Weapons
Returning From The Target
RETURNING FROM THE TARGET
RENDEZVOUS
After the final run, the flight lead will call “Off target rendezvous” and will normally continue straight ahead
while climbing to the pre-briefed rendezvous altitude and slowing to 250 KIAS. Other flight members
repeat the call as they come off target, adding to the call the number of aircraft they have in sight. A
typical call would be, “Three’s off safe, off-target rendezvous, two in sight.” When #2 calls off, lead will
begin a turn in a pre-briefed direction, usually in the pattern direction toward the reciprocal of the run-in
heading. Flight leads will brief procedures for lost sight in the rendezvous.
At the rendezvous, you should have expended all your ordnance. If you have not done so, attempt to
release all your bombs on the last run, even if you have to pickle multiple bombs. Rockets must be
released prior to the last run as you must not fire forward into the rendezvous—the last rocket run is
always cold.
HUNG ORDNANCE CHECK
The hung ordnance check is made during the off-target rendezvous. During the final stages of the
rendezvous, the lead checks each wingman for hung bombs. Two checks the lead as he crosses
under. If rockets are carried, the flight joins in echelon with #2 checking lead’s rocket pod, #3
checks #2 and #4 checks #3 as they cross under. The flight lead places the flight in cruise at which
time #2 balances the formation. Upon lead’s command, the flight members report their switches
safe, highest g pulled, and fuel remaining; #4 adds “flight clean” or which aircraft are hung ordnance.
RTB/FIELD ENTRY
Upon return to the field, flights will normally proceed to the initial and enter the break.
HUNG ORDNANCE APPROACH
If only one wingman has hung ordnance, the lead will reshuffle the flight if necessary to place that
aircraft in the #2 or #4 cruise position. He will detach it from the flight prior to initial. If you are
detached, fly a hung ordnance approach in accordance with local course rules; the rest of the flight
will enter the break as usual.
If the lead is hung, or if more than one aircraft is hung, you must make a formation hung ordnance
approach. Lead establishes the flight in trail by detaching wingmen at 20-second intervals. He
begins to detach aircraft from the flight so that he can be established on speed no closer to the
runway than 2 nm.
When you are detached from the flight, reduce power to idle and extend speed brakes. Passing
200 kts, extend gear and half flaps, retract speed brakes, and slow to 150 kts. Follow the lead’s
flight path and do not descend below 300 feet AGL until you acquire a ball. At 3 DME, extend speed
brakes and full flaps, and slow to on-speed. Make your gear call to the tower in proper flight order.
Flare to 600 fpm for pylon restrictions.
DEARMING
Any aircraft which was carrying forward-firing ordnance will require dearming, regardless of whether
or not the ordnance was expended. The area to which aircraft will taxi for dearming will be deter-
mined by local course rules but will generally be located close to the roll-out end of the duty runway.
All safety considerations and procedures for arming also apply to dearming.
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