After flying the CF-18 Hornet in combat and completing his first tour with the Snowbirds, Major Maciej "Match" Hatta set his sights on one of military aviation's most demanding challenges: Experimental Test Pilot School.

In Part 2 of this three-part series, Match takes us inside the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. He explains the mindset that separates test pilots from operational pilots, the relentless pace of the course, and what it takes to evaluate aircraft at the edge of their flight envelopes.

From deep stalls in the F-16 Viper and low level flying in the C-17 to testing the CF-18's AESA radar and helping modernize the CT-114 Tutor, this episode offers a rare look into the world of flight testing and the people responsible for pushing aviation forward.

Chapters

(00:00:58) Introduction and welcome
(00:02:06) AETE tryouts
(00:08:30) When was it time to go to Test Pilot School?
(00:09:39) Was there a specific school you wanted to attend?
(00:10:40) Moving to Edwards Air Force Base
(00:10:57) Experiencing Test Pilot School as a family
(00:12:28) How COVID changed life in California
(00:15:31) How difficult is Test Pilot School?
(00:18:39) Pilot brain versus engineer brain
(00:21:05) Who excelled and who struggled?
(00:27:30) The hardest part of Test Pilot School
(00:29:25) The mindset shift from operations to test flying
(00:32:53) Lake Mead touch and goes in the Albatross
(00:38:24) Deep stalls in the F-16 Viper
(00:42:12) Flying the F-16 as an extension of your body
(00:48:15) The Sidewinder low level route
(00:53:11) Singing the praises of the C-17
(00:54:06) Joining AETE
(00:58:05) Testing the Hornet's AESA radar
(01:01:45) The first live AIM-9X missile shot
(01:04:20) Rare moments at AETE
(01:09:01) Helping modernize the CT-114 Tutor
(01:16:06) Top test flight moments

CONTINUE THE FLIGHT

EXPLORE THE LOGBOOK
More stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots.

https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes