Ghastly IQT Progress

[Derk]

Cadet/IP: Ghastly / Derk
Check Ride #: IQT-1
Check Ride Date: 16 May 2020
Score: Pass

Debrief: Please help me welcome “Ghastly” to IQT with the 440th VFW. Ghastly comes to us with some solid experience in BMS and handling his F-16 as last nights flight appeared more of a formality than a training session. Before we hit the tanker, he had demonstrated all of the formation and tac turn objectives. With a quick connection and minimal refuel time we were able to fit in some more faster paced maneuvers to work on rejoins and adjustments along with some FCR and BRAA call work to show he’s soon ready for IQT-2. The flight wrapped up with a nice echelon formation into Kunsan for the overhead break. Ghastly has a good handle on our SOP’s and I believe he nailed all of the comm calls and flight communications.

Nice first flight and Ghastly is excited to move quickly to IQT-2.

Derk

Lineup for takeoff from Fukuoka in crappy weather

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Ghastly finds the Route formation quickly for the climb out of the weather

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No matter where we were, Ghastly was in good position

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Quick AAR

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Close formation for the entire approach to sunny Kunsan

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[Venom]

Welcome Ghastly!

Was nice to meet you on TS the other day. Sounds like you are off to a great start in IQT! Hope to be flying with you soon!

Venom

[Ghastly]

Thank you, Derk! I definitely enjoyed my first flight and I'm looking forward to IQT-2 tomorrow!

Venom, you too! I'll make you all proud in IQT then promptly forget how to fly when I join you!

What's the inside joke regarding the reflections? They are now starting to stand out to me more haha

[Derk]

Cadet/IP: Ghastly / Derk
Check Ride #: IQT-2
Check Ride Date: 19 May 2020
Score: Pass

Debrief: Tonight Ghastly wrapped up the objectives for IQT-2. The pace is picking up as he has a real good handle on SOP procedures and jet handling. After the combat departure Ghastly quickly found Route formation and the moved smoothly through some tac turns as we maneuvered in the BARCAP. The first engagement went well with TWS mode against the bombers, splashing one and driving the other away smoking. After a quick rejoin we pressed in on the MiG-23’s together and finished them off quickly. The MiG-29's seemed reluctant to want to face us, but I don’t blame them with Ghastly on the pickle switch. After hitting Joker fuel, we grabbed some gas on the tanker and tried to chase after the MiG-29’s, but they ran. But after seeing the good solid shots on the other hostiles, and against me on the missile evasion tactics, it’s clear Ghastly knows how to handle his slammers.

Good job, and off to the dogfighting now!

Derk

Combat departure from Kunsan

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Route formation heading north (Kunsan over our shoulder)

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Fox 3 on the bombers

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Splash on the MiG-23's - nice coordinated crank and abort

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Missile evasion - slice turn and S'turns, easily outran

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[Ghastly]

Most enjoyable flight. Heart was pumping when you took your shot at me. I'm glad I didn't eat my words forgoing invulnerability! Thanks, Derk!

[Wheelman]

Nicely done Ghastly! Those are some good lookin jets in those screenshots there.

[Ghastly]

Thanks, Wheelman! Hurry up and start so I can give you kudos, too!

[MailMan]

Nice job Ghastly!

[Elf]

Darn good job m8 !

[Ghastly]

Thanks, guys!

[Badger]

Rock on !

[Battman]

Outstanding job Ghastly!!!

[Ghastly]

Ty, Battman!

[Derk]

Cadet/IP: Ghastly / Derk
Check Ride #: IQT-3
Check Ride Date: 21 May 2020
Score: Pass

Debrief: Tonight Ghastly wrapped up the objectives for IQT-3. The main task was to kill the MiG’s within a visual range engagement, before they got the IP! Ghastly did exactly that with quick turns into the engaged position and kills within a turn or two. The MiG-21 did his slow pull maneuver, but Ghastly was quick to adjust wide to compensate, but kept him in site. This put the hostile right in front of me for an easy tag-team kill. The Ghastly for an excellent save calling “Missile! Missile! Missile!”, allowing me to pull high G and flare, narrowly escaping the IR missile I never saw. Thanks Wingman!

Very nice job with all of the Air to Air parts of IQT, and now off to enter the Air to Surface strikes!

Derk

First MiG-23. Ghastly in close for a GUNS kill!

