First Solo

Joe fidgeted with the zipper on his jumpsuit. His body made jerking movements as if he was not sure if he wanted to run, or if he was just eager to get started. Joe was dressed in a one piece jumpsuit, his helmet on the ground beside him. His fingers twitched as he mentally checked off procedures in his head.

"Hey Joe, how's it going?" Brian asked, grinning from ear to ear. He noted Joe's fingers twitching, and smiled wider. "Nervous much?"

Joe shrugged, taking a deep breath and stilling his hands, "it's my first solo flight."

Brian suppressed the urge to razz his younger teammate. Mark and Brian had taken their qualifying flights the previous month. "Don't worry about it," Brian said, "just do as David taught you, and you'll be fine."

"I know that I know this, but that doesn't stop me from being nervous," Joe said.

"Are you ready Joe?" David asked, as he rounded the corner into the hanger.

"I guess as ready as I will be," Joe said, snapping off a salute.

"Okay. Jump into the Falcon over there and taxi out to the runway," David said.

"Yes Sir." Joe snapped off another salute.

Joe climbed into the cockpit of the fighter jet and checked his instruments, letting the taxi pull the jet to the runway.

David's voice came crackling over the headset into his ear. "Okay Joe, just like you trained. Take a deep breath. You can do this. You know the procedures, you know the maneuvers. Take it slow and do it right," David said.

"Yes Sir," Joe said, nodding, even though David couldn't see him.

Joe pulled back on the controls when he was given the all clear and the flag man had retreated.

The jet rocketed down the runway, gathering speed until it was airborne. Joe climbed swiftly into the sky, grinning at the feeling of freedom.

Joe settled himself and looked at his panel of information. He knew that David would be his spotter on the ground, and Steve would be the air observer. He was not sure who he would be flying against.

Joe rolled his jet to the left as his honed instincts noted the barest movement from the corner of his eye. He banked his jet in a tight turn and climbed steeply, trying to get a visual on his opponent. He saw the other jet below him as he did a roll to the right as his sensors picked up the mock gunfire.

Joe dipped his jet into a controlled dive so that he could get beneath the other fighter pilot. He punched in the code that would send signals to the other pilot of his strafing run. the other pilot looped around him to come up from his tail.

Joe stalled out to slow down enough so that the other pilot would over shoot him. As Joe came up behind the other jet he let loose a volley. A direct hit.

David's and Steve's cheers were drowned out by Joe's own enthusiasm. Joe did a victory roll and streaked back towards the runway.

As Joe exited his plane there was an enthusiastic group waiting for him.

"Way to go Joe!" Mark said, pounding him on the back.

"Good job. I knew you could do it," David said, punching him in the shoulder.

"I think a celebration is in order," Steve said.

"Absolutely," David said, leading the way away from the hanger.