Great Day Flying

Great story. Amazing pictures. Beautiful family. Nice work, John. And thank you for your service.
 
Dang I am at work and can't see the pics.

Hampton, I was a "nose picker" (Crew Chief) on F-4 and 15s. Then became a "sparky" (Aircraft Electrician) on C-130s and H-60s Combat Search and Rescue. Now retired.

Thanks for the memories. Man I miss the smell of the flightline..............:thumbsup:

Thanks for what you do my friend!!!
 
Awesome Post! Thanks for sharing.
 
ImpulseIII said:
Just wait....some jackass on the board is going to complain about all the tax payers money you spent !! Can I say jackass?
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The only extra money spent was the extra fuel required to carry 200 lbs of precious cargo around the patch for a couple of hours. The mission was a scheduled training mission required for our students to become qualified in the Eagle, and for the tanker crew to maintain currency (in case anyone is curious).

Additionally, space-available travel is one of our benefits, though we rarely get to use it. I don't blame people for wanting to know how their tax dollars are spent. Now, where was that stimulous package list?
 
AKBASSKING said:
Dang I am at work and can't see the pics.

Hampton, I was a "nose picker" (Crew Chief) on F-4 and 15s. Then became a "sparky" (Aircraft Electrician) on C-130s and H-60s Combat Search and Rescue. Now retired.

Thanks for the memories. Man I miss the smell of the flightline..............:thumbsup:

Thanks for what you do my friend!!!
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Thanks to you as well. Now, take off early and log in from home!
 
Other shots of friends from yesterday:

025.jpg


056.jpg


Student Re-qualifying in the jet:



 
John,
Absolutely awesome. I still remember my 1st time getting to sit in an F-15 (My dad designed much of the avionics suite integration and test stands for MDC) and that was 33 years ago. I am sure your daughter will carry this with her forever, a story to tell the grand children.:smt038
 
Thanks for sharing John...you guys make it look so easy. I'm glad you guys don't have the systems issues like we do with boats! OR is that on another forum? : - )
 
Stray Cat said:
Thanks for sharing John...you guys make it look so easy. I'm glad you guys don't have the systems issues like we do with boats! OR is that on another forum? : - )
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Yesterday - On 1st engine start, generator did not come on line for several minutes. Had to re-cycle a few times.

When leaving the boom from the tanker the first time, the ailerons felt odd. Any lateral stick input (left/right) is coordinated with automatic rudder. Eiter that wasn't working, or wasn't working correctly. The jet yawed, and two of the three axis of CAS (Control augmentation and Stabilization) (power steering) fell off line - roll and yaw, I believe. They reset normally.

In the airspace, the generator fell off line again, so I lost my Air Combat Maneuvering/Instrumentation (big, fancy theater for debriefing mission) capabilities. Additionally, this caused my FDL (Fighter Data Link) to fall off. FDL gives us cockpit info of our flight's relative positions to one another and altitudes and other critical info. It's a relatively new system to us, but once you've had it, it sucks not to have it. Also, with that system, our air-air Tacan doesn't work as well (tells range is X.X NM from your wingman). So, with FDL out and A/A Tacan out, I really had to keep my eye on him.

During the mission, 2 of the 3 8mm tape recorders needed coaxing to operate. 1 never did work, but I wasn't going to use it (records FDL), so I didn't work the issue too hard.

During one of the times that the right Gen fell off line, it took the right EEC with it. Electronic engine control. This schedules the fuel flow and is critical for any power setting near military power (full power without afterburner) to max power - with afterburner. Since we were in an unrestricted, 1 v 1 fight, afterburner was critical. That system reset without further issue.

That's all I can think of from yesterday. Upon return to base, I called in "Code 1," meaning no problems. All in a day's work.
 
Absolutely beyond cool! :smt038
Can you adopt me so I can get a ride? :wow: I'll do house chores and you'll hardly notice I'm around. :grin:

I'm not worthy.......see below:

DSC01215.jpg
 
Very cool. My dad has an Extra 300 about that size. Closest I got to that was a Cap 21 (Snap monster). My last, great build was an Aeromaster Bipe with a 1.2 4-stroke and a battery powered pump and tank for diesel injection into the exhaust. I could sky-write with that thing!

PS - My Dad lives in Port Richey and Flies somewhere inland of his neighborhood. In Bellevue, Ne, he founded the club, got the land from the city, and had them build a runway! He's the president of that club.
 
Wow! Those pics are so clear! Awesome shots.

This part tugged at the 'ol heart strings:

"I couldn't believe it as I actually saw my daughter driving out of the squadron parking lot in her little, red convertible just as I passed about 1/4 mile in front of her at 1600', rocking my wings."

Very cool.:thumbsup:
 
John, Thanks for sharing. Those are awesom pics !!. Plus you had a great day with the family. :smt038
 
Great story and pictures John, thank for sharing them. Is it typical of flying the F15’s over the US armed, and has that always been the case?
 
I have goose - bumps. God Bless America!!!
 
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