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Springer

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Posts posted by Springer

    Fighter TOLD/W&B

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Springer
    I fucked up my spelling, what else can I say?

    On 3/28/2024 at 5:25 AM, GettinReady said:

    Not a 22 guy, but the Viper’s flaps are tied to the gear handle. Is the 22 like this as well or is it a separate switch? It was never mentioned in the AIB, or maybe it was and i missed it when I skimmed through it. Still trying to rationalize how that «accident» could have happened. 
     

    For anyone out there in T-38 land, do not early rotate. 

    This is what was great about the mighty Phantom's "Rotate for Dummies".  You started the TO roll with full aft stick and let the a/c decide when to rotate. 

     

    • Thanks 1
    • Upvote 1

    DFW National Cemetery Flyover Coord Assistance

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Springer

    On 3/15/2024 at 8:36 AM, Zero said:

    Long shot, but I know there are experts here who might be able to help. 

    BLUF: Long-time A-10 leader passed away this week, and is being interred at DFW National Cemetery next week. We're looking to see if we can get a 4 Ship flyover but have no idea where to start with the airspace. That cemetery is 10nm SE of the eastern runway at DFW, so airspace should be simple. Right? 

    Coord through official USAF channels to approve it is underway, but would like to know if anyone has any words on where to go otherwise; ATC POCs to coord and/or approve, or even just to find out if there's no way to proceed. They've done Memorial Day flyovers there, but I'm sure they have plenty of time to coord in advance for something like that whereas we have a week. Any point-outs are greatly appreciated, even if it's to show that it's unpossible so we can plan for an alternative COA here at Moody.  Thanks in advance.

    Cheers,

    Zero

    Really hope it works out for you Zero.  I did exactly what you are doing 45 years ago when I led a 4-ship of Phantoms over Dallas for a passing F-4 driver.  Can't believe we pulled it off w/#3 going missing man but had to severely limit how high he could climb.  We had one radio in the plane and a guy on the ground with a portable.  It was a goat-rope but oh so satisfying if you can make it work.  Sorry I can't add any usable advice but wish you much luck.

    • Upvote 1

    Air Force is hiring for civilian T-6 IPs

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Springer

    On 2/13/2024 at 11:19 AM, SHFP said:

    Brabus, you are breaking my Heart.  Flew the hard wing C, D, Es and the Slatted E.  Great machine.  But then it was the only real choice for me back then (before you were born).

    Check Six, D

    Same SHFP.  Some wanna'b kids in here.😁

    phantom1.jpg

    • Like 2
    • Upvote 2

    Music

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted · Edited by Springer

    I like old garage bands.  The drummer, Butch Atkinson went on to be a Navy P3 pilot and later Delta.  Died in the late '90's from heart issues I believe.

    Tom Petty did a great cover.

     

     

    • Like 1

    The new airline thread

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted · Edited by Springer

    4 hours ago, brabus said:

    No one will top that fini flight! (in the airlines)

    Hear he is great to fly with as well.  He also wrote a book about the Viper.

    Keith Rosenkranz is a retired American fighter pilot and author. As a captain in the United States Air Force, he flew 30 missions in an F-16 Fighting Falcon during the Persian Gulf War.[1] He later wrote a book about his experiences in the war, titled Vipers in the Storm: Diary of a Gulf War Fighter Pilot,[2][3] which included a foreword from Vice President Dick Cheney. Rosenkranz was interviewed twice by CNN prior to the Iraq War.[4][5] After nearly nine years, he left the military and became a longtime Delta Air Lines pilot (for 17 years as of 2009).[6][7] He wrote an article for the New York Times about the Tarnak Farm incident[1] and has been quoted in newspapers regarding other aerial accidents.[8][9]

    B-1 Down at Ellsworth

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Prosuper said:

    Back in the days of overwing refueling we sometimes install the caps but not latch them on a very hot day to account for fuel expansion and put a write up in the 781 to make sure to check them on crew show.

    I have a permanent blue stain on my white winged RV-8 because of not doing this.

    Commanders are dropping like flies this year

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Dogs-N-Guns said:

    My math was 1 day commute there, 1 day commute home for each 7 day trip, two trips per month for a total of 4 days commuting. This is what I assumed as a FNG FO regional as the bad side of normal. I would assume it gets much better after 1-2 years. This was my conclusion after anecdotal conversations with my friends that went the airline route and reading multiple forums posts. There is only 1 legacy domicile within 2 hours of where I live, with no guarantees I would get that, so I assumed commuting (don't want to move), which really affected my decision. YMMV.

