Afterwards, everyone wanted to help us get back in the air. I wanted to fly again as soon as possible. Now we're both back in F-16s. At Edwards Air Force Base, risk is minimized through the use of simulation and modeling. Pilots have a clear idea of how a plane will operate, where its flaws may be, and how to correct them, before they ever fly it.
More information is available to pilots in advance than ever before.
Students learn to evaluate aircraft performance flying qualities and systems by flying as many different aircraft as possible. The one-year program accepts less than forty students each year from hundreds of applications. Nicole is following the same track pursued by most military personnel who have gone on to become astronauts. Outstanding graduates from test pilot school may apply for the astronaut program. Applicants are then subjected to a lengthy weeding-out process with multiple interviews.