With the Skystriker and the Ghostriker, there is room for two Joes. One is a pilot, the other is the Radar Intercept Officer, now called Naval Flight Officer.

From what I've read online, these are not pilots and wouldn't be able to fly a plane if something were to happen to the pilot. So shouldn't there be at least one Joe qualified for this role?

Thoughts?

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Other thoughts are the Joes require their Pilots to train as RIOs or their RIOs to train as pilots... I know most of the time in the cartoon the guy flying has built in systems to act as a RIO

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the first joe to come to mind was Lady Jaye (from the comic issue where she flew backseat with ace) but it appeared she knew nothing about the Skystriker's electronics package.

Maybe one of the newer Joes Like Gears, Hi-Tech or Hard Drive may be qualified.

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IIRC, the WSO in an F-15E does have flight controls and can pilot the aircraft, they are trained in basic flight (takeoffs, landings, navigation) and air-to-ground attack manuvers. Since F-15Es also go on trans-oceanic flights, this allows the backseater to give the pilot a break.

F-14s do not have dual flight controls, so the RIO cannot fly the plane. However, RIOs were usually pilots that washed out of flight school, I think.

It's been a while since I've seen the cockpit of one, but I'm almost positve that on the F-4 the Navy version did not have flight controls and the USAF flew with trained pilots in both seats and thus had dual controls, probably for the same reasons as the Strike Eagle.

The Super Hornet does not have dual controls.

Of course, if you're thinking of getting the NEW skystriker your problem is solved because it only has one seat.

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I suppose you could put Ghostrider or one of the less commonly used pilots in the role by default. Particularly Ghostrider because he would have some experience with the radar and weapon systems.

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One might also think that if the pilot of one of these planes was wounded or killed, if there WERE dual controls, whomever was in the second seat would have enough knowledge to at least get the plane out of the combat area if possible, and then be talked in for a landing. Just a guess.

I think that's a neat thought. Like mentioned above, in the F14 there isn't dual controls, so in the case that something happens to the pilot, they both bail.

And pluv, I'm leaning that direction too. I currently don't have Ghostrider in my Joeverse, but he may have just squeezed in

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Lt. Wayne Ruthel is qualified. (not sure, but I think his code name is "classified")

I just use the gray Ace (different heads) or the ones using the Battle Copter design as the RIOs. If I remember correctly, I just use the gray Ace as the Night Boomer pilot.

I actually have have a WIP character to fly with Ace.

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In LJ's defense Ace did say that they had just "updated" the Skystriker with new stuff.. lol. Thats one comic I keep out of order so I can read it on occasion along with all the aircraft related ones..

They've had Lift Ticket as the RIO in one issue as well. SlipStream in the back seat of the Ghoststriker.

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One of my first 25th style customs was of Wayne "Hound Dog" Ruthel as Ace's RIO.

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I don't see it posted in the Gallery at all...

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I use Sky Patrol to fulfill the RIO functions. I figured since pretty much every Joe would be jump qualified, why do they need a special sub-team? Whereas the Joes do need RIOs. And the name "Sky Patrol" seems to fit with the role of Radar Intercept Officer . . .

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One thing hit me, I'm not sure if it'll matter when you write filecards or not, so I thought I'd mention it. "Naval Flight Officer" is the name of the officers designation - they were never called "Radar Intercept Officers" unless flying in that position of the aircraft (like a Tomcat) .

An example would be - the aircraft pilot is a Naval Aviator who would either be called "Pilot" or "Pilot in Command" depending upon the aircraft platform. The NFO would be called one of the following (examples):

Tomcat - Radar Intercept Officer
Prowler - Electronic Countermeasures Officer (ECMO)
Intruder - Bombadier/Navigator (B/N)
Growler - Electronic Warfare Officers (EWO)

I think wiki or Navy.mil has a list.

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