When Casey got home, she couldn’t stop thinking about Kathryn and what she’d seen in Las Vegas. The images made her alternately angry, then jealous, then aroused. Her mind and emotions were trapped in an inverted spin, and she couldn’t fly herself out of it.
After struggling to sleep with no success, she went to the bathroom mirror and looked at her reflection. “It doesn’t matter what I may or may not feel for her. We can never have a relationship. I’m her student and I have to get through this program. It’s the most important thing in my life, and I will not jeopardize it just because I may have the hots for Kathryn Hardesty.” She looked into her own eyes. “You have to get through your instrument check this week, then formation flying, then on to the T-38. If you make it through this and earn your wings, maybe then you can think about her, about Kathryn.”
At the utterance of Kathryn’s name, Casey could no longer look at herself. She tried to hold back her emotions. “Come on, Casey, just suck it up and leave Kathryn Hardesty alone. Hell, she probably doesn’t even notice me. I’m just another dumb student to her.” After splashing cold water on her face, she was finally able to get to sleep. If she was lucky, she’d get four hours of sleep before her 0400 hours show time.
Casey was scheduled for her last instrument sim with Lieutenant Carter. She had to show him she could handle anything in instrument conditions. She was focused as she climbed into the simulator. Nothing would rattle her today, not even Carter’s screaming. She smoothly flew all the different approaches, and even single engine approaches and go-arounds. She was mentally ahead of the jet as she calmly handled in-flight emergencies using only the instruments.
“I think you’re ready for your instrument check ride, Tompkins. Overall grade, Good,” Carter said.
Casey was surprised he hadn’t screamed at her once. Her confidence in her ability to fly on instruments was solid—just one more check ride to get through in the T-37 phase.
*****
Kathryn walked into the flight room and went to the big schedule board. There were several students’ names on the board with missions circled in red indicating busted rides. A lot of students got washed out of pilot training because they could never learn to fly on instruments. This was the most difficult part of the whole year of training.
“Captain Hardesty, I hope you’re here to fly with some of my students having major problems. They’re dropping like flies,” Captain Arnau said.
“Actually, I was hoping to fly with Tompkins on her last instrument flight before her check ride. We have a few things to work out. After that, I’ll be happy to fly with any of the guys you need me to.”
“I kind of expected that, Kath. You’re already in my schedule plan for this afternoon with her.”
“Thanks, Barb.”
“After you’re done with Tompkins, I really need your magic instructor mojo with Parker and Keller.”
“Sure thing, Barb.”
Flying with other students would be good for her. She loved teaching flying, and the moment when the lightbulb finally came on for a student was the satisfaction she lived for. She could clearly see the student’s problem, then show them how to fix it. Most of the students were afraid of her until they actually flew with her. Then they found out her secret, that she really cared about them. She was tough and demanding but fair with them. This last instrument training ride with Casey was important. She needed to make sure Casey could handle any situation under instrument conditions to ensure she passed her check ride, and to make up for their last disastrous cross-country flight. She would put Casey through her paces today and throw everything at her. She just hoped Casey was ready for it.
*****
Casey walked into the flight, saw Captain Hardesty, and suppressed a little gasp. Somehow, she had the idea that Captain Hardesty didn’t want to fly with her anymore. Maybe she was flying with another student today. After she saw her name on the schedule board with her, she had to tell herself that this was just another ride. She had to stay mentally ahead of the jet, fly good instruments, and not let anything rattle her. She had to prove to her that she was ready to pass her check ride regardless of what had happened in Las Vegas.
“Lieutenant Tompkins, are you ready to fly?” Captain Hardesty asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m going to play check pilot today and try not to say anything to you. You will fly as if you are solo and in actual instrument conditions. I will not help you with anything, and you will make all the decisions in the air. If Phoenix Approach Control can’t give you the approach you request, have a backup plan in mind. Always be prepared to execute a missed approach. If the check pilot takes off your hood and lets you see the runway, consider that a present. Any questions?”
“No, ma’am.” Casey was grateful there was no discussion of their last ride together. Today would be all business.
When they got into the air, Captain Hardesty threw the book at her. She had her fly the most complicated instrument departure with tricky altitude and airspeed restrictions, holding, and simulated emergencies. Casey was in the zone as she flew through each situation and held her altitude, heading, and airspeed like a rock. Captain Hardesty had her request the most difficult instrument arrival procedure. The traffic pattern was very busy, and the controller had to break off her first approach because of a much faster T-38 jet behind her. Casey handled it with calm control as she flew the missed approach maneuver.
