« Take of on alert »
- We are a crew 'Rafale' from the fighters squadron 1/91 on alert on board. We're going to do a nuclear strike on order of the president that can occur at any moment.
* The pilote is puting his helmet and speaks on his radio*
From our aircraft, we are in constant contact with the burried HQ of the alert zone, itself under the commandment of strategic air force's operations. All the aircraft's systems have been checked. The missile's mission is loaded. The aircraft is entire and ready to start up. This alert level makes us ready to take of on order in less than 5min.
* The pilote is touching his screen and motors are going to be very loud *
Ignition on the right ! It is stabilizing... Ignition ont the left. It's rolling, it's delivering to the left... well it is stabilizing on the left. The SFC [1] is reconnected on the left, we can lauch the... (???) cheking... before taxiing. “KWS” is engaged. [sic][2] We can go out the shelter. Is it good for you ?
- It's good for me.
* The airplane is exiting the shelter now *
- We take care not to snag the wing tips and missiles on the left, on the right... (???)
- It's good on the right, it's good on the left. It's passing on the right.
* Taxiing... *
- Well, i start up various sensors : the radar, the 'optronique secteur frontal', the countermeasure 'spectra'... [3]
Our crew is formed by a pilot and a arming-system-navigator-officer. During the flight, the pilot is mainly in charge of the immediate steering of the trajectory of the plane [sic], refueling phases in flight, and the armament release. The navigator as for him will particularly be in charge of electronic warfare operations, (jamming, decoy), the armament preparations, and the management of various 'inputs' [sic] during the mission in the long term : oil, trajectory management, enemy's surface-to-air or air-to-air systems.
Our mission will split up in several great parts : a take of of all aircrafts on alert in the plan, a gathering of fighters and tankers to allow to extend our action capacity, then a phase of penetration at very low altitude and very high speed to avoid enemy's surface-to-air defenses, and to finish, the release point of our armament.
On the way, we may be brought to engage our air-to-air missiles against enemy threats, whether to defend the tanker's procession, or to defend ourself or other nuclear fighters.
Full throttle signal. 3... 2, 1, (???) the brakes, afterburner engaged, (???) are connected. The thrust is established. The (???) to nominal 55. We continue the take of.
We feel the plane is heavier than usually... speeding up to 150 knots, 180 knots (???) take of. (???)
* the plane is now flying *
The red is off [sic], the gear is retracted. We speed up to 280 knots... and 300 with reheat[4], so now the reheat is confirmed. Standard in front. [sic]
- Standard behind.
- And we start a turn on the right. Let's restabilize our speed to 300 knots now.
- And you'll take the refueling into destination.
- Received, the refueling into dest' ! We're going to let you go now. We'll come together again into view of the tanker.
« Aerial refueling and low altitude penetration »
As you can note, we are into the C-135's view, perfectly on time. [5] We're going now to change into aerial refueling mode, the first refueling of a long sequence.
(???) 4-1-2 (???) [5]
In order to begin the relatively critical phase of the flight... so the goal of this phase is to insert the refueling pole into the bowl which is located just in front of us now. So we have absolutely to control our closing speed... and the 3 dimensions of our aircraft. Our airraft's speed is now 300 knots... relatively intense moment... steering precision...
- becoming closer backward... 3 meters, 2, 1 meter, entry. In the bowl. Contact (???)
- Now the exercise is not finished since we have to maintain our position since the hose flexibility is relatively limited. It allows us to do our movements in a sphere of about 2.5 meters radius.
- The fuel is flowing.
- Received. Well the placing on the bend of the device complicates a little more... the steering expertise, since the tanker and ourself are now into a bend. Benchmarks are affected by the Boing's inclinaision... and make the exercise more difficult as if needed. (???) Well, now the technical exercice comes back.. and the 'disconnect' of the device... we have to come back in the rigid pole axis and reduce our speed... in order to exit as properly as possible from the bowl, and then to return by a shift on the right... to return on the right of the tanker. I saw i have enough fuel, i'm exiting the refueling mode.
We're going to switch on the low altitude penetration phase. Thanks to the aircraft's terrain-following system we're going to fly over the enemy's territory at 300 feet height and at 500 knots speed. This automatic terrain-following system allow us to penetrate the territory unknown to enemy's defenses and regarless of the weather.
path selected ! Well, we're engaged in a terrain approach in steep slope in a bend... the terrain approach is engaged. (???) The great handle is lighted up. [sic][6]
- It's good for me.
- (???) ...steep slope...
– Okay, it's rounding, echos are taken into consideration, the echo has been tranformed into a double disk. The echos appear selected on the 2D. [7] the terrain approach is finishing, and is now finished.
- Terrain approach finished.
(???)...4-1-2 alpha bravo... (???)...1-3-1-0... [8]
- 6-7-0-0 and 1-0-1-6 (???) 4-1-2. Alpha bravo, see you in 45 minutes... [8]
I let you give frequences.
- yep, well... this one is at 3 miles..
- And we'll maintain on 8, we won't pass to 7, we'll pass 13-toward. [9]
- Yeah it's pretty good.
- There, it is 412-13-toward...
Auto-joystick engaged. Echos are taken into consideration. So we're on following-terrain phase.
- And we have to replace ourself, the unit one is gone... at 800 meters.
May I suggest you we'll take the 430 ? (???) the way on the north before the goal 15. We'll do an 'HR' on the 430.
- Oh, yeah.
- Then we'll follow the way on the north.
- Oh yes, no problem.
- We're now let you go. We'll meet together again after the last in-flight refueling.
« In hostile territory... »
- We're spotted by mig-29s, 2 hours, 30 miles. [10]
- Received. We tack to the right, we go up, we speed up, we honor the threat ! [sic]
- I got a radar contact, noon, 30 miles.
- Air-to-air armament selected : MICA-EM. [11] On approach of the domain.
- Watch out the domain.
- Continue to accelerate, we're going into the domain.. (...) on the north. The 'master arm' [sic] is up, we're firing. Missile's gone, it's clearing off ! [12] Are you ready for the terrain approach ?
- I am ready for the terrain approach. The order is 300 feet.
- Received. Then terrain selected, path selected, terrain approach ongoing.
Echos taken into consideretion. On the 2D ('TF' ???), we're continuing... it's rounding, terrain approach finished.
- ...And we retake the way to the initial flight plan.
- We follow the initial flight plan !
- At 10 miles from the firing point. The engagement has been confirmed.
- Received. Engagement's confirmed. I continue to accelerate, you can start the “ALN”.
- Missile's alignment is started.
- On the left.. and on the right.
- The firing sequence is checked and the exhanges' position is correct.
- Perfect, we continue to the 'realease point'... at 2 miles. 1.5 miles.
- At the end of the firing, tack on the right ?
- Tack on the right at the end. 1 mile ! We continue our acceleration, we are on firing mode. 0.5 mile. Firing point ! 'BRM' support, the firing is centered, missile's gone ! It's clearing off on the right ! Are you ready for the terrain approach ?
- Ready for terrain approach.
- Path selected, terrain approach ongoing. The echos are taken into consideretion on the 2d... it's rounding, terrain approach finished.
- And you have the exit plan from the lines as dest' [destination] Charlie Bravo as dest'
- Received ! The point Charlie Bravo as dest'. I got it in front, proceed.
« Everyday for 50 years, the FAS' crews train to accomplish their main mission by looking for excellence. »
- estimated exit from the lines in 15min.
- Received, 15 min...
if I understood properly)