Although my dad did not fly the aircraft, he sat in the back with banks of blinking lights and panels full of switches and dials. Dad was very good at his job and he had an intimate knowledge of the equipment and could even repair it if necessary. After about an hour in the air, things became mundane and at times quite boring but he did need to remain alert in case something happened which required his expertise. He always took a book to read and usually he tapped into the Navy's fighter jet frequency. The chatter was generally uninteresting, but occasionally he got to listen in on a skirmish between Navy and MiG fighters.