T-6A Texan II - Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, General Preparation

General Preparation

General Prep

Physical Prep

Academics

Flight CC

Flight Line

Checkride Prep

Track Select

What do you need to do in order to prepare for JSUPT? That's the million dollar question I was asking myself six years ago when I was in your shoes. All the advice that I received was pretty consistent. Know the boldface and ops limits. Knowing what I know now, I would even take it several steps further. Check out the table below.

1

Memorize the boldface and ops limits. Click here for the boldface. You don't want to get highlighted by failing the first boldface test.

2

Read AFMAN 11-248. This is primary guide on flying the T-6A. The more you're familiar with this, the more it'll help you when you hit the flightline. Some things may not make sense but at least the takeoff, landing, and pattern procedures should be simple enough to understand.

3

Familiarize yourself with the inflight guide before you hit the flightline. Look over all the arrival, departure, and pattern procedures. Again, this may not make sense to you but if you know the altitudes, headings, and speeds you're expected to fly in the local area, then you'll be able to apply yourself more to flying a stable aircraft. Check out the Laughlin, Moody, and Vance inflight guides located in the gouge section of this website.

4

If you have the time and money, try to fly on the side. The AF will pay for 40 hrs in the IFT program but if you can establish the landing picture and basic aircraft handling skills, then you'll be way ahead of the game. Flying is just like a sport, the more you practice, the better you'll get. Statistics show that people with the most hours often do better at SUPT based on their experience and "air sense."

By now, you've probably heard the term "Dash 1" from your friends or from the message boards. In case you don't know what it means, it stands for the technical order of the plane. For the T-6, it's the T.O. 1T-6A-1. This manual addresses aircraft systems, checklist procedures, emergency procedures, aircraft system limitations, flight characteristics, and aircraft operations in different types of weather. A lot of guys stress over getting a copy of the Dash 1 and studying up on systems before going to JSUPT. In my opinion, I wouldn't waste time trying to get a copy. First of all, you're not going to find a copy of the Dash 1 unless you're at an JSUPT base. Second, most of the manual won't make sense to you since the T-6 Dash 1 is terribly written. Third, you're going to get 6 weeks of academics and that's more than enough time to learn everything about the plane (the T-6 is not very complicated). Rather than worry about getting a copy of the Dash 1, read up on AFMAN 11-248 and the inflight guide for your base. Also, I highly recommend using Microsoft Flight Sim so that you can practice chair flying some of the departures/arrivals that you find in your inflight guide. If all else fails, as a minimum, memorize the boldface and ops limits.

Keep in mind, just because you accomplished some or all of what we listed above does not guarantee you success at SUPT. Just like anything in life, luck, timing, hard work, and what instructor pilot you fly with will play a major role in your performance. Remember this, you're going to be pretty busy when you start the program so whatever you do, don't burn yourself out by over preparing. Next, take a look at the physical preparation section to see what else to expect at JSUPT.

If you have any suggestions or questions, please sent them to the webmaster or check out the message board.