Aviation BS and Photo Thread

After over 40 years of marriage we compromised. My wife got the aisle on the flight to the Alaskan cruise and I got the aisle seat on the way back. At our ages we prefer the aisle to the window every time.

 

Just a scenic Charter, taking folks out to some of my personal favorite spots. This knoll named for me, overlooks a series of some of the largest glaciers in SE, as well as looking into Canada.Cessna Tu206G
Strapped this airframe on for more than 4000 hours, and performed vertical mapping imagery from 800ft to 23,000ft. (Note: It did NOT like anything much over 18000ft, and getting to 23000ft was all I could get out of her. But she did it, and we accomplished the task!)

On the run right now, I'll post more soon.

 

Figured out why the C17 was at Moffett the other day. Joined by it's 747 and two more '17s, it was the Presidential advance team followed by the President. The AN124 is still there as well. Still looks damn big by comparison.

 

I love Broncos, I saw a couple flying around the base a year or so ago. I was wondering what they were up to but then again I'm use to seeing the occasional oddity flying around. Nice to see them flying, awesome aircraft.

 

I don't think the advance team has a 747. That might've been the president you seen?

 

If your looking to deploy, L3 is hiring good maintainers for fixed wing (BA KA300s/350s), MAG Defense is hiring for the same, Sierra Nevada Corp for similar stuff, Avenge is hiring fixed wing pilots Dash 7/8, and KAs. See PM as well.

 

It was. A couple of days ago, I posted that there was an AN124 & C17 (advance guys) parked together on the tarmac. While he was here, the numbers & type grew

 

I have seen them lately as well, not stateside either if you catch my drift...awesome birds! Do good work!

 

Any guesses ?

 

I am on vacation in Kauai and yesterday my wife and I took a boat along the Na Pali coast. It was awesome.

But the point of the story is that the tour goes around the West part of the island where the Navy has a base. On our return they launched a missile out into the ocean and we got to see it leave the island. It was extremely fast so I didn't get a photo of it or its contrail, but I did get a photo of the helicopter that is sent out to recover the missile (for science!)

And out of total luck, I got my camera up in time to randomly get the moon in the background!

 

That's a Bambi bucket usually used to carry water. How'd they load the missile into it? That'd be cool to see.

 

For those that saw my helicopter photo, I have an update....


Well it just so happens that my wife and I are having a drink at the beach bar next to our hotel and what do you know....the guy next to me is the commander in charge of the missile launch. Awesome dude. 33 years in service with the Navy. Basically my hero.

Well he gave me some facts...

1) There was one boat just outside the launch area (my boat), and one boat well within the launch area. The helicopter was sent out to chase the other boat out of the launch zone and it did not retieive the missile.

2) That single missile launch cost $15million.

3) The missile went into space and splashed into the ocean in 9 minutes.

4) They are collecting data on how to shoot down other missiles in space. Mostly from Iran and North Korea. China and Russia are also in mind.

5) They have been successful with shooting down missiles in space! Actually hitting a missile, with a missile, within centimeters of desired target. Mind. Blowing.

6) They shoot missiles 9-12 times a year. I am very lucky to have seen one (and met this guy).

7)

 

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A few years ago, I was riding shotgun in a vehicle ... heading north from San Diego area into LAX on main freeway ... maybe 45 minutes out of LA (can't remember exactly how far) ... at the top of a big freeway hill ... looking north ... far off in the distance, I saw a giant purplish explosion ... i.e. space shuttle sized explosion ... and I watched that giant cloud change colors and drift to the east for at least 15 minutes.

I was told later ... that it was the destruction of a missile over the ocean far north of us ... one of the most unusually sights in the air that I have seen ... never forget it.
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We had a photographer from the Air Force times magazine come out for a little photo shoot over some of Michigan's landmarks a couple weeks ago. These pics aren't his, but were taken from a second tanker flying around the state with us. It was really cool being in the #2 bucket for all these....flying formation off my flight lead for 4 hours...?? Not so much!

 

So sick! Thanks for sharing!!

 

No problem! Sorry for all the hawg pics....just got home from the airshow at Battle Creek, MI and I'm kicking myself for not getting pictures of anything else to share with you guys. What can I say...I guess I'm a little biased.

 

As you should be. "The hawg" is awesome! I appreciate your input in this thread of some legitimate flying and service.

 

Nothing to be sorry about ... Love the Hawg!