again alone and in a quandary as he could not begin to fit even one box into the cramp quarters. Frustrated he accepted defeat and went to get help from the chief.
Gray Panther Space Academy, Arizona
18 August 2128
Andrews stood in disbelief with the rest of his flight as they were briefed. They were going to be the first flight to be trained on space fighters. The fighter came across like something out of the 1950's air force arsenal. The fighter looked like a dart with tiny wings on each side and a small tail section. Centered under the nose was a 40mm cannon, on each wing a beamer was installed. The fuselage of the fighter rested on flat skis leaving only a space of six inches to the deck. The entrance to the fighter was by raising the canopy. The flight deck was compact, the forward control panel housed many displays as well as a HUD. The right panel housed weapons status and environmental controls. The left panel housed a navigation panel and mission computer. The seat looked like a recliner that had been extended back. Numerous leads were out and unconnected laying across the seat.
“Ladies and gentlemen we have a life support technician who will go over the flight equipment and connections to the flight deck. Go ahead Technical Sergeant Willis.”
“I am TSgt Willis. Today I will be going over the flight suit the connectors and leads to the fighter and how to egress the fighter. The flight suit has four connectors that connect to the seat inertial reels one on each side of the waist and one behind each shoulder. Their purpose is to keep you safely connected to the seat in the event of violent maneuvers or if you need to eject. The other leads are for environmental so you can adjust the temperature by the air blowing into the suit. There is a lead for liquid waste you need to connect to your person. Ladies I am sorry there is nothing we have for you at this time.” Light nervous laughter came from the flight as he continued. “The power lead will power the computer on the left sleeve of the suit as well as connect the communications. The helmet connects to the flight suit neck by pulling it down from the nine o’clock position then rotating it to the twelve o’clock position until it locks in. Once the helmet is connected the suit powers the virtual view you will have from there. When you turn your head in the helmet, the view in front of your face instantly changes it also works with the head up display and the targeting system. It is safer to have a virtual visor than a real one with the expected hazards of space combat. The flight gloves go over the sleeves of the suit then retain their position until after power is removed.
"The fighter itself provides protection from g-forces, however it only starts at 7 g’s so you will be more punished than driving a shuttle. There are three ways to egress the fighter. If you are on the ground and have time to get out normally you select switch 3 on your right panel, this will raise the canopy, and you may then disconnect the four connectors to the seat and then disconnect each of the leads to your suit and then egress. Option 2, if you need to get out of the fighter in a hurry on the ground, there is a covered switch on the left arm console. Open it and flick the switch. The canopy will immediately open and the four connectors to your suit will disconnect from the seat. You may then egress the fighter, all leads connected to your suit only need a 4-pound pull force to quick disconnect. Power will stay on in your helmet up to an hour once you disconnect from the seat. The third option to egress is to pull the yellow handle on the right arm of the seat. This will retract the inertial reels pulling you to the proper body alignment with the seat while at the same time launching the entire flight deck as an encapsulated system away from the ship.
"The on-board computer will determine what mode the encapsulated portion will deploy. Mode 1 is in the gravity well of a
Gray Panther Space Academy, Arizona
18 August 2128
Andrews stood in disbelief with the rest of his flight as they were briefed. They were going to be the first flight to be trained on space fighters. The fighter came across like something out of the 1950's air force arsenal. The fighter looked like a dart with tiny wings on each side and a small tail section. Centered under the nose was a 40mm cannon, on each wing a beamer was installed. The fuselage of the fighter rested on flat skis leaving only a space of six inches to the deck. The entrance to the fighter was by raising the canopy. The flight deck was compact, the forward control panel housed many displays as well as a HUD. The right panel housed weapons status and environmental controls. The left panel housed a navigation panel and mission computer. The seat looked like a recliner that had been extended back. Numerous leads were out and unconnected laying across the seat.
“Ladies and gentlemen we have a life support technician who will go over the flight equipment and connections to the flight deck. Go ahead Technical Sergeant Willis.”
“I am TSgt Willis. Today I will be going over the flight suit the connectors and leads to the fighter and how to egress the fighter. The flight suit has four connectors that connect to the seat inertial reels one on each side of the waist and one behind each shoulder. Their purpose is to keep you safely connected to the seat in the event of violent maneuvers or if you need to eject. The other leads are for environmental so you can adjust the temperature by the air blowing into the suit. There is a lead for liquid waste you need to connect to your person. Ladies I am sorry there is nothing we have for you at this time.” Light nervous laughter came from the flight as he continued. “The power lead will power the computer on the left sleeve of the suit as well as connect the communications. The helmet connects to the flight suit neck by pulling it down from the nine o’clock position then rotating it to the twelve o’clock position until it locks in. Once the helmet is connected the suit powers the virtual view you will have from there. When you turn your head in the helmet, the view in front of your face instantly changes it also works with the head up display and the targeting system. It is safer to have a virtual visor than a real one with the expected hazards of space combat. The flight gloves go over the sleeves of the suit then retain their position until after power is removed.
"The fighter itself provides protection from g-forces, however it only starts at 7 g’s so you will be more punished than driving a shuttle. There are three ways to egress the fighter. If you are on the ground and have time to get out normally you select switch 3 on your right panel, this will raise the canopy, and you may then disconnect the four connectors to the seat and then disconnect each of the leads to your suit and then egress. Option 2, if you need to get out of the fighter in a hurry on the ground, there is a covered switch on the left arm console. Open it and flick the switch. The canopy will immediately open and the four connectors to your suit will disconnect from the seat. You may then egress the fighter, all leads connected to your suit only need a 4-pound pull force to quick disconnect. Power will stay on in your helmet up to an hour once you disconnect from the seat. The third option to egress is to pull the yellow handle on the right arm of the seat. This will retract the inertial reels pulling you to the proper body alignment with the seat while at the same time launching the entire flight deck as an encapsulated system away from the ship.
"The on-board computer will determine what mode the encapsulated portion will deploy. Mode 1 is in the gravity well of a
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