It was the third day of air-to-air SFARP (strike fighter advanced readiness program) in Key West, Fla., and we were heading out to fly a point-defense mission as a 2-ship. As I walked to the jet on that beautiful morning, I never would have imagined that a timely call from my lead and "Betty" would save my life. I had flown both of the days prior and felt confident in max-performing the jet in the air-to-air arena. My lead took extra time in the brief to cover the training rules and the specific ORM associated with section-engaged maneuvering. We both walked to the jet feeling prepared and ready to execute the mission. As it was a morning flight, the sun was low in the sky. Because of the humidity, the horizon was slightly obscured with haze, making it difficult to discern the sky-to-ocean interface. My lead noted weather conditions and commented over the radio on the blending of the blue-sky background and the calm blue ocean.
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