Issue 10: Tech from the Military

from my class received orders and en route was
brought back. No one from my class ever went.
I was assigned to the Air Force Inspection and
Safety Center at Norton Air Force Base (AFB) and
after graduation from the training program, I received
orders to Peterson AFB, Northern American
Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). I
became chief of flying
safety for the wing. We
were responsible for
sharing safety. I was able
to be staff and an instructor
pilot in the squadron
to give pilots check rides
and check maintenance
for planes. I then attended
F-106 training at
Castle AFB, the Northern
Air Defense Command
located in Northern California.
The F-106 is a high altitude supersonic jet
designed to engage Russian bombers or ICBMs.
Can you tell us about one of your missions?
LEE LILLY | CC BY-ND 2.0
Our mission was to defend the coastline of the
US in the late 70s. We would sit alert, but had
to be airborne in five minutes after the claxon
went off. We would fly in all weather conditions
and practiced with
Air Force and Navy
B-52s, KC-135, etc.
Every three to four
months, we had full
blown exercises.
Most were fun, such
as a single pilot one
engine (very fast)
jet that carried four
missiles, 2 infrared
(IR) and 2 radar, and
a nuclear rocket or
a 20mm Galton gun
like the A-10. The IR
was best from behind,
it tracks heat
source. The radar
was best from the
side or in front.
The normal routine
film the interceptor
recorded was used
to go over training
The Korean and Vietnam Wars
distinctly changed the views
and treatment of the military by
the American people in general
and tested our air power while
we served continual vigilance
towards the Soviet Union.
TAKING FLIGHT | 21
The F-106 (pictured left)
is an all- weather, day or
night fighter. It uses an
encrypted data link with
a computer-controlled
radar fire control system
to find, track, lock-on
and destroy any adversary
aircraft or missiles.
It still holds the record as
the fastest single-engine
fighter in the world flying
at 1525 miles an hour or
more with the ability to
climb over 65,000 feet
with high maneuverability.
The special supersonic
tanks gave it a combat
radius of 700 miles
without refueling. The
cockpit’s heavy workload
make it one of the most
challenging fighters to
master.
missions. The film records information received
on the plane and not the pilot; it tracks missile to
intercept point.
I was also a part of College
Dart Trindle Air
Force Base F-106 primary
training against other
squadrons, such as
F-106, Navy F-14 or F-4.
We’d fly different scenarios
against them, which
were watchable in 3D.
Every F-106 sat on alert
at home base and another.
Mine was at George
Air Force Base in Victorville. The squadron out of
Michigan sat on alert for an entire week.
You haven’t mentioned any female pilots.
Were there any?
There were no women pilots until 1981 at Del
Rio. There are strong women who are highly capable
and some men were wimpy and probably
Origins Scientific Research Society