What do you wanna be when you grow up?

0023hrs: So what did you want to when you were growing up? I knew exactly what I wanted. I only wanted to be a few things it was either

1. Fighter Pilot
2. Race Car Driver
3. Commercial Pilot

Being a fighter pilot was all I could ever think of. To be able to throw a 30 million dollar machine in the sky and be paid doing it was just the best career. I've always looked to the skies whenever a jet flew by and I would instantly know what jet it was just by the engine's pitch. But one doesn't always get what they want in life. For me, it just wasn't meant to be. Both physically and academically impossible. I wouldn't even have made it through the medical test to qualify.

Obviously I can't be a professional racing driver anymore considering these guys start when they're 5 or 6. And they're doing their Formula 3 or Junior World Rally driving by the time they're my age.

The beauty of flying has never escaped me though. And I'm still hoping to make it as a civillan pilot after my diploma. I know that career path doesn't work too well with family life but I don't really care. Why let something that might or might not happen stop me from doing what I love? True, flying airliners are the airborne equivalent of driving a bus but the pay more than makes up for it. And to be able to fly all over the place is a big plus for me since I can't stand being in one place for too long.

I just wanna share a story I wrote when I was 17. It was supposed to be the first chapter of a book I was hoping to write but I only managed one chapter. And here it is with it's original grammar mistakes and all...

Rules of Engagement

Chapter 1

1907 hours local time
23 January
Over South China Sea

Cruising over the South China Sea, two F16Cs from the RSAF are returning to base after a training sortie. The flight leader, Captain Matthew “Matt” Lee looked out his glass cockpit and into the setting sun, appreciating his job more than ever. With his wingman and close friend Captain Harry “Hairy” Pereira glued to his left wing in echelon formation.

Captain Matthew “Matt” Lee is a true blue fighter pilot. Towering at 1.82m, he was as fit as a 27-year-old could be. Athletic, his body showed hours of iron pumping standing in front of the mirror. Boyish looks dominated his features. Big brown eyes and a hawk-like nose sporting a military GI haircut he is a standard issue fighter pilot. Tall, dark and looks that matched his killer instincts.

As a kid Lee always looked toward the skies whenever he heard an approaching jet. And though he knew what jet it’d be he would still turn his head toward the skies, and as the F5Es flew past he would track them until they were too far for his Mark 1 eyeballs to follow. Lee knew what he would be when he grew up, a fighter pilot. Soaring above mortals below and being as close to God as he possibly could while cruising at the speed of sound.

After graduating from high-school with good enough results to enter college. He took up all the Science and Math courses he could get his hands on. Toiling through his 3yrs of college and finally rewarded with above average scores. He joined the RSAF immediately after he had gotten his results. During the 3yrs of flight training he almost always topped the class, especially in Air Combat Maneuvers or dogfighting.

Now an F16C pilot attached to 140th Fighter Squadron based in Tengah Airbase, his skills had earned him a respect among the pilots, both senior and junior pilots. He is the best pilot that has ever strapped onto F16C Fighting Falcon or better known as the Viper.

Now approaching the western coast of Singapore, he radioed his home base.

“Matt to Tengah, over”
“Tengah to Matt, send, over” the controller replied sounding almost bored.
“Viper flight is now feet dry and requesting overhead recovery, over.” Lee replied coolly.
“Negative, advise straight-in approach, over.” The controller replied.
“Roger, copy all, over.”
“Viper flight say status, over.” The controller inquired.
“ Fuel 2 point 7, weapons, 2 heaters with 306 ammo for guns. LOX is sweet, over.” Lee crisply replied.
“Fuel 2 point 8, weapons, 2 heaters with 430 ammo for guns. LOX is sweet, over” Hairy radioed.
“Roger copy all, ETA, over.” Controller radioed.
“ETA 5mins, over.”
“Copy all, be advised there is a 15 knot wind blowing west to east of runway, over.” The range controller was advising the flight that there was a wind that might cause some problems for landing.
“ Roger, copy all, over” then the radio was silent.

Lee put the fighter into a slow left hand turn towards Tengah and entering the landing pattern.
8 minutes later he was taxing the plane to the flight line. As the engines wind down he descended from the ladder. Walking towards the nose, he ran his hand down the jet and finally ending up on the nose and planting a kiss ever so softly on the nose. “See you later babe” as he walked away to the squadron building to return his flight gear. After a shower and shave he briskly entered the debriefing room.

2030 hours local time
Tengah Airbase

Standing at the podium in the middle of the room, a man sporting slightly grey hair stood.
“Ah, Mr Lee nice of you to join us.” The man bellowed. “Please take a seat so that the debrief can continue.”