Their fuel was getting low, so Captain Hardesty requested an ILS precision approach for the last maneuver. She pulled one throttle back to idle to simulate an engine failure. Casey had to fly the approach single engine and she had to use a higher power setting on the remaining engine. She had the crosshairs of the ILS indicator centered. At the decision height of two hundred feet above the ground, Captain Hardesty reached over and removed the hood from Casey’s helmet visor for the first time of the entire flight. Casey was about five seconds from the runway and greased on the landing with just a little squeak from the tires.
When they got back to the flight room, Captain Hardesty grilled Casey on the instrument flying rules and emergency procedures. Casey knew her stuff cold, and Captain Hardesty couldn’t stump her on anything. She was definitely ready to pass her check ride.
“You did well today, Casey. Just do everything like you did today and you’ll have no problems.”
“Thanks, ma’am.” Casey was beaming inside. This was the highest praise she’d ever received in pilot training.
Casey would be flying with Major Inman, the chief of check section and a crusty old-school fighter pilot who was known for intimidating every pilot in the squadron.
“Casey, Major Inman is tough but fair,” Captain Hardesty said. “Be exactly ten minutes early and be sure and stand at attention and salute him when you report for your check ride. He will not say one word the entire flight. When you’ve completed your required maneuvers, ask him if he would like to fly, then hang on for dear life. He’ll fly a five-G overhead landing pattern. He likes to plant the jet on the runway, then slam on the brakes like he’s landing on a dirt strip in the jungle. During the ground eval, don’t ever change your answer and don’t be surprised if he asks you some very obscure instrument questions.”
When Captain Hardesty left the flight room, Casey was glad the ride had gone well today. It was almost like everything was back to normal between them—almost. She still had the disturbing images from Las Vegas burned into her memory, but she would not allow herself to think about that. Nothing would distract her from her mission tomorrow.
*****
Kathryn arranged to make an unannounced safety visit to the runway supervisory unit on runway three-zero center around the time Casey would be returning from the practice area. She sat quietly in the back observing the two T-38 instructor pilots who were the RSU controllers. They were efficiently doing their jobs monitoring the aircraft taking off and landing, and chatting with her during the lulls in the action. She sat up when she heard Casey’s voice over the radio requesting a VOR approach. Casey’s voice sounded strong and confident. A four-ship formation of T-38 jets was just getting ready for a wing takeoff. If the T-38s requested takeoff clearance right now, the spacing would work out; otherwise Casey would have to go around. Come on, you idiots, get your shit together and go.
“The T-38 lead is a solo student. This isn’t going to work out. He’s not ready,” the T-38 controller said to the other controller.
“Tango 37, approach clearance canceled. Fly runway heading, climb and maintain three thousand feet,” he called over the radio.
“Tango 37, roger, runway heading, three thousand,” Casey replied.
Oh, crap. Don’t forget to clean up the jet, Casey.
Kathryn held her breath as Casey’s airplane approached the RSU overhead, and she exhaled when she saw the gear, flaps, and speed brake retract like they were supposed to. Good job, Casey, now request another approach.
“Tango 37, turn right heading zero-three-zero at the departure end of the runway and contact departure control,” the RSU controller transmitted.
“Tango 37, heading zero-three-zero at the end. Good day,” Casey replied.
Kathryn anxiously waited for the sound of Casey’s voice over the radio as she came around for another approach. This time there was no other traffic to interfere with her approach. Kathryn saw the white flashing landing light of Casey’s jet in the distance. The airplane nose was yawed fifteen degrees to the right of the final approach path—a single engine approach. Come on, Casey, do it just like you flew it yesterday.
As the plane approached the threshold of the runway, Kathryn saw the nose of the jet smoothly align with the runway centerline followed by a flawless touchdown right on the runway numbers.
“Sweet,” the RSU controller remarked.
“Major Inman is the check pilot in that jet. He’s going to ask for a closed pattern to the left runway. You might want to coordinate that for him,” Kathryn whispered to the RSU controller.
“Thanks, Captain Hardesty. I don’t need another butt-chewing from him.”
When Major Inman’s gruff bass voice came over the radio, they were ready for him.
“Tango 37, closed approved to runway three-zero left. Contact Mojack control. Good day, sir.”
Kathryn stayed a few more minutes to watch Major Inman’s overhead pattern and landing.
“Watch what this guy does,” the RSU controller told his fellow T-38 IP.
Major Inman was barely abeam the runway numbers when he dumped the nose and dove the jet toward the ground. It looked like a crash was imminent when he rolled out wings level as he crossed the runway threshold, then pranged the jet on the runway right in front of the RSU. The nose of the jet pitched down as he braked hard and made the first runway turn-off.
“That guy is crazy,” the RSU controller remarked.
“That’s how he thinks a fighter pilot should fly. Fortunately, the Tweet is a tough jet. Good job, guys, see you later.” Kathryn was pleased as she left the RSU. Casey had passed her instrument check ride with the toughest check pilot on the base.