Tuesday! Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nate Posted August 11, 2022 Share Posted August 11, 2022 I'll second habu2's question re: how did flying change your life, with a bit of a twist. When we interview prospective hires with flying experience, I always ask "how has flying influenced the way you think?" (About solving problems, overcoming challenges, planning for the unexpected, etc.) I have found that pilots (especially retired military pilots) have a different mindset that comes from the procedural aspects, safety culture, training coupled with advancing a little before you're ready, and personal accountability that comes with the Pilot-in-Command role. I'll also add that don't be surprised if they don't their hardware as well as you 🙂 I work with a retired Intruder/Prowler pilot who had 26 years in the Navy and he always makes fun of me for knowing more about his planes than he does - I was "Fanboy" way before Top Gun 2 because I was the first person he ever met outside of the Navy who actually knew what the A-12 Flying Dorito was (he worked on the crew integration portion of the project at one point). Have fun too - sounds like an awesome opportunity! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob de Bie Posted August 11, 2022 Author Share Posted August 11, 2022 9 minutes ago, Nate said: I'll second habu2's question re: how did flying change your life, with a bit of a twist. When we interview prospective hires with flying experience, I always ask "how has flying influenced the way you think?" (About solving problems, overcoming challenges, planning for the unexpected, etc.) I have found that pilots (especially retired military pilots) have a different mindset that comes from the procedural aspects, safety culture, training coupled with advancing a little before you're ready, and personal accountability that comes with the Pilot-in-Command role. I'll also add that don't be surprised if they don't their hardware as well as you 🙂 I work with a retired Intruder/Prowler pilot who had 26 years in the Navy and he always makes fun of me for knowing more about his planes than he does - I was "Fanboy" way before Top Gun 2 because I was the first person he ever met outside of the Navy who actually knew what the A-12 Flying Dorito was (he worked on the crew integration portion of the project at one point). Have fun too - sounds like an awesome opportunity! Those are deeper questions than I ever considered asking! 🙂 My problem is that I know absolutely nothing more than that he flew the F-84F. It sounds a bit bold to go so deep in a first meeting. I think it would be better to save it for a second one. A-12? Oh! Here's mine, Anigrand 1/72, resting in a box between buidling spurts. Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nate Posted August 11, 2022 Share Posted August 11, 2022 Oh man - the old Anigrand kit? You are brave. I don't think all the resin I own adds up to the resin mass in your photo... I'm hoping ModelCollect will release their A-12 before he retires, I think it would be a unique addition to his collection that is a pretty good representation of our weird friendship 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob de Bie Posted August 11, 2022 Author Share Posted August 11, 2022 (edited) 5 hours ago, Nate said: Oh man - the old Anigrand kit? You are brave. I don't think all the resin I own adds up to the resin mass in your photo... I'm hoping ModelCollect will release their A-12 before he retires, I think it would be a unique addition to his collection that is a pretty good representation of our weird friendship 🙂 Nerdishly, I weighed it: 153 grams 🙂 I had plenty of troubles with the model: warped main parts, tons of air bubbles, huge steps, bad panel lines. But I think I'm over the hump, and it's starting to look nice. How would you finish it? I'm bouncing between some ideas. Rob Edited August 11, 2022 by Rob de Bie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted August 12, 2022 Share Posted August 12, 2022 Web archive of my old A-12 pages: https://web.archive.org/web/20080128181425fw_/http://www.habu2.net/a12/avenger2.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast Posted August 12, 2022 Share Posted August 12, 2022 Watch a couple of C. W. Lemoine’s interviews on The Tubes of You. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arg Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 On 8/11/2022 at 5:44 PM, Rob de Bie said: Nerdishly, I weighed it: 153 grams 🙂 I had plenty of troubles with the model: warped main parts, tons of air bubbles, huge steps, bad panel lines. But I think I'm over the hump, and it's starting to look nice. How would you finish it? I'm bouncing between some ideas. Rob The idea I had was to portray a hypothetical "rollout" scheme for prototype #1. Trim was based on the blue & gold scheme of the original F/A-18, but without the gold (figuring the press would have a field day on how 'gold-plated' the program was...)🙂 : Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob de Bie Posted August 14, 2022 Author Share Posted August 14, 2022 8 hours ago, arg said: The idea I had was to portray a hypothetical "rollout" scheme for prototype #1. Trim was based on the blue & gold scheme of the original F/A-18, but without the gold (figuring the press would have a field day on how 'gold-plated' the program was...)🙂 : Thanks, very nice! I too was thinking of a roll-out scheme, but I focused more on logos, and could not decide on a color / camouflage scheme. One idea was to make a 'digital' camouflage, then new I think, now pretty well known. Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Murph Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonwinn Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 African or European? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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