2006年VOA标准英语-International Pilots Train to Fly U.S. Fighter

By Priscilla Huff
Tucson, Arizona
31 July 2006
 
watch Training report

The U.S. military's F-16 Fighting Falcon¹ is one of the most popular fighter jets ever.  About 4,500 have been sold all over the world. But pilots must be trained by Americans -- and that means traveling far from home and learning an entirely² different way to fly. VOA's Priscilla Huff has the story from the desert of the American Southwest.

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The F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of most popular fighter planes in the world  
  
Pilots who want to fly the F-16 fighter jet must come here, to the desert near Tucson, Arizona.  One of the instructors⁴ is Lieutenant⁵ Colonel Mike High. "Our mission is to train students from all over the world -- whoever flies F-16s and whoever wants the training -- to train them to fly the F-16."

The 162nd Fighter Wing of the International Guard hosts the U.S. military's program to train pilots from allied⁶ nations.  But before they arrive, they have to master one skill -- speaking English.  This is critical, says squadron commander Lieutenant Colonel Will Johnson.

Lieutenant Colonel Will Johnson   
  
"It's the language. Every country comes in and they understand English but sometimes, they don't understand our gang signs or our slang, so that is confusing. But once they figure us out and we figure them out, it's no problem."

It is about more than just the language. The F-16 training program also involves learning the American approach to flying the $30 million aircraft. Lessons start with a lot of classroom time.

 
Lt. Col. Ross Stepaniuk, Polish Air Force
  
The American training emphasizes more independent thinking during a mission.  Pilot Ross Stepaniuk of the Polish Air Force must learn a different leadership style. "Most of us need to get accustomed to the procedures here.  The way of doing things that we are used to in our Air Force, they are totally different here. It is a huge transition for pilots from our system of flying to where, first of all, there is a lot of traffic in the air, second, you fly a lot, and finally, you have to meet very, very high expectations."

 
Lt. Col. Mike High
  
It will take Stepaniuk and the rest of the Polish Air Force several years to completely make the transition from the Russian MiG to the F-16.  Lieutenant Colonel Mike High explains,  "I would say there is a very big difference between what he's been doing, and what he's learning how to do now.  Which means it may be more of a challenge than it may appear to the casual observer. The F-16 is much, much more advanced than the MiG; much more advanced – it's 21st century technology, whereas the MiG was 1950s technology. Really, I mean, it has been upgraded, but it is a very, very old aircraft."

A pilot on an F-16  training mission   
  
The F-16 was first built in 1976. The planes are now assembled under a consortium deal managed by NATO. Parts come from several nations. Once a purchase contract is signed with the U.S. military, the preparation process begins, as ground crews and officers learn how to care for the jets.

And, of course, the pilots need to learn how to fly the planes, which can reach speeds of Mach 2: 2400 kilometers per hour.

Ross Stepaniuk is one of the first seven Polish pilots to graduate from the program after nearly two years of hard work.

 
Colonel Stepaniuk at his graduation ceremony
  
But his training is not complete.  Stepaniuk must remain in Tucson to earn his wings as an instructor³ pilot for the Polish Air Force.

"It's a wonderful aircraft. It feels very good, maybe it's too good," he says. "But, it's still difficult because the more experience you have, the higher the expectations go. You have to know more and more about this plane we all fly, so you have to have tremendous experience in so many areas."

Pilots from Singapore, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates also are being trained in Tucson.  And the next F-16 training program is in the works for Pakistan.

Some footage courtesy Lockheed-Martin

1 falcon   

n.隼，猎鹰

参考例句：

• The falcon was twice his size with pouted feathers.鹰张开羽毛比两只鹰还大。
• The boys went hunting with their falcon.男孩子们带着猎鹰出去打猎了。

2 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

3 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

4 instructors   

指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
• He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份，被邀请到主席台上。

5 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

6 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。