OCR Text |
Show HILLTOP TIMES Friday, March 1, 1985 Pilof eoras Ah Medals by flying, into Hyphoons By Karen Hutchinson OOALC Public Affairs Office "Flying into typhoons is not as scary as one might think," says Capt. Natalie M. Lademan, the Test Project aircraft commander of the 6514th Test Squadron. And Captain Lademan should know she penetrated over 45 fullC-1- 30 blown typhoons to earn three Air Medals while stationed in Guam, flying with the 54th Weather Reconnais- sance Squadron. "Our primary mission was to determine if there was a depression which is a small circulation," says Captain Lademan. Once that was determined, the disturbance was covered until it was a typhoon. The purof of all this was to gather acpose curate and correct data for the Joint : Typhoon Warning Center, and to try to determine directional trends and the strength of the typhoon, so weather warnings could be issued and areas could be evacuated. It was Captain Lademan's first assignment coming out of pilot training. "I only encountered two real turbulent typhoons," she related, "and in those, you get the full vibration of the aircraft, with the dirt flying and everything thrown all around." Compared to those, the rest were mild, she full-fledg- ed said. "You look for a weak spot to enter, and have a full complement of crew your weather officer and your navigator to help steer you away from the heaviest precipitation and turbulence," Captain Lademan said. Then when you get on the inside, some of them are really beautiful, having what they call a "fish bowl effect," 0 she related. "You look up above you and see the sun and blue sky in a perfect circle...it's such a gorgeous sight, after miles and miles of nothing but clouds and bad weather." Sounds like someone who's always wanted to be a pilot. "Actually my prime motivator in taking up with the Air Force was utilizing my language background," said Captain Lademan, whose majors in college were math and Russian. "But at that time, there weren't any real opportunities in that area, so I went into the intelligence field and was an Air Intelligence Officer." After being in that field for about a year, pilot training was opened up for women. "It looked like a pretty interesting and exciting career field for women to get into. That's when I really considered being a pilot," she said. As the Test Project aircraft commander, Captain Lademan plans, directs and commands test bed aircraft for the Air Force Flight Test Center which assigns flights and logistic support missions. She is also chief of the scheduling section, which entails coordinating missions with the Utah Test and Training Range and times and tail numbers with maintenance to get a good handle on the aircraft which are coming in. She also coordinates the people on board to ensure a full complement of qualified crew for missions. Captain Lademan says she's used to being the only female pilot in her squadrons, but it's no real issue. "You're just considered 'one of the guys' as soon as you show you're competent and capable," she says. "We're all in this together, trying to get a mission done." C-1- fv?? HC-130- . 0 PLUS D FREE D 0 ' THIS ' COUPO- N- D Lube VViVVmV D -- . .. . ....... . Plus FREE Automatic Car X7ash D No Appointment D D 1370 N. Main D I D D No Waiting 1 D ioini"tall nTT nn nrrrirm rrrrfmrrmi mrojfw 1 LAYTON 546-676- 0 fcf fit -- CAT D Force Photo by Brent T. Aguirre) g Test Project aircraft commander, extest projects perplains scheduling of aircraft and air crews for the formed here by the 6514th Test Squadron. Capt. Natalie Lademan, the C-1- 30 C-1- 30 FfiSEE SecuODEKaiD' 7 71 CSeoO LisOsiGe SAT. MARCH 2, - 9 a.m. A ZOGDDtis Learn Qualifying techniques on F.H.A., V,AM ARM, State Money loans Featuring Ted Harris UNITED SAVINGS of &.LOAN ASSOCIATION Host: Ron A. Elizondo elizondo associates call: 773-046- 4 5924 So. 1900 W. Roy D D : Change Oil (up to 5 Qts.) ; Oil Lubricate Filter, Change Check and Fill Differential (up to 1 Lb.) Check and Fill Transmission Fluid (up to 1 Pt) Check and Fill Windshield Washer Fluid Check and Fill Battery and Brake Fluid Check and Clean Air Filter Check Power Steering FREE Auto Car Wash D w'"""1 D Oil Coupon SPEC DAL i '" L?tnC)DdG i ctttj ewrp ft3 Smite -- WITH iiil if D D DjW Li:... And! pt. H OIK? IIP? y -- 30 "1 i Originally from Bridgeport, Conn., capable of getting into...it just seems Captain Lademan says her family has like the sky's the limit." been very supportive of her career In her spare time, the captain tutors with the Air Force. Her brothers and high school and college students in sister have all graduated from mili- math, and is presently preparing her tary academies: her two brothers thesis for a master of arts degree in graduated from Naval Academy, An- political science. Currently the Hill AFB women's racquetball champion, napolis, and her younger sister graduated as one of the first female Air she also conducts community relaForce cadets from the Air Force tions tours for the ALC Public Affairs Office and the youth center. Academy. "Now's the time to be in the Air She was recognized as the 6514th Force," continued Captain Lademan. Test Squadron Company Grade "There are a lot of opportunities and Officer of the Quarter for July a lot of career fields that females are 30, 1984. &30-&:C- 3, D D D D 0 0 a D Q What will it mean to you and your future? I. Increase in insurance rates II. Loss of drivers license III. Up to SIX months in JAIL Kelly Cardon, Attorney At Law 621-11- 10 24 Hours, 7 days a week Services |