On my cross country check-ride my wife, instructor and I flew to the Moonlight Fly-in at Porterville, CA.. from Apple Valley CA.
Plane used was my favorite of the fleet out there, a 1968 Cessna 172.. 'Four-Zero-Romeo' ..affectionately known as 'Snaggletooth' due to the straight cut exhaust jutting out under the cowl. It was loud and faster than most due to havin a cruise prop on it vs. a climb prop. She'd hold 180ias (right at the border of the yellow) trimmed for straight and level without breathin hard.
On the way I skirted the edge of Edwards AFB No-Fly zone.. about 2 hours prior to the space shuttle landing there.
Edwards Tower called when we got close to their No-Fly zone,
verified our flight plan as filed, said they had an F-16 otw to put eyes on.
I responded: Would the F-16 be interested in some ACM practice?
My instructors eyes got very big.
Wife punched me in the shoulder.
There was dead silence on the radio ..then
.. laughter in the background when I heard the Viper call Cessna 172 in sight over the open mike from tower.
Edwards tower comes back with: Take it easy on our jet, he's a bit out of practice on 172 ACM
(I never saw him .. I was such a dweeb)
I had been 'playing' Air Warrior for about a year then.
It would be several more years before I went to work for Kesmai.
It was just one of those moments you just cannot let 'slide' .. yanno?
-Frank aka GE
