Why do fighter pilots say pickle?

Pickle. Slang reference by pilots to the release of ordnance (bombs and canisters) over a target, one at a time in close sequence, on one pass. Such a release allowed the ordnance to cover a larger linear area.

Why is bomb release called pickle?

(AGL = Above Ground Level) Some sources claim that it's called a pickle switch because a control handle with many switches almost feels like a pickle with all its bumps, but that would imply the name was given considerably later than WW2.

What does it mean to pickle a bomb?

Pickle - When a pilot or bombardier presses the trigger button to release bombs or missiles. pressing the release button on his stick to pickle off his napalm, he pulled back violently, just clearing the top of the plateau as he leveled off.

Why do fighter pilots say Fox 2?

When you fly one of our Air Combat missions, you will hear “FOX 2, Fight's On” to initiate our canned setups. “FOX 2” is a brevity code used by fighter pilots to declare a weapon's release (sorta like “bomb's away” from WWII).

Why do pilots say Tally Ho?

Tally-ho should specifically mean "target in sight." It comes from fox hunting. It's what you yell when you spot the fox to send the dogs after it.

Fighter Pilot Lingo Explained

Why do pilots say no joy?

1. In military aviation, a term indicating that no visual confirmation of another aircraft (especially an enemy) has yet been made; no information available at this time. Ground control: "Pilot, be aware that you have traffic at 11 o'clock." Pilot: "Copy that, no joy so far."

What does squawk 7777 mean?

Some squawk codes are reserved, such as 7700 (emergency), 7600 (communication failure), 7500 (hijacking), 1202 (glider), 1200 (VFR), etc. One of these, 7777, is apparently used for "military interception." What does this mean in the United States?

What does no joy mean in military?

No Joy: opposite of Tally; no visual contact with opposing aircrew. "Nordo": term meaning the aircraft has lost radio communications; signaled by rocking wings. "Nose high- Goes high": pilot dictum when approaching another aircraft head-on; used to avoid collisions.

Why do pilots say Guns Guns Guns?

In a practice air-to-air engagement, when one fighter closed on his opponent inside of the missile envelope to put the gun sight piper on the adversary, a call goes out “guns guns guns.” This is a blunt fighter pilot way of saying “your dead!”

What does it mean when pilots say angels?

Angels – Altitude in thousands of feet. "Angels two-five" means 25,000 feet. Angle of attack – The angle at which an aircraft wings meet the air stream. Despite the word “attack,” it is not related to weapons, and applies to all aircraft.

What does pickle mean in military?

Pickle. What is the origin of the verb "to pickle", meaning to release a weapon (especially a bomb), from a military aircraft?

What is a pickle in the Air Force?

The KC-10A is an aircraft that refuels warplanes in flight. The call sign appears to be a nod to an episode in which one of the titular characters in the Cartoon Network show turns himself into a pickle to escape a family therapy session.

How accurate was WWII bombing?

Bombing accuracy was terrible. The average circular error in 1943 was 1,200 feet, meaning that only 16 percent of the bombs fell within 1,000 feet of the aiming point.

How high did WWII bombers fly?

Dropping straight down from a cruising altitude of about 15,000 feet and releasing their bombs from below 2,000 feet, these planes destroyed or damaged many battleships and aircraft carriers.

How do Bombers aim?

A bombsight has to estimate the path the bomb will take after release from the aircraft. The two primary forces during its fall are gravity and air drag, which make the path of the bomb through the air roughly parabolic.

How do pilots poop?

With Brief Relief Disposable Urinal Bag and Disposa-John Portable Restroom, fighter jet pilots have a patented “bag-in-bag” solution that takes care of any solid or liquid waste. Multiple enclosures seal the waste and odor while the enzymes and polymers break down the waste and convert it into a deodorized gel.

Can an airline pilot carry a gun?

Commercial pilots can carry guns only if they've completed the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program and have been granted the authority to do so. Pilots of private planes are allowed to carry guns at their own discretion, but they must follow all state and local guidelines anywhere they land.

Can a civilian fly in a fighter jet?

Where Can a Civilian Learn to Fly a Fighter Jet? If you want to learn to fly a fighter jet as a civilian, there are private programs for certified pilots to become trained and rated to fly these types of aircraft.

What does feet wet mean in military?

(military, aviation) Flying over water.

Why do pilots say Niner instead of nine?

Aviators often speak “pilot English” to avoid miscommunications over radio transmission. “Tree” for instance, means three, “fife” is the number five and “niner” means nine, says Tom Zecha, a manager at AOPA. The variations stemmed from a desire to avoid confusion between similar-sounding numbers, he says.

Why do they say bingo fuel?

"Bingo Fuel" was the amount of fuel remaining to safely reach the "Bingo Field". The "Bingo Field" was the closest land based airfield which could be used as a backup in case the aircraft was unable to land on the aircraft carrier for any reason.

Why do pilots say v1 rotate?

Summary. Long story short, pilots say rotate as a verbal queue that the aircraft has reached its predetermined V_r and hence appropriate inputs can be applied to safely pitch the aircraft in a nose-up attitude to gain lift.

What does it mean when a fighter jet rocks its wings?

Signals used in an interception

To make initial contact, the intercepting aircraft will rock its wings and flash its navigation lights at irregular intervals. This means “you have been intercepted, follow me”.

What does squawk 0000 mean?

Code "0000" should never be assigned or used. and. Code 0000 must never be assigned. However, NASA recommends that crews set 0000 after landing to help detect when a clearance has not been received.

Can a pilot fly again after ejecting?

There's no fixed number – each individual is unique, as is the ejection that they endure. After ejection, a pilot will be given a full medical evaluation and it is down to that medical professional to advise whether it is recommended that the pilot continues to fly or not.