What was your go-to air combat maneuver in the F-15? The F-15 is such a graceful jet-I think it best exemplified that beauty in flight. It encompassed all three axes of maneuvering: pitch, lateral, and yaw. That’s not an easy question to answer, but I would have to say a big lazy barrel-roll. What was your favorite-for the simple joy of flying-aerobatic maneuver in the F-15? I am often asked this question, and my answer is always: “No, I don’t miss the flying part, but I do miss the camaraderie of a fighter squadron.” The speed and tempo of the fight was offset by our superior training: We didn’t have to think while fighting, but just let the training take over and execute intuitively. It was surreal in many ways, but also the value of my training made itself evident in the execution of the engagement, which ended in a close-range visual fight with two very experienced Foxbat pilots. What were your impressions of your first combat flight?Ĭhapter 8 of my book goes into great detail on our engagement of two Iraqi MiG-25 Foxbats (along with my wingman, Larry “Cherry” Pitts). The F-15C is not only legendary, it is also still-in the hands of an experienced fighter pilot-an extremely capable air superiority platform. Knowing that a call-sign will normally remain with a fighter pilot his entire career, I felt grateful for the call-sign “Kluso.” Believe me, it could’ve been worse. Tollini: My cheesy mustache and evident resemblance to Peter Sellers in his Inspector Clouseau role apparently made the choice a natural for me. Tollini spoke with Air & Space senior associate editor Diane Tedeschi in August.Īir & Space: How did you get your call sign? Tollini’s affection for the F-15 is apparent, but it’s also clear he loved everything about being a fighter pilot-from the frequent overseas deployments to the fellowship of flying combat missions with his squadron. His intent in joining the Air Force was to accumulate enough hours to become an airline pilot, but getting selected to fly the F-15C changed his plans. Air Force captain, has written Call-Sign KLUSO, a memoir that details his life as a fighter pilot.