F-16 fighter pilot Lieutenant Colonel Bruce “Skip” Fischer came by Truax last Friday. For an hour and a half, he discussed and answered questions regarding  several different aspects of his profession. The lesson included everything from the process one must go through to become a jet fighter pilot to basic strategy in air-to-air combat. An anti-g suit and helmet were also on display.

Through the Air Force, Wisconsin Air National Guard, and the commercial sector, Fischer has logged more than 2,300 hours of flight time. Of those, 500 were in combat. He is currently stationed at the neighboring airfield with the 176th Fighter Squadron, Badger Air Militia. His job as a pilot in the Wisconsin Air National Guard is to protect the president, the secretary of defense and the governor of Wisconsin.

Using pictures, videos and the occasional joke, the experience was entertaining and informative. One of the pictures Fischer showed was of the massive engine for F-16s that can produce 28,000 pounds of thrust, capable of Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound).

He demonstrated some capabilities of the multirole aircraft by showing two videos depicting lethal and non-lethal support. The first was the destruction of the biggest IED (improvised explosive device) factory in Baghdad with two 500 pound satellite-guided bombs. The second was by assisting ground forces in locating, using infrared technology, an enemy insurgent in hiding. Having a pilot experienced in the same situations comment during the clips on what it’s like to be in that cockpit helped with the realism.

The majority of the time was used going through his PowerPoint presentation. Fischer showed schematics of the F-16 and the Boeing 737-800.

There was a very brief description/chart of the physics in banking, or turning, the aircraft. The HUD (head-up display) was mentioned in all its complexity. He also gave a glimpse into the seemingly infinite amount of factors that need to be taken into consideration when in air-to-air combat. The utmost concentration is needed to be successful. In other words, live.