Springer

I don't remember the airspeed but we did the standard tanker rejoins in the AAR track like the Phantom and had no problems staying with the tanker. I gave all my Dragonfly stuff to Huggy so he might know. All ours had the AAR equipment when we received the planes from the Guard/Reserve (that was a first) and put the O-2A's in the Boneyard. For the younger guys, in the late '70's there were massive AF DOS's as the airlines were hiring...think deregulation. But then almost overnight all the airlines began furloughing ('81) and the AF wanted us back. We could almost write our own orders...I didn't want to go back to Recce and thought the OA-37 at DMAFB would be cool. I was right and after a 4 year commitment, went back to the airlines.

Yes, from both the -135 & KC-10. Only USAF a/c at the time ('80's) that did probe/drogue, fun but challenging. Once plugged you had to offset the a/c left or right to put a "S" bend in the hose to keep from disconnecting. Early on we were getting poor connections with massive hose leaks. On one flt with a student the leak was so bad we went IFR...he pulled back without realigning. When we disconnected the hose aligned with the right intake pouring fuel into the engine, flaming it out. Down we went. Huggy has connections...bet he can get tanker support for his trip to OSH. I can be his IP, no charge. Navy F18 doing the same offset:

Thinking around 690 nm as I flew regularly with WG/CC between DMAFB and Bergstrom (Austin) with 4 drop tanks. Never flew it in any other configuration. Carries more external fuel than internal. Flew non stop New Orleans to Honduras (see pic) but we AAR'd on the way. Huggy is going to love the plane. I felt comfortable in it after one flight. When down to internal fuel it would fly up it's own a$$hole. Closed patterns were basically Immelmanns. UPT grads were getting FAC (OA-37/OV-10) assignments with a guaranteed fighter afterwards. Guy in pic went to F-15's, retired DAL CA now. Good looking guy on the right flew RF-4C's prior. What's an IR/VR route? 🙂 Fun times back then.

Great work Huggy...lookin' like a real A-37 now:

The Sheriff sets the tone for his department. In incidents like this, he should be the first to go. Not unlike in the military, seems at every base I was at when there was an accident, the sq/cc or wg/cc was replaced.

Tons of YouTube flying channels but this Navy/Marine guy, Growler Jams, has one of the better ones with his calm narrations:

Here is what is being said: - The pilot was not a new hire - This incident happened weeks ago - This pilot helped trap the errors on the flight in question. The entire crew discussed it after landing. They all left on good terms. - The pilot discussed their day later with a friend. - The friend, without permission from the pilot and without their knowledge, called the FAA hotline. - The pilot’s name, picture, and other personal info has been shared across multiple airlines.

After being paid to fly, some of us will pay to fly.

Thanks, I use a broker as well but has kept me with the same company the last 9 years. I'll go self insure (cept liability) if need be. Did it with an experiemental I had a hundred years ago when the airlines paid nothing and were going to crap. Same airline (NERD guy). All changed when the airline did away with long downtown layovers during BK. I remember leaving MSP for one of those in SFO (when it was great) and looking at my FO saying, "This is no longer fun." I really feel for all you flying domestic. Always had one long layover and took my wife-to-be on many. We did it on the airline's dime and had fun. Still travel in retirement to Europe for the ambiance we can't find in the US but stay away from crowds and tourist. No kids so we can blow the wad. Seems like I spent a quarter of my life in AMS. Hated it....slept when I got in (no augmentation back then), cocktails at 5, dinner at 6, in bed by 9, wide awake at 1am. Don't even nonrev thru there if I can help it.

I have heard the same but has not happened in my case. Renewed last week and it went up an additional $150 for my acro taildragger. I turn 75 next month. When the age went from 60 to 65 never dreamed most would go to 65 let alone 67. Having said that I left at 59 and have never looked back. If you are not flying international, I can't imagine what a layover is like in our crappy cities today.

Only 12 in your class? I think we started with 50.

Wasn't USAA Bank fined $140 million a couple of years ago?

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.

Good catch, I saw it as well. NERD (Never Ever Really Delta)

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.

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

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.

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]

Retiring Delta bro goes out with a bang chartering A330 to Hawaii with fellow pilots that retired w/o a finny flight due to Covid. Retired Delta Captain Keith Rosenkranz Charts New Territory with A… (bnnbreaking.com)

For my own selfish retired nonreving reasons of 20 consecutive round trips in FC to Europe, I'm not!

One of the saddest accidents when stationed in Germany were four Italian F-104's crashing on departure out of Bitburg. Accident Lockheed F-104G Starfighter MM6575, (aviation-safety.net)

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

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.

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.