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Comment by JudyM on October 7, 2011 at 6:02pm

For those who are in the early phase of primary, this came from somewhere on the N4M site, not sure where. It describes the phases of primary:

Primary is the first phase of a Student Naval Aviator's (SNA) flying 
> training. They will learn to fly using the T-34C Turbo Mentor (soon to 
> transition to the T-6 Texan). Here is the breakdown of T-34 training:
> Ground School
> - SNAs learn about the "systems" of the airplane (fuel, electrical, 
> landing gear, flight controls, etc). This takes about 3 weeks (if I 
> remember correctly:))
> FAMs (Familiarization) - This is the 
> first time the SNA flies the aircraft. They are assigned their own 
> personal flight instructor called an "On-Wing". The On-Wing is very 
> demanding and will expect A LOT. FAMs are only 14 flights long with the 
> 13th being the "checkride" and the 14th being a solo. This is completely
> different from a solo in a private airplane. The T-34 is MUCH more 
> powerful than a Cessna and is a big jump for most new students. This is 
> one of the two most difficult stages of Primary. Your son will be 
> studying like crazy and will be very stressed, but most likely loving 
> it! This stage will culminate with the solo which is a ton of fun!
> Basic Instruments (BIs)
> - This is the SNAs first introduction to "instrument" flying (where 
> they cannot see outside of the airplane). It is a short stage (about 6 
> flights) and usually done within the FAM stage (usually after FAM 5). 
> This stage is not very fun, but very important.
> Aerobatics - 
> Not to be confused with "acrobatics", Aerobatics is a really fun stage 
> where the SNA will learn to fly the plane more precisely by doing 
> maneuvers such as the loop, barrel roll, half-cuban 8, inverted flight, 
> and a few others. This stage has six flights, with two of those being 
> solos. During this stage, the SNA will most likely scare themselves and 
> will earn a greater respect for the airplane and will come away with 
> more confidence in themselves.
> Formation Flight (FORMs)-Another
> super fun stage! In this stage, two SNA's will be paired together as 
> "Form Partners" and will go through this stage together. Here they will 
> learn how to fly two planes in close proximity to each other...safely. 
> During the first four flights, the SNAs will learn the basic maneuvers 
> of formation flight (turning and separating and rejoining). The fourth 
> flight will be a solo with each SNA in their own airplane followed by an
> instructor in a 3rd plane. The 5th and 6th flight will be "Cruise 
> Form". During these two flights, the SNAs will learn the techniques of 
> more dynamic formation flying during high bank turns and wing-overs.
> Night
> - This short stage only has two flights. The SNA will fly with an 
> instructor at night with the aim of just exposing the SNA to the night 
> environement. These flights are low stress and usually enjoyable.
> Radio Instruments (RIs)
> - This is the longest and most difficult stage in Primary (they saved 
> the best for last!). This stage consists of a combination of instrument 
> ground school, flights and simulators. This stage will teach the SNA how
> to navigate without having to look outside:). Many of these flights are
> done in the back seat, under the "bag" (a canvas hood that is pulled up
> from behind the seat that attaches to the glare shield in front of you,
> thus preventing the SNA from seeing outside). Don't worry, the 
> instructor is sitting in the front keeping a close eye on what's going 
> on! This stage is difficult because it is much like learning a new 
> language with all the new terms, definitions, and federal regulations 
> that must be followed. Most SNAs either love it or hate it! However, 
> this is one of the most important skills the SNA will learn and 
> something they will use for the rest of their career.
> VNAVS (Visual Navigation)
> This stage is usually clumped together with some RIs during a 
> cross-country. During this stage, the SNA will learn how to navigate 
> using visual navigation. They will plot a route on a chart (map) and 
> attempt to fly this route using only the visual checkpoints they have 
> selected (ie fly from the intersection of two roads, fly until a large 
> factory, turn and fly toward a dam, etc). These flights are usually done
> at 1000' (which is low and makes navigating more difficult, but it 
> makes the flying more fun).
> The completion of the cross-country is 
> usually the completion of Primary (about 6-months of very hard work). 
> The SNA is now ready for the selection of their next platform (jets, 
> props, helos, maritime). After selection of their platform, they will 
> then move on to advanced:)

Comment by Paymaster on October 7, 2011 at 5:54pm

First chapter of Mom's 101 in Avaition:  Never let your child know what you know via Navyformoms!  Always acted surprised when they tell you something that you already learned about it here!

Comment by Kathy on October 7, 2011 at 2:15pm

UGH with the identity theft crisis.... I hear that is very time consuming. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

My DS also reassured me that planes do not just drop out of the sky. So now we should all be very comforted... right???

I wish that aviator course had a text book. I heard that a friend of my 2 sons (army) gave his fiance a pink fatigue "manual" for wives/moms/significant others. Maybe we should have a convention and write our own Naval Aviator 101 book! I still go back to a website to try to read up on each stage, what is happening and what he is training for, and mostly what all the acronyms mean! :) 

It is a spectacular day here in the Chicago area - warm temps, bright sun, and leaves that are absolutely beautiful. I hear that another long, rough winter may be following, so I am just going to soak in the day/weekend! ENJOY!!

Comment by JudyM on October 7, 2011 at 1:51pm

Love the idea that they have a course on talking to Mom's. What a brilliant idea! Do we ever stop worrying? I almost feel relieved that Jesse is in the sims for the next week or so. 

So sorry to hear about the identity theft. The hassle must be tremendous. 

Comment by Kathy on October 6, 2011 at 9:38pm

Great story, flyboymom.... at least for those of us reading it and not going through all of that!! What a nightmare!! I am looking forward to those nerves of steel....

Comment by Paymaster on October 6, 2011 at 9:02am

Rosemarie.....Long dress is best for the ball, but cocktail will do.  I would not wear white.

 

If your son's girlfriend is interested, your son was givien a book on Navy Etiq.  They list all the do's and don't in the book. 

Comment by Rosemarie on October 5, 2011 at 6:38pm

To marcink6---Did you go to a winging ceremony after primary? I didn't think there was a ceremony...

 

Comment by Rosemarie on October 5, 2011 at 6:33pm

Hi All,

Can anyone tell me how to dress for a Navy Ball? My son is the ensign...he's wearing dress whites. His girlfriend has no idea. Long dress only?? Cocktail length okay??? Black only.. colors okay.... red too much? The ball will be in Corpus.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks!

Comment by lsP3Orion on October 5, 2011 at 5:52pm

Leslie - son not home yet - in El Salvador now for the rest of deployment - he has been on 3 continents for this deployment.  Thinks he may be home to JAX near Thanksgiving.

Comment by marcink6 on October 5, 2011 at 12:33pm

One more thing ... have any of your sons/daughters shared any of their "experience" at SERE (I think that's the right acronym?).  My son goes in a few weeks.

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