Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Widewing on May 15, 2011, 11:22:45 AM

Title: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Widewing on May 15, 2011, 11:22:45 AM
I logged the majority of my flight time (as an aircrewman) in the Grumman C-1A, operating from USS Saratoga. I was also qualified in the C-131, C-118 and HU-16. However, the C-1A was my favorite because we were the last of the recips on carriers, and the last aircraft that still could (and usually did) take off using a deck run.

Here's a photo of COD-60, taken a few years after I left the carrier, and another taken on the hanger deck undergoing maintenance during a MED cruise in 1978.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5722889066_47d30835a6_b.jpg)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2102/5722402453_47087d0f83_z.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3567/5722402587_bd673b83db_z.jpg)
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: The Fugitive on May 15, 2011, 01:14:06 PM
I didn't work on planes, but I was an Electrician's mate aboard the USS Eisenhower CVN69 from 77-80 and maintained the 400 cycle starter stations on the flight deck. Was it the Eisenhower you were on for that Med trip?
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Widewing on May 15, 2011, 01:32:46 PM
I didn't work on planes, but I was an Electrician's mate aboard the USS Eisenhower CVN69 from 77-80 and maintained the 400 cycle starter stations on the flight deck. Was it the Eisenhower you were on for that Med trip?

I flew aboard Eisenhower a few times, usually bringing members of the Admiral's staff to and from. I was based aboard Saratoga.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: pops949 on May 15, 2011, 09:37:53 PM
.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: bozon on May 16, 2011, 02:32:42 AM
Flew some Bell Jet-Rangers till I got kicked out of flight school. I am a lousy pilot in real life as well as in AH. Ended up being a controller - If they don't let you fly them, make'em your *female dogs* and order them around instead.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: RufusLeaking on May 16, 2011, 01:46:07 PM
KC-135. See my icon.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Obie303 on May 16, 2011, 06:03:44 PM
I might be able to dig up a picture of the plane I jumped out of.   :D
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: The Fugitive on May 16, 2011, 06:27:49 PM
I might be able to dig up a picture of the plane I jumped out of.   :D

Did you HAVE to jump out, or did you take a wrong turn on the way to the head?  :devil
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: hornet#1 on May 16, 2011, 07:12:29 PM
The COD 60, I also flew C-1A out of VR-24, 1977-1981 :airplane:
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Ack-Ack on May 16, 2011, 08:34:22 PM
Did you HAVE to jump out, or did you take a wrong turn on the way to the head?  :devil

Now you know why there is a big sign above the door in planes that say "Do not open while in flight".

ack-ack
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Widewing on May 16, 2011, 09:20:22 PM
The COD 60, I also flew C-1A out of VR-24, 1977-1981 :airplane:

I flew in and out of NAF Sigonella in '77, '78 and 1979. We had to replace a nose strut on the C-1A and did so in VR-24's hanger. One of your CPOs offered to do the required drop check, and we were glad to get the help. Unfortunately, a VR-24 bubble chaser mis-connected the hydraulic cart and blew up the reservoir, flooding the cabin with hydraulic fluid. That reservoir is built into the wing structure. It took three days to get it out and a replacement installed. Captain Martin was not amused, but we didn't mind a few extra days ashore, staying at the world famous Total motel.....

One of your C-1s came aboard Saratoga late one afternoon in early 1979, bringing out some personnel and some mail. Upon start-up to launch it off, #2 engine would not start. Since I was the resident C-1A/R1820 engine mechanic, I was summoned to the flight deck to troubleshoot the problem. It took about 5 minutes to isolate the ignition exciter as the problem. It was dead, and that meant insufficient spark to light off the engine. Your pilot was having a stroke, envisioning spending the night on the ship (poor lad). So, I asked him how bad he wanted to leave. He replied, "do whatever you have to." I removed the defective exciter from #2 engine. Then, I had the pilot start #1. I pulled off the right side accessory panel and removed the good exciter, which I installed on #2 engine. I had him start #2. With both engines running, I reinstalled the exciter box back on #1 (in case they had to shut down #1 to unload or load people before they got back to Sigonella). I taped up the lugs from #2's exciter harness and reinstalled the accessory section panels. I climbed aboard and stuck my head into the cockpit. "Whatever you do", I told the pilots, "do not shut down #2 until you are where you plan to spend the night." They nodded their acceptance. "When you get back to Sigonella, give the old unit to the OMD engine shop and have them install a replacement." With that, I climbed out and handed them over to a taxi director. They put the COD on a waist cat and shot them off.

