I aways wondered what became of ol’ Nate. At the time, I never pictured he’d go back and blame the system. When we sent him off to EC-130s, we figured a crew plane was the way to go. I think its hard to blame the system when you really struggled with the T-38 by yourself in the front seat.
Honestly, I was really mad to read an article like that. I flew with a lot of students. None tried to kill me like the way this kid almost did. Sure, blame the system I guess. I’m glad he did well in an airplane that goes a fraction of the speed of that trainer.
If that story about the check pilot is even remotely true, god help us. If I knew at the time I would have filled an IG complaint myself, against him. A few black students came through while I was there. Some did great. Some, not so much. The one kid we did (try) to washout was a different kid (read white kid). I think he was recycled to preds or something. Nate was just going through the prog check system like a few kids do. I guess he’ll never see it that way.
Now I’m a racist as well as an ahole.