Another cool thing we get to do from time to time is low level flight near some of the more remote areas. Once in a great while, some poor sap is minding own his business on a lonley stretch of highway when we go blasting by at 200 feet above the ground. The good news is that if he was suffering from road fatigue, he isn't anymore. The bad news is that he may have very well soiled himself.
I remember one time at sea, it was about sundown and I'd found a comfortable section of deck in the bow and was just stating to doze off when one of those carrier jocks (F-14) decided to buzz the box. Scared the living crap out of me. Odd part was I never heard him coming. I didn't hear a thing until he was directly overhead.
Luis:
Air Shows are dangerous unless one is part of a demonstration team like the Blues
or the Air Force team; because the 10% rule applies.
As an example, we were going to do ab air show at Wake Island when we arrived
during a TransPac to Japan because all transpac's did one. We briefed thoroughly at Midway
Island before heading to Wake.
Just before getting to Wake my pilot ran through the plan with me, he said we would
break right at the end of the runway; but, in the brief the plan was to break left.
So at wing tip distances a left break and a right break would have ended the fun
before either crew knew what happened. I just said "Wake is as good as anyplace".
He sorted it out on the radio.
Then the C-130 tanker hit a 5 ft post during his low pass. It did remain
mission capable.
For Alec:
Wake Island is where America's day begins---farther east than NZ, hey.
Ever since I was a little boy I wanted to fly F-16's. Visited the Air Force Academy a couple times. Very neat place. But, my eyes were already pretty bad when I was 12 or so, so that sunk that dream.
Ever since I was a little boy I wanted to fly F-16's. Visited the Air Force Academy a couple times. Very neat place. But, my eyes were already pretty bad when I was 12 or so, so that sunk that dream.
I had a friend who had the same natural intervention stop him from flying fighters. The guy had incredible test scores, physical size to meet cockpit requirements, etc., but one catch - he suffered from color blindness in certain shades that were caught during his Class I physical and precluded him from the job.
Accuracy: because white space between bullet holes drives me insane.
Another cool thing we get to do from time to time is low level flight near some of the more remote areas.
Back during WW II, Dad used to do the same thing with a B-17. On training flights over south Florida, they liked to see how close they could get to farmers on their tractors before the guys would jump off. There's something about doing a low-level pass with a 4-engine bomber that will get somebody's attention!
Jerry
Back during WW II, Dad used to do the same thing with a B-17. On training flights over south Florida, they liked to see how close they could get to farmers on their tractors before the guys would jump off. There's something about doing a low-level pass with a 4-engine bomber that will get somebody's attention!
Jerry
Especially 4 RADIAL engines cranking overhead!
Accuracy: because white space between bullet holes drives me insane.
We went to the hydroplane races last weekend and they always have an air show. So the smoke stunt planes do all there stuff then a P-51 mustang does some flying and then it's all quiet for a couple minutes. Now they always have a fighter of some sort but it had not shown up yet. So we are just sitting in the shade next to the river and then there's a jet over our head and then I went deaf lol. It was a F16 falcon if I remember right.
Replies
I remember one time at sea, it was about sundown and I'd found a comfortable section of deck in the bow and was just stating to doze off when one of those carrier jocks (F-14) decided to buzz the box. Scared the living crap out of me. Odd part was I never heard him coming. I didn't hear a thing until he was directly overhead.
Air Shows are dangerous unless one is part of a demonstration team like the Blues
or the Air Force team; because the 10% rule applies.
As an example, we were going to do ab air show at Wake Island when we arrived
during a TransPac to Japan because all transpac's did one. We briefed thoroughly at Midway
Island before heading to Wake.
Just before getting to Wake my pilot ran through the plan with me, he said we would
break right at the end of the runway; but, in the brief the plan was to break left.
So at wing tip distances a left break and a right break would have ended the fun
before either crew knew what happened. I just said "Wake is as good as anyplace".
He sorted it out on the radio.
Then the C-130 tanker hit a 5 ft post during his low pass. It did remain
mission capable.
For Alec:
Wake Island is where America's day begins---farther east than NZ, hey.
Ever since I was a little boy I wanted to fly F-16's. Visited the Air Force Academy a couple times. Very neat place. But, my eyes were already pretty bad when I was 12 or so, so that sunk that dream.
I had a friend who had the same natural intervention stop him from flying fighters. The guy had incredible test scores, physical size to meet cockpit requirements, etc., but one catch - he suffered from color blindness in certain shades that were caught during his Class I physical and precluded him from the job.
Back during WW II, Dad used to do the same thing with a B-17. On training flights over south Florida, they liked to see how close they could get to farmers on their tractors before the guys would jump off. There's something about doing a low-level pass with a 4-engine bomber that will get somebody's attention!
Jerry
Especially 4 RADIAL engines cranking overhead!