[Snake45]

The word "tactical" has been so overused that it's now fair fodder for the Sunday Comics. (As usual, they're behind. I've been making fun of it for years.)

 

[DavidE]

Love it

There are quite a few "Tactical" flashlights, sunglasses, etc. advertised in TV commercials out there, often by former spec ops or military folks.

 

[CaptainGyro]

Funny...I just watched "Flight of the Intruder" and there's a scene where on pilot asks another, "How ya feelin?".

"Tactical" was the answer.

 

[Diamondback]

Funny...I just watched "Flight of the Intruder" and there's a scene where on pilot asks another, "How ya feelin?".

"Tactical" was the answer.

Typical pointy-nose fast-mover... the latter was a BN. (A-6 right-seater, no flight controls aka "passenger"--Navy seems to think for some reason that if pilot dies at stick nobody else should have a chance to save themselves and the aircraft... what in the name of ZEUS'S BUTTHOLE are they smoking?!)

 

[Snake45]

Funny...I just watched "Flight of the Intruder" and there's a scene where on pilot asks another, "How ya feelin?".

"Tactical" was the answer.

When that movie was made, I don't think "tactical" had yet become a trite cliche. And it certainly wasn't when the movie was set. Back in those days, the word "tactical"--like "awesome," "journalist/journalism," and "literally"--actually meant something.

 

[William R. Moore]

I can think of a couple of reasons why the Navy doesn't include flight controls for the WO/Navigator. One is to avoid two opposing inputs in combat, with the non-rated type intervening when they shouldn't. The other is rooted in cubical critter stuff: the WO/N would have to also be carrier qualified. It's hard enough to get/keep pilots qualified. Plus, the "other guy/gal" typically doesn't meet the vision requirements for pilots.

A reasonable person would figure that if the "other guy" can get the aircraft back to the carrier, you combat loss the plane and the crew ejects. That's typically more creative thinking than you'll find at high levels. Especially since with one set of controls, if the pilot buys it, the plane is a loss anyway.

Added edit: IIRC, the AF version of the F4 gave the backseater rudimentary flight controls to allow getting the plane back over friendly territory.

It's been decades since "tactical" became code for black, nylon/plastic, 3 times the price. I guess now, you could add field dark earth to black.

 

[shep854]

The NFO already has a full-time job: keeping the pilot straight and making sure the target gets hit. The AF had to find something for all those extra pilots to do...