    Nothing wrong with your decision.  Back in the day I commuted 1200 miles for 25 years but no way would I commute now.  And after 4 ocean crossing in 6 days I was wiped out.  I was single at the time, can only imagine the pressure on getting back home if you are married.   Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the job but it was a means to an end. Made enough by 59 and exited.  You can always build or buy an airplane.  I did and have never enjoyed flying as much as I have now.

    • Like 3

    "Biden Didn’t Learn for Days That Pentagon Chief Was in Hospital"

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Springer

    11 hours ago, nsplayr said:

    I 0.5 FTE vs full-time, buying an airplane, and flying the (future) grandkids out for very expensive hamburgers.

    Hell, I might even build that canoe one day!

     I highly recommend the book Die With Zero by Bill Perkins. I liked the book a lot and got a lot out of it.

    Kill two birds with one stone, build the plane and fly the grandkids. I'll check out the book but having no 'squids' and wife's current spending, we are on a direct path to Die With Zero.  

     

    • Haha 1
    • Upvote 1

    "Biden Didn’t Learn for Days That Pentagon Chief Was in Hospital"

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    1 hour ago, nsplayr said:

     

     

    Also Austin is 70...for s sake Boomers, ing retire already! Hand-build a canoe in your garage and let your grandchildren sleepover for the weekend. GTFO of high office and enjoy the fruits of a lifetime of labor. And I say this to all of you equally  in the 65+ age range. When I am that age, I sure as hell won't be commuting to an office 6am-8pm, busting my hump flying around the world.......

    As a Boomer I took your advice at 59:

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    • Like 10
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    On the struggle bus at UPT, heading for a CR

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    On 12/25/2023 at 9:47 PM, Biff_T said:

     

    UPS, Fire bombing, Flying gay helicopters into hairy shit and pulling dudes off ...thats the best.  Pulling men off lol.   

     

     

    Befriended a one-striper w/glasses on my first flying assignment in Germany.  Had him over for dinner a few times then lost track after new assignment.  Years later he found me. Just retired from "Flying gay helicopters into hairy shit."  Pics of him flying below.

     

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    • Upvote 4

    On the struggle bus at UPT, heading for a CR

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    admdelta, it kills me to hear this.  Went through this with my UPT roommate and always wondered if I could have done more to help.  Turns out he should have been wearing glasses but by the time it was discovered it was too late.

    Becomes an F-4 WSO.  AF sends him to law school.  Eventually becomes an AF judge.  Works three VERY high vis AF cases including the AWAC helo shootdown and the Khobar Towers bombing.  Retired a couple years ago as a Federal Judge.

    Good luck.

    GA Aircraft Flown

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    10 hours ago, SocialD said:

    Best of luck to Van's, they've done more to advance GA than most.  I have a buddy building a 12 right now who works for Van's remotely, will be interesting to see who it's going for him.  Thankfully, I think he has the entire kit already.  

    Quoting someone else that I totally agree with, "Now he’s coming out of retirement and throwing his own money at the problem to try to save what he built, and I’m sure, his legacy. It’s a sad deal."

    Been associated with Van's for 35 years:  

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    • Upvote 3

    college

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Springer

    On 11/3/2023 at 4:06 PM, wikz said:

    another problem is Hawaii is small and our only university doesn't offer any aviation degrees except aerospace engineering. I would have to be a mad man to go down that route lol.

    Do major airlines care about degrees? .....would it matter what major I chose?

    .......'seems like a business degree is something I am going to look into in the future.

     

    Took me 5 years to graduate from the U of Hawaii.  Who in their right mind does it in 4 over there?  Majored in Business barely passing due to spending most of my time on the U's Sailing Team.  I am living proof college has little bearing on your future aviation endeavors as I flew fighters and for Delta.

    • Upvote 1

    GA Aircraft Flown

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Springer

    2 hours ago, fire4effect said:

    I've considered building or buying one already built. In fact, I think someone quoted Van's as saying some of their biggest competition is from already built RVs. Go figure. I think if they trimmed their product line back to 2-3 models and figured out how to do a 2 weeks to Taxi like Glasair they could run the table. Most people don't want to spend 4 years building they want to be flying. My .02. 

    Calling my ins company to up the value of my -8.

