Aviation pinch-me moments seldom come sweeter than sitting in a simulator alongside aerial coordinator and movie stunt pilot Kevin La Rosa as he demonstrates how he flew a Phenom 300 just 10ft above the deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt during filming for the movie Top Gun: Maverick.
La Rosa was at CAE’s Burgess Hill, UK facility as the training specialist debuted its latest Embraer Phenom 300 simulator in a joint venture with the Brazilian airframer.
Kevin La Rosa, aerial coordinator and stunt pilot. Image: Stewart Foley/CAE
An iPad in the facility’s quietly efficient welcome reception printed my visitor pass before a CAE staff member led me into a hall containing an impressive array of full-flight simulators. The combined effect of these large machines, each sitting high off the floor on six electric actuators and surrounded by metal staircases and balconies, reminded me of the military hangar in the 2009 Avatar movie.
Line of simulators at CAE Burgess Hill. Image: Stewart Foley/CAE
Presentations from both La Rosa and the JV’s global head of training, instructor pilot Domenic Di Iorio, followed a safety briefing from training manager Colin Davidson that would not have been out of place in a flight department.
Global head of training and instructor pilot Domenic Di Iorio has been with CAE 42 years. “We were 700 people when I joined, and now we are around 14,000,” he said. Image: Stewart Foley/CAE
The CAE7000XR simulator is accessed via drawbridge from a balcony; the irony of entering an extraordinary piece of 21st century technology via a Medieval device was not lost on me. Inside is a small, dark room equipped with an instructor station and two seats. There is a jump seat on the back wall and, when the motion is off, space for perhaps five people to stand. The room narrows towards a perfect replica Phenom 300 cockpit.
With everyone strapped in and motion activated, the experience is immediately immersive, especially in the cockpit. An experienced private pilot, the media colleague who ‘flew’ before me became ‘quite sweaty’ — we’re both British — after Di Iorio simulated an engine fire at low level in an Alpine valley. La Rosa took control quickly and smoothly, and his description of the emergency drills as he performed them, and calm communication with air traffic control (also Di Iorio) was deeply impressive.
Di Iorio, at the instructor’s station of the Phenom 300 simulator. Image: Stewart Foley/CAE
La Rosa reconfirmed my lack of piloting experience as I settled in for my turn in the right-hand seat, then declared: “We’re going to recreate the scene where Maverick flies the F-14 onto the carrier so Domenic, reset us to Long Beach.”
The Phenom 300 leapt off the runway, then we were over the ocean, banking left while La Rosa pointed out the aircraft carrier through his cockpit window. “First thing I did for real was a pass over the bow,” he explained, as the tiny ship inched closer.
“There’s a tall antenna about two thirds of the way along the deck. You need to watch the left wingtip doesn’t hit it,” he added, as the ship suddenly filled the windshield, and we flashed across its bow at 250kt. “We’re gonna line up for an approach next. I’ll fly one and I want you to fly the next.”
The simulator perfectly replicated the turbulence in the carrier’s wake caused by its superstructure. “Naval aviators call it ‘burble’,” La Rosa explained, as the giant ship once again galloped towards us.
Back on a reciprocal heading, La Rosa handed me the controls. With no spare mental capacity for anything as professional as confirming I had control, I managed only grunts while maneuvering through a 180° turn. The controls were surprisingly heavy, apparently just like the real thing. “You really fly this jet. I like it,” La Rosa enthused.
As USS Theodore Roosevelt’s ‘island’ shot past the window, La Rosa had me pull into a steep climb. With altitude in hand, I played on the controls, feeling how accurately and quickly the jet responded.
Then Di Iorio set our starboard engine on fire. “I have control!” commanded La Rosa. In my head I confirmed, “You have control,” but something ridiculous like ‘absolutely’ was all that came out of my mouth.
Di Iorio and La Rosa say the simulator faithfully reproduces the jet’s behaviour and having experienced it and the Burgess Hill facility, I understand why the Phenom 300 device is already heavily booked.
La Rosa and RGN’s correspondent after the Phenom 300 simulator experience. Image: Stewart Foley/CAE
Related Articles:
- Turkey’s first female wing commander seeks to inspire others
- Lt Cdr Zach ‘Tambo’ Daniels on fast flying for Top Gun: Maverick
- Press Release: Phenom 300E is first single-pilot jet to reach Mach 0.80
Featured image credited to Stewart Foley/CAE