Those were recip days... When men were men and the sheep were light sleepers.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Obie303 on May 16, 2011, 10:08:13 PM
Did you HAVE to jump out, or did you take a wrong turn on the way to the head?  :devil

I was pushed.   :P
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: pops949 on May 16, 2011, 10:09:12 PM
Back in the 60's I was stationed at North Isl.  I was the DCO (drop control officer). I started and launched the drones.  

(http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/mkerkes/starfire23.jpg)
(http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/mkerkes/starfire23a.jpg)
(http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/mkerkes/starfire21.jpg)

Once the drones were launched they were used as air to air or ship to air targets.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Widewing on May 18, 2011, 11:02:23 PM
Back in the 60's I was stationed at North Isl.  I was the DCO (drop control officer). I started and launched the drones.  

(http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/mkerkes/starfire23.jpg)

Once the drones were launched they were used as air to air or ship to air targets.

Ah yes, the old P-2V... Those 3350s leaked oil like no other engine... When a Dutch P2 arrived at GTMO in 1976, we grabbed every drip pan on the field and headed for it.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: W7LPNRICK on May 20, 2011, 08:53:16 PM
(http://images.defensetech.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SchwartzHuey.jpg)

The Huey is the "N"(Navy) model used by the USAF Air Rescue

(http://www.okbarnstormers.com/images/c130_086.jpg)

Packed Ejection seats & Drag chutes for...

(http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Prescott2005/Highlights/F4TakingOffSaturday.jpg)

[img]http://www.acepilots.com/jets/f5e-aggressor.jpg[img]

My favorites
& too many others to list.


Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: W7LPNRICK on May 20, 2011, 09:08:28 PM
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Three_F-5E_Tiger_II_from_527th_Tactical_Fighter_Training_Aggressor_Squadron.jpg[img]

Clark Air Force base P.I. the F-4's chased these guys around with their Russian paint schemes, and much tighter turning radius than the veteran F-4's.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: STEELE on May 21, 2011, 05:02:54 AM
Back in the 60's I was stationed at North Isl.  I was the DCO (drop control officer). I started and launched the drones

Once the drones were launched they were used as air to air or ship to air targets.
:x Sounds like just about the most fun job I can think of!
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Serenity on June 29, 2011, 08:26:35 PM
Back in the 60's I was stationed at North Isl.  I was the DCO (drop control officer). I started and launched the drones.  

(http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/mkerkes/starfire23.jpg)
(http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/mkerkes/starfire23a.jpg)
(http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/mkerkes/starfire21.jpg)

Once the drones were launched they were used as air to air or ship to air targets.

Were these out of NASNI? Or San Clemente Island? When we landed on the island before heading to the sub, I saw two of those drones sitting in the dirt off of the airport.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: jollyFE on July 01, 2011, 04:54:54 AM
(http://[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/829/h60.png/][IMG]http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/5286/h60.th.png)[/URL]
(http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/8771/f16k.th.png) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/828/f16k.png/)
(http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/848/70217243.th.png) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/70217243.png/)
[/img]

Crew chief on both
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: jollyFE on July 01, 2011, 05:01:08 AM
(http://[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/825/hh60g.jpg/][IMG]http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/9933/hh60g.th.jpg)[/URL]
(http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/5863/uh1n.th.png) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/uh1n.png/)
[/img]

me doing a hoist on the mighty twinpack UH-1N
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: jollyFE on July 01, 2011, 05:05:05 AM
Cant get the pic of the HH-60G which I was an FE on to post.

Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: pops949 on July 01, 2011, 04:16:27 PM
Were these out of NASNI? Or San Clemente Island? When we landed on the island before heading to the sub, I saw two of those drones sitting in the dirt off of the airport.

We flew out of North Isl.,  we had op's by San Clemente Isl. and sometimes the helo's would drop the drones on the island till we came and picked them up.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: W7LPNRICK on July 02, 2011, 06:36:12 PM
Cant get the pic of the HH-60G which I was an FE on to post.

(http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/hh60g.jpg) like this?  :old:
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: RTHolmes on July 02, 2011, 07:30:32 PM
Clark Air Force base P.I. the F-4's chased these guys around with their Russian paint schemes, and much tighter turning radius than the veteran F-4's.

there was an F5 aggressor squadron based at upper heyford near me for a while in the late 80s, very cool watching em take off for exercises together with a bunch of eagles :aok  they were all black (with a russian star on the tails iirc.)