    Business Announcement From Van's Founder Dick Vangrunsven - VAF Forums (vansairforce.net)

    From the above forum link:

    Long story short, we are seeing the end of an era. That’s not to say the new era won’t be OK, but this was really the last kit manufacturer that could be built on an average middle-class budget. With all of the other component prices increasing exponentially, like engines and avionics and props, I think we are really seeing the end of the traditional budget home building era.

     

    Bye bye demo teams (A-10, F-15E, F-16)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    On 10/26/2023 at 9:50 AM, M2 said:

    You'd think, but there are people still driving in Texas with multiple DWIs! 🙄

    My wife was on a jury where the accused had seven! 😡😡

    I guess drive-thru liquor stores may be part of the problem!  🤠

    Man does that stir up an old memory.  Airman in my squadron at Bergstrom AFB, TX was killed riding his motorcycle by a drunk driver who was awaiting trial for a previous DWI.

    • Sad 1

    T-38 circling approach

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    9 hours ago, artvandelay43201 said:

    I’d like to thank @Springer for taking the thread from circling approaches to F-4 friendly shoot downs. Impressive. 

    Wish I could take credit but it went to formation landings before I posted.  Besides, what's a drifting thread w/o a/c photos and real life stories?

     

    T-38 circling approach

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Springer

    4 hours ago, HuggyU2 said:

    https://theaviationgeekclub.com/video-when-a-us-navy-f-14-tomcat-shot-down-a-usaf-rf-4c-phantom-ii/amp/
     

    Mike Ross went through T-38 PIT when I was an IP there. Good guy, good story. However, I heard his ejection injuries got worse with time. 

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/friendly-fire-victim-outraged-over-navy-officers-admiral-promotion/

    Friendly-fire victim outraged over Navy officer's admiral promotion

    • (CBS News) A U.S. Navy officer named Timothy Dorsey is up for promotion to admiral.


    Whether he gets it may be determined by something he did a quarter century ago as an airman -- something so bizarre, even he can't fully explain it. But, it changed forever the life of a fellow airman, Mike Ross.
     

    martin01.jpg
     
    This photograph shows Mike Ross when he was a young Air Force pilot.
    CBS NEWS
    Ross was a young Air Force pilot flying reconnaissance missions in an F-4 Phantom jet. Grainy video taken by a Navy F-14 shows his plane during an exercise 25 years ago over the Mediterranean.

    After taking a closer look, the F-14 pilot did the unimaginable. He shot Ross down.

    "It took the tail off the airplane," Ross said.

    He ejected at 630 miles per hour causing leg, shoulder and spine injuries, which have degenerated over the years requiring 32 surgeries. Ross said it "ruined his life," and he is still in physical pain.

    "It basically made me 100 percent disabled by Air Force standards," Ross said.
     
    martin04.jpg

    Navy officer Lt. Junior Grade Timothy Dorsey
    CBS NEWS
    Insult was added to injury last year when the Navy nominated the pilot who shot him down -- then Lt. Junior Grade Dorsey -- for promotion to admiral.
    Ross said his reaction was "almost visceral."

    "I almost got sick," he said.

    Ross claimed he had been under the impression that Dorsey had been let go.

    An investigation determined Dorsey had received an order -- "red and free" -- which according to his sworn statement he thought "would never be used unless it was a no-kidder, a real-world threat situation." He interpreted "red and free" as permission to open fire, an inexplicable decision since everyone else in the exercise understood it to mean a simulated shoot down. Dorsey himself admitted "it was a bad decision."

    He was never allowed to fly again, so he became an intelligence officer. The Navy kept promoting him despite the black mark on his record.

    Dorsey declined to be interviewed, but Navy officials say he was selected for admiral because his performance as an intelligence officer made up for that one terrible mistake early in his career.

    After the promotion became public, Ross received a letter from Dorsey saying, "I was unaware you suffered from any lingering injuries.... I am truly sorry for the incident and even sorrier for its impact on you."

    Ross believes he got the letter 25 years after the incident because Dorsey was nominated for admiral.

    Ross complained to members of Congress, who have the power to block Dorsey's promotion. He said he forgives him, however.

    "I forgive him because if I don't forgive him I'll carry him with me for the rest of my life, and he's not worth that," he said.

    Two pilots whose flight paths crossed so disastrously 25 years ago -- only this time it's Ross trying to shoot Dorsey down.
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