They all met up Sunday morning and ate a giant breakfast in the hotel restaurant. Clearly, they all had worked up a good appetite over the weekend.
“How was the game?” Casey asked Janie.
“What game?” Stephanie answered.
After a slight pause, they all burst out laughing. “We got distracted with other things and never made it to the football game,” Janie answered sheepishly.
They went to the airport together and did their flight planning.
“How’s she doing, Janie?” Kathryn asked discreetly.
“Kath, she’s doing great. I gave her one approach after another on Friday night and she handled them all like a pro. She’s not going to have any problems on her nav check. I hope she comes back to our squadron as a T-38 IP. She’d be awesome.”
They went to their respective jets, but Casey was reluctant to separate from Kathryn after their time together. “What will happen when we get back to Willie? Will I have to pretend to not know you again? I don’t know if I can do that.” Casey looked worried.
“You know how the game works. We can’t be seen together on base. You may not realize this, but lots of people know who you are, and they are all watching both of us. We have to be careful, but I won’t ignore you anymore. We’ll find a way to work this out. I promise. Stay focused on pilot training. You’re doing really well, Casey, and that will give you choices when it comes to your flying assignment.”
“Okay, but I’d really like to kiss you right now.”
“Soon, Casey, soon. I’ll call you tonight after we land. Keep impressing Janie. She’s a great IP.”
They gave each other a quick hug, grabbed their helmet bags and parachutes, and walked across the ramp to their jets. Four proud women Air Force pilots getting a few stares from the other people around them.
Casey’s flight to Biggs Army Air Field was busy. Janie had her roll back the hood so she could see how the runways at Biggs Army Air Field and El Paso International were lined up parallel to each other. It was clear that a pilot could easily get mixed up and land on the wrong runway here.
The last leg back to Willie was also busy, but Casey was mentally ahead of the jet as Janie ran her through everything. The debrief was short with Janie telling her what manuals to review before her nav check. She handed Casey her grade sheet—Excellent.
Casey called Kathryn when she got back to her quarters. They talked for hours until Kathryn reminded Casey that she had an early show time the next day. Casey reluctantly said good night and tried to get to sleep, but her bed felt empty and cold without Kathryn next to her.
The next day, Casey was scheduled for her first four-ship formation ride. She was happy she would be flying with Bulldog again. All eight pilots showed up at the appointed time, and Bulldog led the formation briefing.
Bulldog did an interval takeoff where each plane took off separately with ten-second spacing behind each jet. Bulldog had Casey roll into a thirty-degree bank turn and she could see the other three jets following her. Number Two was lined up for a rejoin with Three right behind them. Two was in position on her right wing, Three slid under her and maneuvered to her left wing when Four joined up on Three’s wing.
Casey led them through several maneuvers. It was fascinating looking at the other jets as they gently bobbed in position off both her wing tips. She had to be extra smooth with her flying since there were double the number of planes as usual. She did a position change and maneuvered to the number two slot. The other two wingmen were making tiny corrections to stay in position and she tried to match them. Eventually, she was in the fourth slot and had a great view of the whole formation. They were in an echelon line as they flew up initial to enter the traffic pattern.
“Keep it tight, everyone. We have to look good,” called lead.
They all landed right after each other. Casey was exhilarated. She was finally living her dream after almost a year of grueling hard work and a few near-death experiences.
Bulldog led the debrief, and she got some good comments from the other IPs. She couldn’t wait to call Kathryn tonight to tell her about her first four-ship flight. She loved talking to her every night even though they couldn’t be together. She’d come to appreciate Kathryn’s dry sense of humor and loved her full-throated laugh. It was her goal to make her laugh every day.
Kathryn didn’t speak to her like she was a student anymore, but more like she was an equal. They didn’t just talk about flying, they talked about everything. Her respect for Kathryn grew every day. Casey was beginning to feel confident that she would graduate and earn her wings. Now she allowed herself to think about the future. For the first time, she wanted a future not only as an Air Force pilot, but also a life with Kathryn. This filled her with hope and scared her at the same time.
*****
Casey went over to Bulldog’s house for dinner and brought Merrilee’s favorite beverage, Dixie beer. Following a delicious dinner of chicken fried steak, they sat outside on the porch.
“How are you doing, Casey? Bulldog says you’re tearing up the T-38 program.”
“Now, don’t go telling her that, Merrilee. Her head will get so big she won’t be able to put her helmet on,” Bulldog chimed in.