I got hassled by a bunch of USAF MPs for taking photos of them, I was outside the fence so I told them to ... well you can guess. they werent amused :D
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: W7LPNRICK on July 04, 2011, 01:13:27 PM
in 1978 they had similar color schemes as seen above in an aggressor Sq of F-5E Tiger II's at Clark AFB P.I. It was funny watching the F-4D's trying to turn with them.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Wolfala on July 06, 2011, 04:09:22 PM
in 1978 they had similar color schemes as seen above in an aggressor Sq of F-5E Tiger II's at Clark AFB P.I. It was funny watching the F-4D's trying to turn with them.

You'd think they learned that trying to turn fight mig21s - doesnt work out
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: W7LPNRICK on July 09, 2011, 08:08:23 PM
Back in the 60's I was stationed at North Isl.  I was the DCO (drop control officer). I started and launched the drones.  

(http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/mkerkes/starfire23.jpg)
(http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/mkerkes/starfire23a.jpg)
(http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/mkerkes/starfire21.jpg)

Once the drones were launched they were used as air to air or ship to air targets.

Those looks like the same type drones we dropped at Clark in '78.  :salute
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Furball on July 16, 2011, 03:52:32 PM
I flew F-16s for the CIA.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: RTHolmes on July 16, 2011, 04:35:46 PM
 :D :aok
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Becinhu on July 20, 2011, 12:37:07 PM
I flew F-16s for the CIA.
I flew F/A-18s for the ATF.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Puma44 on July 20, 2011, 02:14:21 PM
You'd think they learned that trying to turn fight mig21s - doesnt work out

That the reason for training against them, to find out what does and doesn't work before meeting up with them for real.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Rino on July 20, 2011, 03:44:34 PM
You'd think they learned that trying to turn fight mig21s - doesnt work out

      Mig-21s actually bleed E very quickly.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Rino on July 20, 2011, 03:46:34 PM
     "Say Allo to my leetl frens!"  :D

(http://www.ratemyscreensaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/tfs4.jpg)

     I just fixed em, not crew though.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: W7LPNRICK on July 21, 2011, 10:10:19 PM
I flew F/A-18s for the ATF.

 copycat   :P
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: beau32 on July 21, 2011, 10:20:15 PM
(http://sitelife.aviationweek.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/5/33a641ec-2a60-47eb-8511-3c7f29255a71.Full.jpg)

Mechanic on the F-35. My aircraft is AF-7.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Seanaldinho on July 22, 2011, 09:33:38 AM
(http://sitelife.aviationweek.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/5/33a641ec-2a60-47eb-8511-3c7f29255a71.Full.jpg)

Mechanic on the F-35. My aircraft is AF-7.

First one of those arrived at Eglin just a few days ago got to watch it fly in  :D :D :D


33rd FW FTW :rock
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Shifty on July 22, 2011, 04:27:53 PM
I wasn't aircrew however I was a crew chief.

My first assignment was as a O-2A crew chief at Bergstrom AFB TX from 1979-1980

(http://www.honoluluagonizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/O2USAF.jpg)

My bird was 67-666.


I was crew chief on this  F-111E  68-005 or "Balls Five" from 1980 to 1983 at RAF Upper Heyford UK.
This photo was taken in the 90s long after I had moved on.

(http://www.dstorm.eu/pictures/nose-arts/f-111/68-0005_1.jpg)

I was also a crew chief on three different A-10s from 1983 to 1991. 77-0278, 77-0284, and 78-0224 at Davis Monthan AFB AZ. Back when they were green.  :D
Here's a shot of one of our squadron birds sitting god knows where . It certainly isn't Arizonza.  ;)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/3853989664_bc07db7804_b.jpg)




Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: beau32 on July 22, 2011, 04:36:32 PM
First one of those arrived at Eglin just a few days ago got to watch it fly in  :D :D :D


33rd FW FTW :rock

We only have 6 out here at Edwards right now. But we are slated to get more sometime in the future. Our plane has been flying good, but we have a lot of test flights to go.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Seanaldinho on July 22, 2011, 08:47:09 PM
Awesome  :aok

The 33rd is the trainer squadron for new F-35 pilots so they will be winging up some time next month I believe.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: beau32 on July 22, 2011, 09:40:35 PM
The ones down in Eglin (due to us working out a lot of bugs in the production models) wont fly I think till AF-6 and AF-7 have over 250 hours between them. Right now 6 and 7 have less than a 100 hours between them.
Title: Re: So, ex-military pilots and aircrew, show us what you flew or crewed.
Post by: Seanaldinho on July 23, 2011, 09:03:41 AM
Oh ok didnt know that.

Thanks  :aok

Let me know if you need a stick to fly one  :D :D :joystick: :banana: