Warriors

by Barrett Tillman

  General Maila interjected. "What uses do you foresee for such students? Would they remain in the F-20 program?"

  "Yes, if they had aptitudes for maintenance or operations. But those who make it to the halfway point in Tigersharks will be fairly accomplished aviators. Their problems are likely to be spatial orientation in dogfighting or poor G-tolerance, things of that sort. If any of them want to fly less demanding aircraft, I would recommend transferring them to units better suited to their abilities."

  Bennett referred again to his notes. "Mr. Fatah's organization has identified an initial group of nearly a thousand young Saudis who meet the eligibility criteria for age and education. Others will be similarly identified as each group of young males approaches age eighteen. Our first class involves sixty-five candidates, who already have begun extensive remedial English instruction. We expect this to continue for one month, with language tests at intervals throughout the academic and early flying portions of the syllabus.

  "Preflight training stresses physical fitness, with emphasis on those physiological traits needed to withstand the high-G environment of aerial combat. Cardiovascular training will be stressed, as well as upper body development, which provides a sort of built-in resistance to blackout-up to a certain point. The F-20, remember, is a nine-G airplane. It will require a pilot in peak physical condition to fly it to its limits.

  "Ground school will last six months. The course outline and the methods are explained in your handouts. In addition to such topics as aerodynamics, mathematics, engines, and airframes, the students will have classes in the Koran and Arab history. Each barracks will be named for an Arab martyr or hero. We wish to impress these students-and they are at an impressionable age-that they are being groomed as warriors. Toward that end they will live under strict military supervision. They will learn the manual of arms and close-order drill to instill pride and discipline. But I hasten to note that as Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence and I have learned, this training must be tempered with encouragement. The students will be allowed to visit their families at regular intervals as well.

  "We think that all sixty-five who begin preflight training probably will complete it. Normally only those who fall ill or cannot keep up academically will be left behind, but in many cases these individuals can fall back to the next class.

  "Hands-on experience will come at the end of preflight when the students learn to start and run jet engines in a test cell. They will also learn ejection seats and desert and water survival."

  Bennett stopped to sip his lemon-flavored water. "We envision a graduation ceremony at the end of six months, with all family members present. His Majesty has agreed to attend, but the publicity will be minimal. The event is mainly for the benefit of the cadet and his family, with two weeks leave at that time." He knew the next revelation would concern some of the men around the table.

  Here goes, Bennett. Hang on. "We will start flying the cadets immediately in the two-seat F-5F. This is without prior instruction in propeller aircraft or training planes of any kind, although at first I had thought we might use other aircraft as lead-in training. Now I don't think that is necessary. The two-seat F-20Bs are being delivered at a rate sufficient to replace the F-5Fs before the first class is completed. Thorough simulator instruction can prepare the students for about seventy-five percent of the tasks they must complete in the air, but there is no substitute for actual flying. Since the Tigershark is practically stall-proof and resistant to spinning, it affords a unique opportunity to save time and money in the training curriculum."

  Bennett stopped to let the impact sink in. "Are there any questions?"

  The senior Saudi general, Mustafa Halabi, raised a hand. "Colonel Bennett, I remember you mentioned this before. But is it absolutely certain this will work? Obviously, placing young boys in high-performance aircraft could involve great risk."

  "Yes, sir, I am absolutely certain it will work. As you know, it's easier to fly a jet than a piston-powered aircraft. The key is training-thorough, intensive training until the students know each procedure reflexively. We'll keep the cadets flying with IPs longer than normal to be doubly certain of each boy's ability before he solos. The U.S. Navy conducted a similar program many years ago, starting a study group in two-seat Grumman Cougars as their first aircraft. There were no significant problems, and I can only assume that the entrenched training organization and manufacturers prevented the service from adopting the program."

  Warming to his topic, Bennett pressed on. "There's another example, too. One of our Air Force instructors tells me that the Singapore pilots he worked with are among the best F-5 pilots anywhere. One of his students was twenty-two years old, had been flying the Tiger II since age eighteen, and had one thousand hours in it. I believe the Singapore syllabus involved preliminary instruction in propeller trainers, but it's been proven that the accelerated program really works."

  Lawrence cleared his throat, gaining Bennett's attention. The redhead was letting his friend know that he was beginning to speak rapidly and his voice was rising because of the passion he felt for this topic. Bennett continued in a modulated tone.

  "Our F-20 pilots will fly one airplane and one only in their entire careers, most likely. Their first fifteen flights will be in the front cockpit with an instructor in back. After basic airwork and about seventy-five landings they will go solo-one of the high points of their lives, I assure you." Bennett glanced down the table at the king and Fatah. "I might add that I've been assured we will not face the problem of fuel shortage which plagues many other air forces."

  There was a ripple of laughter around the table.

  "The post-solo stage will concentrate on navigation without electronic aids. As you know, most of our F-20s are being ordered without radar or navigation equipment. The value of this training will be apparent if the force is committed to combat. In today's world, electronic countermeasures can preclude navigation, communication, and many weapon systems. Our pilots will not know any such problem since their entire training will be directed toward visual navigation, radio silence in most cases, and gun armament with heat-seeking missiles. Many authorities say those days are over and apparently believe that only the most sophisticated aircraft and systems can do the job. However, we believe otherwise. In your country, with clear weather most of the year, with well-trained pilots flying simple, easily maintained fighters, we expect to match or beat any likely opponent.

  "We expect that about five of the sixty-five students in each class will wash out during this phase of training. At the end of the formation-flying stage the student will have about a hundred hours, and here we expect our highest attrition from dropouts and washouts. Approximately ten students will be disqualified at this level, but as I noted they may be useful in other capacities.

  "At this point, having flown approximately five thousand hours of instructional training, we can expect two or three aircraft will be written off or grounded from damage. Our procurement policy has taken aircraft attrition into consideration.

  "The next phase is instrument training. Now, this is not because we expect to do much night flying. But the frequent haze over the gulf and heavy dust storms will require instruments. It is a demanding phase of flight and will stress the student to a considerable degree. If he can fly a high-performance aircraft alone, on instruments, he has what we Americans call the right stuff. Instrument flight is one of the greatest teachers of discipline, and a tremendous confidence-builder. We will continue instrument training at intervals throughout the syllabus. Probably this will involve two night flights per month.

  "Subsequent stages include advanced formation flying, including tactical formations based on the American loose-deuce two-plane section. Next comes weapon employment. This is the portion toward which all prior training has been directed. Students will begin with air-to-ground gunnery, quickly progressing to aerial gunnery. There will be twenty flights in this syllabus, all in loose-deuce formation or four-plane flights. Inert Sidewinder missiles
will be on board, and students will take turns attacking and defending against missile-equipped opponents. We expect to make heavy use of simulators in this phase, as it will be an excellent means of recognizing AIM-9 missile-firing parameters.

  "Finally, tactics flights against a mixture of instructors and other students will put together all the cadet has learned previously. Frankly, this is the most dangerous regime in the entire syllabus, and we expect to lose some aircraft. Instructors will use a moderate degree of effort to' stress the students and keep them from getting overly confident. By now the students will have some two hundred hours, and some nations have committed pilots to combat at that point.

  "By the end of this final stage we should graduate forty to forty-five students of the original sixty-five. Properly led, they could give a good account of themselves in combat at this stage. But naturally we prefer greater experience before committing the F-20s to such a test."

  Bennett paused to see if anyone had a question. He noted that he had kept the audience's wholehearted interest, so he pressed on. "Graduation ceremonies will be the most moving emotional experience of the young pilot's life. His family and friends will see him receive his silver wings and his commission as a lieutenant. Pay will rise to about a thousand dollars per month. He will have more freedom of movement and will be rid of drill and marching. I recommend a three-week period of leave, and the commissioned pilots would be eligible to marry. I do not recommend marriage prior to graduation. These young men will have their hands full just keeping up with the curriculum.

  "Upon reporting back to base, the graduate pilots will begin to sharpen their skills. An eight-month period involving a hundred and sixty flights will be conducted entirely under combat conditions. Every takeoff, every landing, every briefing will be made under the assumption that hostilities are imminent. The same will apply to maintenance personnel. The pilots also will fight other types of aircraft-Saudi F-15s and Kuwaiti Mirages, for instance. Barring completely unforeseen problems, at the end of this eight-month period, our pilots in the F-20 should be able to defend Saudi airspace against any probable opponent. Frontline assignments will follow, with fifteen pilots and thirteen aircraft per squadron.

  "We intend to plow back into the system about half of the outstanding Arab students to ease the instructor burden on our current IPs. This will be done on a rotational basis after we have identified those with talent and aptitude for flight leader and instructional duty. In this manner we will reinforce the self-sustaining concept for the F-20 program, building on each successive class."

  Bennett gulped another mouthful of water. He was nearing the end of his first presentation, and knew his audience was intrigued by the program.

  "In each of the first three squadrons there will be an American or British adviser who, though not officially the commanding officer, will possess nominal command. Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence will lead the first such unit, and over a period of time these leaders will be replaced by your own people. We will continue recruiting instructors as new classes are formed, and we expect to begin basic flight training every two months-sixty-five students each. At the end of three years there should be eight to ten operational F-20 squadrons, with a maximum strength of a hundred and thirty aircraft. By that point there is little question that your Tigershark pilots could defeat most air forces in the world, fighting against even odds. The F-20's in-commission rate should enable this force, if necessary, to meet or beat a larger enemy with a lower in-commission rate.

  "At this point I should say a few words about the F-20 systems."

  Bennett glanced around, for he knew some men in the room would disagree with his proposal. "The Tigershark has a superb radar. It can distinguish buildings on the ground and even individual aircraft parked on a field from a considerable distance. But I do not intend to purchase many aircraft with radar." He raised a cautioning finger. "I'll tell you why.

  "My own experience tells me that a well-trained fighter pilot can survive and win in combat without relying on radar. And because all major air forces now have powerful jamming capability, I'm convinced that the radar option will be denied both sides. That puts us back to square one. The battle will most often be decided by individual skill, training, and aggressiveness.

