Ryan grinned to Diane as the pair met at the front of the Intruder, their walkaround complete. The 'tin tadpole' was loaded up for air-to-air as much as it could be, with dual AMRAAMs under the outermost hardpoints, 4 500-pound LGB's on the inner ones, and two 20mm gunpods on the closest to the fuselage. A single droptank hung on the centreline of the A-6. Nothing looked out of order about the plane, and it positively gleamed under the sunlight, freshly washed and back from maintenance. 
Of course, compared to the F-16 nearby it looked like it was siting still (well, it [i]was[/i], but the phrase still worked), but nonetheless, it's dependability wasn't in question as far as Ryan was concerned, and the updated avionics, new wings and engines and extra software that had become part of the plane with the upgrade to the F-model Intruder had proved the old buckets' worth. Still, as capable as it was, and even having the extra teeth of the AMRAAM, it wasn't a dogfighter. Nonetheless, he and Diane would put the jet through it's paces as they had been trained to do, and would have to count on their wingmates to do the rest.
He signed off on the aircraft, and then turned to observe the others as they checked over their own aircraft. Giving them a thumbs up, he nodded towards the A-6's canopy, and turned to climb the ladder with Diane.

In short order the pair were strapped in, and the preflight done. With a grin to one another, he thumbed the engine start, and the jets' engines wound up with a whine and a throaty rumble as they came to life. He nodded to Diane and they exchanged back-and-forth routine commands and updates, before the ground crew pulled the canopy shut and folded the ladders away. He gave a thumbs up to the next plane in line, and lifted his mask, confirming their take-off roll with the tower. Brakes off, throttle up, and with a tremble, the A-6F began to roll, Ryan turning the jet in a graceful arc onto the taxiway. 
He drummed his gloved fingers on the throttle as the jet rolled. He'd flown dozens of times, and on much more exciting takeoffs and landings. He'd been flung off a carrier in the dead of night in rolling seas, and landed back in the same. Flown down in the weeds to lob bombs at enemy positions under fire, and snuck through canyons, both natural and man-made to fling iron at the enemy, all of which had got his adrenaline raging, but for some reason, leading this mis-matched band into the air this morning had his blood singing. 
The A-6 turned onto the runway head, and he buckled his mask, glancing over to Diane, who had the same fire in her eyes he did, grinning at him and offering a fist-bump before she pulled on her mask and checked her instrumentation.
The tower gave the clear, and with a grin to himself under the mask, [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVBAeS5t5nc]he advanced the throttle,[/url] the engines climbing into a roar that rattled through the airframe. With a whoop he toed off the brakes and the A-6 leapt forward, gathering speed. Air rushed past the canopy, building to a rumble before he pulled back on the stick as the speed climbed. The ungainly-looking bird thundered upward. As the gear folded away, it began to soar and Ryan felt his own excitement climb with his plane. 
Reaching 6,000ft he pulled the Intruder into a circle, flying a holding pattern to let the others join up on him. He glanced over at Diane who returned the look. Despite their masks, he knew there was a smile on her face and his matched it as he spoke over the circuit to the rest of the squad.
"Okay, gentlemen and ladies. We're currently holding at 6,000 waiting for y'all to come and join us here. Once we're all neatly assembled and you've got yourselves in order, we'll proceed on to the next stop on our sightseein' tour of lovely Avalon, and perhaps take in some morning recreation with the locals." Diane chuckled softly and cut in.
"This flight is non-smoking, and a trolley service of light refreshments will be served. Please place your lunch orders with the cabin crew, thank you for flying expeditionary air".