The man is in fact the squadron commanding officer, Colonel David “Viper” Ng. Known to the pilots under him as Bossman. He stood 1.72m and weighing 69kgs, no one would have guessed he had spent 20yrs being one of the topguns the RSAF had to offer.

Though a fighter pilot for 20yrs he had no combat experience like the whole of RSAF. The closest he got to combat was at Nellis AFB in Arizona where he was invited to join the Red Flag exercises. When he was there he earned the respect of American pilots who have had combat during Desert Storm. There was a flight where he was jumped by 3 agressor F15Cs. His flight only consisted of 2 F5Es. The two flights merged and soon it turned into a furball. He and his wingman split, and while the F15s chased his wingman he sneaked up behind the F15s and took two of them out. One with a IR missile shot and another with a gun kill. The third got scared and bugged out, a very smart move on the part of the F15 pilot. Run away to live and fight another day.

Now the briefing continued. Colonel Ng Walked over to the map on the screen and used a pointer to indicate the target. “Now as you all know the time over target is of extreme importance when flying a bombing sortie. When all aircraft fly in and out of the target area at the stipulated time, the multiple bombings going would cause so much chaos that the agressor is unable to react. And thus limiting loss of pilots and planes. The only flight that did meet its TOT was Lee’s flight.” Pointing at Lee he continued, “ YOU were supposed to wait for Cougar flight to finish its bombing run first and you didn’t. Instead you were ahead of them. My friend that is just knocking on heaven’s door. What if Cougar was starting his bombing run and you intercepted him? What then? Who’s gonna be responsible for 4 deaths and a 60milion dollar fireball?” Ng’s corded neck muscles became obvious as he stared at the two men of Viper flight.
“But thankfully nothing happened and the target was successfully destroyed. Next time I suggest you and your wingman check in with other flights.” The tension in the room eased as the Bossman relaxed and his youthful grin was visible again.

“You boys did good on the range but the TOTs need improvement. Go have your weekend and come Monday we’re gonna work on your TOTs. Go home and get some sleep you sorry assholes. And for you flight ops people, I think your weekend just got burned.”
The room quickly emptied as the pilots eager to get out of the airbase almost ran for their cars.

Though it was a Friday, Captain Lee had no plans. He walked slowly to the hangar where his beloved jet Diane was kept. When he got to his plane he did a slow walk-around and talked to the crew chief. When the crew chief was done talking he left Captain Lee standing next to his jet in the vast emptiness of the hangar. Lee stared at Diane for awhile before rubbing her nose.

5 minutes later he was in the parking lot walking towards his car. His gunmetal black VW Golf GTi stood proudly under the dim amber street lamp. He bought his VW over 2yrs ago when he returned to Singapore after his 3yr training stint in Australia. He got in and drove off into the cool night air.

Driving his car down the deserted East Coast highway, he squeezed every last horsepower out of the small German hatchback as he powered down the road. Feeling the cool sea breeze beat against his youthful features he turned on the radio. He was greeted by a familiar tune and allowed himself to be drowned in the ballad he so loved. He was brought back to the time when the girl of his dreams was around and he was happy. He liked her so much he named his first jet after her. Oh Diane, God knows where you are now. He was brought back to that day both Diane and him had to leave. There they stood in the departure hall at the airport not knowing what or how to say the things that needed to be said. She was leaving for U.S. for her studies and he was leaving for Australia for his training. How could I let you go without you knowing how I’ve felt all along. God I feel so stupid.

He remembered the nights they spent studying together. Though he had liked her since they were sixteen he was never able to express it to her. She was happily attached to a sweet guy and the last thing he wanted to do was to be dishonorable. As his ROE states: Thou shall not engage when target is already engaged. Lee knew she was worth it but he also knew the ROEs were there to protect him. And so he was caught in the middle of his feelings and principles. When she was finally free, she had to leave for her studies. He still liked her very much but it was useless. Now he waits for God to answer his prayers. Love was never smooth for him and he promised himself he would give up if Diane doesn’t work out. But nothing happened and so he continues to wait.

“Did I fall in love for nothing, no more holding you close by my side. Did I fall in love for nothing.” As the song echoed into the stillness of the night, Lee brought out the memories he had so long forgotten. The joy, the pain and most of all the youth that was lost in those years.

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I know it' a little rough. But that was what I had when I was 17.

One of the reasons why I wanted to fly so badly. Cause life just doesn't get more exciting than this. In this picture, the pilot narrowly escaped a mid-air collision. He managed to slow the plane enough not to hit his friend.

You gotta be a Star Wars fan to appreicate this.

Still dreaming at 0051hrs