When I read your ŒDarker Shadesı I was struck by the likeness between
the B-52 pilot and another Œrogueı -- a Mirage pilot whose fatal
accident I investigated a decade ago -- they could have been brothers.
Iıve been asked to write a Œcrm for single pilotsı syllabus for an ab
initio flight training course, and wonder if youıd mind assisting in
developing a Œrogue pilot profileı to use in it.
My pilotıs name was John. The accident -- he attempted a barrel roll
under low cloud. The limited visibility resulted in his horizontal
reference plane being canted steeply downwards, 15 degrees or so. He
crashed after entering trees in the pullout from the resulting dive.
His personality matched many of the points you list in your Rogue
Practitioners paper. He was socially adept. People remarked at how
relaxed he was, in company. This was especially noteworthy as he was
also so intense. Relaxed-and-intense!
He was thought to be arrogant. People said he Œstruttedı rather than
walked. Although of medium height, he was thought to 'walk tall'. He
was not liked by many contemporaries - and they knew he didnıt care.
He was a display pilot, and relished that status.
So far, the description would also fit some of the top pilots I have
known, true professionals, not rogues at all.
Curiously, he thought he was a star pilot - but by objective criteria,
he was not. (Examples, he routinely Œfell outı of stall turn attempts,
his slow rolls showed gross/coarse control input.) Is excessive and
erroneous regard for oneıs own qualities part of the profile? I
wonder.
His fellow pilots felt there was little point in saying anything to
him. His superiors didnıt haul him into line. I suspect they were in
awe of him.
Itıs been ten gin-soaked years since that investigation, so Iıve
probably left a fair bit out. Iıd appreciate anything you could you
add to the list.
Cheers
Doug