Aviation BS and Photo Thread

I got to see the SR in flight twice. First time was at the Chicago Air and Water show back in the 70s...it made 3 low passes and that was it. Second time I just happened to be looking in the right place at the right time. My old Chicago Sectional charts showed a refueling track over the south end of Lake Michigan. We were out on the beach that day, and I heard what didn't sound like the normal civilian stuff and it was up high. It was one of those severe clear days, and one of my friends brought a pair of binoculars to "watch boats" and I was able to see it overhead plugged into a KC-135, had to be up around 25,000 or so. A couple years ago I was in Tucson to handle some family stuff, and was able to make it to the Pima Air Museum. They have an SR-71 and a D-21 drone it carried on display indoors. Amazing to think that if I got that close to one 40 years ago I would've probably been shot, and here I was touching it. They have the pilots' ejection seat and instrument panel in a separate display on the floor next to it with one of the engines. They have a large collection with A LOT of one of a kind aircraft. Lots of big stuff on display outside. Also, they do guided bus tours of the bone yard at Davis-Monthan AFB which is right across the street. There is a row of shelters where we saw F-4 Phantoms sadly being converted into target drones. They were designated F-4Qs or QF-4s, can't remember exactly. They had their vertical stabs and wingtips painted orange. Anyway, if any of you ever make it out that way, this stop will be worth it. Plan on spending most of the day to see it all.

 

Odiyan Retreat Center

https://goo.gl/maps/Y67CFnN1E5opGvQG6

 

Had a wonderful first day of Spring in the Ozarks. Bad thing about flying on the weekends are the crowds. I expected to have the place to myself.

On short final







At least we found a decent parking spot in the rear.

 

A comedian!

 

I miss bouncing around the Ozarks

 

So I told someone I was flying in the Ozarks and going to Byrds. The first thing they asked was Marty Byrds?
Well, maybe.

 

Ha!

 

If anyone wants to read Shul's book but doesn't want to pay over $300 for a copy, you can download the .pdf here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mILa_ZHvQU4MM0XMjYHMfmhQ6O7kGhrW/view

It's a good read

 

...^^^... I can remember seeing the last of the production model F-4's at McDonnell Douglas Headquarters in St. Lous in about 1981 or 1982 ?

McDonnell Douglas actually had a F-4 inside the main lobby area then ... and I got to touch one of the last F-4's. I loved that plane as it saved my ass a couple of times in RVN.

I was in St. Louis interviewing for the SMS Project (Suspended Maneuvering System) that was basically a platform with a turbine engine mounted on top with 4 vector-able nozzles and it was hung 1000' below a minimum 6,000 lb lift helicopter and could be used as a rescue or firefighting platform.
Coolest interview in my life ... got to eat lunch in the Exec. Dining Area with the top brass and had my interview during lunch.
Got the job, but the SMS Project was scrapped as too dangerous and expensive. I was told that I could get a ride in an F-4 later but instead got a case of Zippo lighters with the McDonnell Douglas logo on them.

Years later worked with McDonnell Douglas on trade offset credits on commercial aircraft to help promote a Finnish Firefighting Equipment Company. in the US.

McDonnell Douglas was a very cool company to work with on special projects and I was very sorry to see Boeing purchase them.

I was lucky to have had the opportunity to do some special projects with the Big 3 and McDonnell Douglas was my favorite.

Lockheed was a close 2nd and Boeing was a distant 3rd (all 3 are great companies and this is just my personal experiences on certain projects).

 

Thank you! I read the whole thing over the last couple hours! A damned good read!

 

Talk to me about the BAHAMAS!

My daughter just got accepted into an emergency medicine residency in Boca Raton starting this June. She will be there 3 years. I'm hoping to add to my float time while visiting, but I'm really intrigued about flying to the Bahamas from south Florida. I have found a school that has an island course that teaches about customs and everything related to that, but I don't know if it also includes a checkout and rental for the islands. I've emailed them to get more info and I'm sure there are other schools in the area that do the same.

I am not going to fly a 182 from Arkansas to south Florida, and then try to add a Bahama trip, so I'm looking at renting in south Florida. Anyone with experience doing this? Would really like to know if it's worth the hassle or not. Sounds cool, but I'd also be happy flying floats every time I go visit. My wife on the other hand says Bahamas all the way. My preference would be to fly a 182, but am open to other options. I do not have a ME, but am just looking for the excuse to get it.

 

...^^^... Congratulations on your daughter's acceptance in ER residency.

Be Careful in the Bermuda Triangle ...
.

 

Thanks!
With all the stupid shit I do I am super excited about having an ER doc in the family.

 

im actually here in Vero Beach right now, my grandfather would fly from here to the Bahamas 3 times a week. He said after 911 a lot changed and it became a little more of a hassle but tons of people do exactly that. He wasn’t flying with floats or anything but it still sounds like it was totally worth it. Just hanging out here for a few days and see’ing the geography of this place on foot makes me want to see it from the air… and on a boat lol

So anyways, I can’t really answer your question other than “i know I guy who used to do that and he loved it”

but also “just flying up and down the Florida coast seems like it would be awesome”

 

Speaking of Arkansas, any of you ever fly into Gaston's? I've been there once in 2020, but the weather didn't work out for flying, so I made the 9-hour drive in the Focus I owned before the Taco. Met some friends from the Cessna 150/152 club there, one of which also drove down/towed his RV from the St. Louis area. I did catch a right-seat ride over to Rogers Bentonville for lunch in a 150 piloted by a retired Amazon captain, who also flew in the Air Force, and for the airlines before becoming a cargo pilot.

Great time, and great memories made that week. Definitely want to go back soon.

 

Ive done it many times flying GA, there’s nothing to it. Most of the FBOs on the east coast will have the immigration forms for both directions. Most of the work is coming back, going to the Bahamas is nothing. Land at one of the common airports of entry, show your passport, pay whatever fee they came up with this week, and your good.

Register with EAPIS, it’s pretty self explanatory, for your return trip as you will need that returning and dealing with customs. File IFR, it makes life a lot easier crossing the ADIZ coming back.

That Bahamas flying guide that’s readily available from most pilot shops is very good and outlines everything, you won’t need any special time with a CFI unless it’s an insurance thing at the place that’s renting you the plane. Plus it’s an AFD if you will on all the airports on the islands

 

I've fished along Gaston's many times and have eaten at their restaurant with trout buddies. One day an Army Chinook landed there, the guys came in and had lunch, and afterward gave us a tour of the Chinook. Then they flew off, they were getting some flight hours in.

 

I've flown into Gaston's many times. It's great! I would love to fly in for a wekend trip and get some fishing in.

 

Spent a couple days cleaning the belly of the Cardinal and just finished today. It hasn’t been this clean since I started flying it in 2015. Now I don’t want to fly it and dirty it up!