  "However, to hedge our bets I'm recommending acquisition of radars in one-quarter of our aircraft. Selected students will be trained in its use-those most likely to become flight leaders. But the extra investment in training and resources would add nearly two years to our initial operational date if we were to go for one hundred percent aircraft and pilot radar capability. 'We can use low-cost part-task simulators for teaching switchology and radar technique, while our own radar-equipped F -20s-and maybe with help from some F-15s-should afford an adequate capability. But I stress again: In a major war neither side will have unimpeded radar. Victory will go to the side with the best-trained pilots who use their assets most intelligently.

  "Finally, a word about maintenance. This is the overlooked aspect of military aviation, but it is the most crucial since all other factors depend upon it-training no less than combat.

  "We expect a total of two hundred and fifty mechanics and other specialists to train under our maintenance instructors already on hand. We have identified sufficient other qualified people to expand the maintenance program at a rate equal to pilot training. Each student pilot class will have a parallel class of about thirty Arab mechanics graduate about the same time. In the beginning this will require pulling some of the existing Saudi mechanics off other aircraft-most notably the F -5 program, which, of course, is phasing out. Here again, we will return the better students to the system for use as instructors themselves."

  Bennett paused and looked around the room. "Gentlemen, this concludes my initial presentation. His Majesty has told me we will break for lunch and resume the briefing thereafter."

  There was complete silence. No one said a word-not the king, nor his air leaders, nor his ministers. Then Bennett caught Safad Fatah's gaze and the aviator recognized what he saw in the Arab's face; a wide-eyed realization. In this room John Bennett, American, had just laid down the key to the box containing the balance of power in the Middle East. "Tiger Force," as it would be called, could become a deciding factor in the future of this region.

  Glancing about in concern, Lawrence turned to his friend and leader. He noticed that Bennett's hands were contracted tightly into fists. The redhead slid back his chair as if to rise, but did not, aware of the breach of decorum to stand before the king arose.

  However, the movement stirred the Saudis. They slowly filed out behind their monarch and Bennett trailed after them. Lawrence matched him stride for stride, then could stand the silence no longer. "What's eating you, Skipper? I thought your briefing went very well."

  Bennett walked a few more paces, then abruptly stopped. His gray eyes met Lawrence's. "I was just thinking. There was a French philosopher who said something I've never forgotten. He said, 'Be careful what you wish. It might come true.' "

  Bahrain

  Mild pandemonium was in progress in the Tiger Force auditorium. Men who had not seen one another in years grasped out-stretched hands, shouted across the large room, or searched out old friends. Forty of the best fighter pilots on the planet were gathered to hear their commander brief them. But for the moment there were handshakes, loud voices, expressive hands, and laughter.

  John Bennett walked among the men, greeting several and calling by name those he recognized. He particularly responded to those who once knew him as their squadron commander and still called him Skipper. Bennett warmly shook hands with Dennis "Masher" Malloy, late of the U.S. Navy's Fighter Squadron 143, and hailed George "Bear" Barnes, whom he had known during an exchange tour with the Marine Corps. Bennett also took note of a few others, recalling names and faces from the personnel folders. The second-tallest man in the room, after Barnes, was a former Air Force pilot with blond good looks-Tim Ottman. Bennett couldn't recall the man's callsign.
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br />   The Brits stood out from the crowd, both by dress and demeanor. Whereas most of the Americans wore well-used flight jackets, the former RAF and Royal Navy fliers were impeccably dressed in coat and tie or razor-creased tropical kit. Bennett made a point of greeting Peter Saint-Martin and Geoffrey Hampton, each sporting a regulation mustache.

  Slowly the noise subsided as Bennett strode to the front of the auditorium and mounted the podium. Those who had never even seen a photo of the man instantly recognized his position. Anyone who had spent time in the military would describe Bennett's posture with the identical term: command presence. Bennett himself thought of the phrase as he looked out over the audience. Occasionally he told intimates that every leader has to be part entertainer. Some leaders are frightening entertainers, others are personable entertainers. Bennett could be either.

  "Gentlemen, welcome. My name is John Bennett. Callsign Pirate. I'm a fighter pilot." This elicited a ripple of enthusiasm and a scattering of applause from those who knew him. "Each of you can call me by my first name-Colonel." Laughter rolled across the audience. It was a familiar gambit, but a welcome one in this strange setting where so much was unfamiliar. It was also to be taken seriously.

  Bennett allowed the response to die out, then continued. "This is a great opportunity for us and, I might add, a lucrative one."

  A chorus of agreement washed over him. A couple of fliers shouted, "It's about time!" Most of these men had pursued other careers but their first love was pushing a fighter plane to its absolute limits, outmaneuvering another man similarly motivated and similarly equipped. No other part of their existence so absorbed them. Bennett knew that, for some, this was a last hurrah. A last time to bend the airplane and see the other man out in front, to know that you were better than he. The feeling in the air was electric.