Better news was that all the heat from the Buffs taking off raised the vis
just
enough for T/O mins for the A-4.

See, BUFFs can even change the weather

I was #7 of a 12 ship MITO one morning as a young co-pilot. My aircraft
commander for the exercise was an experienced IP who decided, just prior to
engine start, that I would do the takeoff. He was unphased when I told him I
had never done a MITO from #2 let alone #7. I'll never forget him picking up
the "committed call" because a.) I didn't know what to do with the airspeed
indicator jumping from 120 to 160 and back and fourth and b.) was focusing
nearly 100% of my energy on keeping us tracking down the *center* of the
runway. We broke ground, turned to our "fan heading" and instantly hit "dirty"
air that caused an abrupt pitch up. The pitch up was so violent and happened so
quickly and we were so low (about 50-60 feet AGL) that both of us shoved the
yoke into the forward stops without the obligatory transfer of aircraft
control. After about three seconds of terror, we hit clear air, he got off the
controls and calmy began the "After Takeoff Climb" checklist. Out of sheer
necessity I maintained my outwardly "cool pilot" demeanor, but inside I was
still reeling from having nearly stalled a half million pound jet just seconds
after takeoff. The discussion at level off was, obviously, about our post-T/O
adventure, and I was amazed by the "ol' heads", who thought nothing of it. In
fact our RN had a worse MITO story than we had just lived through! Incidents
like that made me appreciate the "Cold War" guys, who may never have dropped a
weapon in anger, but damn sure had put their lives at risk in preparing for
"the Big One".


BUFDRVR

"Stay on the bomb run boys, I'm gonna get those bomb doors open if it harelips
everyone on Bear Creek"