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Simulation For Real: Air Combat USA
by Bob "Groucho" MarksThe SIAI Marchetti SF260's Scream Fighter
Air Combat USA's SIAI-Marchetti SF-260
Air Combat USA is housed in an otherwise nondescript stucco-covered hangar/office complex in the extreme northwest corner of Fullerton Municipal Airport, within mortar-range of Knott's Berry Farm. I had arrived early due to the abnormally light traffic, so I decided to check out the steed that would carry me into glory . . . or shame.
Crouched menacingly on the ramp, a pair of sleek and very Italian-looking SIAI Marchetti SF260s stood in stark contrast to the bland Piper Aztec and Mooney M-20 Spam cans. I had done my research on these little bad boys. I have some stick time in a military trainer (the Beechcraft T-34A to be precise) but where the Mentor is basically a tandem-seat Bonanza, the SF-260 is truly a purpose-built aircraft. Designed by the Italian aero-maestro Stelio Frati, the large bubble canopy, low-viz camouflage scheme, and tip tank capped laminar flow wings of the SF-260 scream fighter.
Blocking the sun with my hand to get a better look under the sliding canopy, I see the twin Mk.8 reflector gun sights, the type used in late WWII / Korean War era U.S. Navy war birds like Corsairs and AD-1 Skyraiders, mounted on a padded bar over the instrument panel. Yep, I thought to myself, this here machine is a Fighter. Damn, this is gonna be fun.
I glanced down at my watch, and observed that I still had an hour-and-a-half to kill before my slot. I decided to grab a spot of lunch. Doug's words of wisdom came up unbidden in a pop-up window in my head: what lunch I buy now will probably be merely rented,. Oh well, a man needs nutrition, even if it's just temporary.
I pulled back into Air Combat USA's parking lot, feeling somewhat satiated by my culinary visit to Chez Carl's Jr. Carrying what gear I needed: keys, notebook (hey, I'm a journalist, dammit), and the very cool ARES scarf that Doug lent to me for this auspicious occasion; I stepped into the lobby. A tall, dark-complexioned man with salt-and-pepper hair in a sage-green flight suit greeted me with an outstretched hand. The Velcroed leather patch on his CWU-27/P flight suit read "Jesse James, Capt. USMC". Noticing my COMBATSIM.COM polo shirt, he smiled broadly and said "You must be Bob. Welcome aboard!" He gestured to a stocky, athletic gentleman peering at the memorabilia on the wall. "This is Brad, he'll be your bandit."
Blame Canada
We shook hands and introduced ourselves. Brad DeMille and his expectant wife were on vacation in Southern California. She, being the kind, loving soul who obviously understands guy stuff, bought him a flight at Air Combat as an anniversary present. Brad struck me as a very nice, friendly sort of guy. War should be this civil, I thought . . . too bad I would have to kill him. I desperately searched my mind for a reason to have aggression toward him, some motivation to line this amicable person in my sights. They were from British Columbia, he said, which was all the reason I needed. Strains of the song "Blame Canada" from the South Park movie filled my subconscious and I steeled myself to the reality of the situation---I must defend Long Beach from the marauding Canuck Menace. Good enough. Bring it on.
"C'mon you guys, let's go get you dressed up like a green pickle." Dennis "Jesse" James, former Marine Corps RF-4C recon Phantom II driver and American Airlines captain ("I do this for fun", he told me later), led us down the hallway to the locker room. Standing next to the rack of Nomex flight suits, he sized me up, "You look like a 42L or 44L," he said.
"Uh, 44L, I think," somehow flashing back to my flight suit size from my days as an Observer in the Hawaii Swivel Chair—er—Civil Air Patrol.
I was happy to see that I still fit in that particular size of CWU-27/P, even after 11 years later. OK, so it was a tad tighter around the middle than back then. Big deal—it fit.
"OK, gentlemen, let's go get briefed."
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