Wednesday April 2, 2008 - BFM = Dogfight!

BFM stands for Basic Fighter Maneuvers in the world of fighter aviation. BFM is considered by many fighter pilots to be the Holy Grail of combat aviation and is also known as Dog-Fighting (no offense to Mike Vick.) BFM is described by many as a one on one knife fight in a telephone booth where airframe and pilot are pushed to their limits utilizing high G-maneuvering and skill to kill or be killed. Yes, we love it!

Dogfight Video at this Link:

Learn about the basics of BFM at this link:

Modern day fighter pilots don't fly as much BFM as we used to because our current threat environment doens't provide many opportunities for close in air-to-air combat. This month at Buckley we have cleaned the wings off (took down wing tanks and bombs) and are flying BFM! I enjoyed a great BFM sortie with Brian "Ike" Turner where I pulled 8.8 G's. Pulling those kind of G forces hurts more than I remember it hurting when I was 24! My forearms and backside are filled with small red dots - called "G-easeles." You see the airplane can turn the corner at 500 mph, but the blood in your body can't so many small capillaries burst in High G maneuver.

Here is a link on G-related forces and Geasles

Needless to say - working out on a regular basis assists with G-tolerance and doesn't hurt your BFM capabilities. With that in mind - today's Crossfit:

Wednesday 080402
Five rounds for time of:

• 30 Glute-ham sit-ups
  
• 25 Back extensions
  

Video Examples:

• Glute-Ham Sit-up Elements Lecture Clip...[wmv][mov]


• Glute-Ham Sit-up...[wmv 1] [wmv 2]
  
• Back Extension...[wmv]