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Nice echelon right coming off the tanker.

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Back in on another MiG-23 with missiles in the air

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Splash on the diving Mig

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Nice TRP approach. Kept right with me and adjusted as needed for a safe landing.

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[Ghastly]

Thanks, Derk! BTW-You did in fact say 10k lbs of fuel! Whoops!

[Venom]

Nicely done ! Kudos saving your IP!

[Elf]

Way to go m8 !

[Derk]

Cadet/IP: Ghastly / Derk
Check Ride #: IQT-4
Check Ride Date: 23 May 2020
Score: Pass

Debrief: Tonight, Ghastly completed IQT-4 with a fun spin around KOTAR. But first, we made a short stop at a runway to deliver a gift of some BLU-107’s as we remodeled the runway. Then we were off to spot a hostile tank column, which Ghastly found quickly and made a smart call to turn out for a positioning turn for a better run, resulting in 100 percent CBU’s on targets. Well before Bingo we were off to get fuel at the tanker, then finally on to KOTAR. Up to this point I had Ghastly in the flight lead role and he did a real nice job with formation turns and the standard SOP calls except (I handled only the ATC and AWAC calls requiring #1 seat to make the ‘T’ commands). Once at KOTAR we quickly entered the pattern and put all BDU’s on target, with a few extra runs with the spare’s I loaded. Two final passes to strafe the vertical targets and we were off to Yechon, ending the flight is a nice tight TRP approach and landing.

Good work Ghastly!

Derk

Running in to the low level strike on the runway. Red tails jets broke, we borrowed the Block 52's with the Gambler tails for Ghastly to try on.

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Three nicely spaced BLU-107s

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TGP captures hits on the tank column

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Good BDA on the column climbing out after release

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Ghastly hits the right side, I was hitting the left.

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[Badger]

Excellent work G

[DHawk]

We’re almost there, G! Enjoy IQT-5!

[Zeus]

Wow - I think we have a new record for progressing through IQT...awesome work Ghastly!

[Ghastly]

Ha ha, Zeus! I've got a case of the zoomies!

[Derk]

Cadet/IP: Ghastly / Derk
Check Ride #: IQT-5
Check Ride Date: 27 May 2020
Score: Pass

Debrief: Last night Ghastly completed IQT-5 with a little help from his friends HARM and MAV. This IQT flight is now a bit of a challenge just to get the SAM’s to light up as they no longer easily broadcast their position allowing for easy HARM targets. So, we have we have to 'up' our game to combat this tactic. For this, I brought along 'Sidestep' and 'Blitz' to lend assistance. As expected, Ghastly and I circled dangerously deep into the threat ring with no reaction, but with a combination of HARM's from Ghastly, and SDB support from the Gamble 2 flight, we were able to clear the SAM's in order to make the Maverick strikes to complete the objectives of this IQT. We wrapped the flight up with a nice ILS approach through the overcast night to safely recover at Kangnung.

Ghastly is looking good in all areas of our flights and ready to wrap things up in IQT-6 very soon!

Derk

Flat Face splashed made the Low Blow light up angry.

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Ghastly refuels at night in the turn

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SA-3 launchers hit by Mavericks

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ACMI shot on launchers

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ILS runway 26

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[Derk]

Cadet/IP: Ghastly / Derk
Check Ride #: IQT-6
Check Ride Date: 30 May 2020
Score: Pass

Debrief: Please help me welcome the newest member of the 222nd Gamblers – Ghastly! It’s only been just over two weeks since starting IQT-1, but Ghastly has a passion for BMS, interest to dig in and study, solid piloting skills, and proved proficiency in all of the IQT objectives. I’m hopeful that I added a thing or two along the way, but Ghastly is ready to join our Wing flights and continue learning how to operate in multi-flight packages. Not much to say about tonight’s flight as it went smooth and by the numbers as we engaged with GBU’s, LGB’s and the CBU Lofting engagements. This he performed from the flight lead seat up on his request, which looked pretty solid too.

Looking forward to flying with you in our Wing missions Ghastly!

Derk

Aligned and Ready to lead us out.

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GBU's away and...

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GBU hits on harbor targets

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Air Defense and missile launchers hit with CBUs

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Ghastly leads us to the overhead break at Kunsan - IQT complete!

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[Ghastly]

Thanks, Derk! IQT was fun!