“I really like four-ship formation and I felt pretty good after my cross-country trip. I just have to pass my navigation check ride and not screw anything up.”
“Have you thought about what assignment you’d like after you graduate?” Merrilee asked.
“Well, we’re pretty limited in the aircraft women pilots are allowed to fly, so I can either fly a heavy, like an air refueling tanker or a transport, or I can be an IP. Right now, I’m leaning toward being an IP in either the T-37 or the T-38. But first I have to be fighter qualified and IP qualified in order to get selected to come back as an instructor pilot, and I’m not sure what the higher-ups think of me in that area.”
“Casey, I want to talk to you about your future flying assignment,” Bulldog said. “There’s a rumor that women might be allowed to fly fighters.”
“Wow. I never even considered the possibility of a fighter,” Casey answered. This was a huge development, if true. Fighter pilots were the golden children in the Air Force. This change could potentially open doors to major career advancement and command opportunities for her.
“I think you should consider fighters if the ban is ever lifted. Girl, you have the brains, the aggressiveness, and the skills to fly a fighter.” She was thrilled he saw that in her flying. “Until that happens, I think you’d make a good IP in either the Tweet or the T-38. You just need to ace this nav check ride first.”
“Assuming you get all those qualifications, what do you want to fly?” Merrilee asked.
Casey would love to have the chance to fly a fighter, if that was open to her, but she also liked the idea of being an instructor pilot, especially if she could stay at Willie.
An image of Kathryn came into her mind. “I think I’d like to stay here at Willie as an IP, but being one of the first women to fly fighters is also very tempting.”
Casey thought about the assignment discussion as she headed back to her quarters. Maybe she and Kathryn needed to talk about her flying assignment, a subject they had so far avoided. Maybe it would be better if she was an IP in the T-38 squadron since Kathryn flew with the T-37 squadron and they would need to continue to be very discreet. Overall, she liked the people in the T-37 squadron better compared to the T-38 IPs, who were all frustrated fighter pilot wannabes, plus she really wanted to fly with Kathryn again even if it was only an occasional IP proficiency ride. This was a big decision, and she wanted to make it with Kathryn’s input.
*****
Kathryn ran when she heard the phone ring, knowing it was Casey calling her.
“Hi. I just got back from having dinner with Bulldog and Merrilee. They were asking me about my assignment preferences, and I was hoping to talk to you about this.”
“Sure. What’re you thinking?”
“Well, I was thinking about an IP slot here at Willie, but Bulldog said they might open fighters to women. What do you think?”
The idea of flying with Casey again caused warmth to flow through Kathryn’s chest.
“First of all, I think you’d make a great IP in either jet, and secondly, you have to decide what will be the best assignment for you.” Kathryn still hadn’t told Casey about her discussion with the wing commander concerning her upcoming promotion and selection for senior officer school in Alabama. This sin of omission was starting to weigh heavily on her.
“You really think they’d want me as an IP? That would be amazing. Would it be better to ask for a T-38 or a T-37? What would be better for us?”
Kathryn delayed in answering the question. She knew what she wanted, but she was afraid they could never work out their careers in the Air Force. “I don’t know, Casey. You have to figure that out. I can’t tell you what to do.”
“Am I overstepping in asking about what would be best for us? I know it’s premature, but I’ve been thinking about you and me together. I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable.”
“It’s okay, you still have a while to decide. Let’s go to the assignment night party at the Officers’ Club this Friday. The class ahead of yours will be getting their assignments, and maybe it will make your decision clearer.”
“Okay, I’d like that. I’ll meet you at the O Club at six.”
“Great. I have to get up early and fly with a new student tomorrow. I’ll see you Friday.” Kathryn felt guilty cutting Casey off.
After she hung up the phone, she was overwhelmed with confusing feelings. She wanted to be with Casey, but she still had doubts she was capable of being in a real relationship. Their time together in Colorado Springs had been a breakthrough for her. She was still afraid of getting her heart broken again, especially if they got separated by the Air Force, but she also knew she was starting to fall for Casey. She wanted the promotion to major and she wanted to be a squadron commander some day. She wasn’t thrilled about going to school in Alabama for a year, then four years in a staff job, but that was required to have a chance at command. Almost no relationship could survive a separation like that. She didn’t want Casey to make the wrong choice to be with her. For two women pilots to be together in the Air Force—it would take a miracle to make it happen. She just didn’t know if she deserved a miracle.