Springer

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.

Wengen, Switzerland....car-free mtn village overlooking Lauterbrunnen Valley. Discovered during my Germany tour. Hasn't changed in the last 30 years. And yes you need to go there.

As a Boomer I took your advice at 59:

Jan 4 U-2 Elephant Walk...which one are you in Huggy?

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.

Willie

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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?

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. 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. 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.

I agree...one of my last ones, me leading, wingman correctly stacking level. #381 was shot down years later by a Navy F-14 idiot over the Med.

She wasn't in the her early days based at KAVQ (AZ). Her hangar was across from mine (late '80's-early '90's) and would practice twice a day in the box much of the time in crappy wx that kept me grounded. Humble and down to earth in the few encounters I had with her. Pretty dedicated as well....did the local DMAFB show in very windy conditions (the show must go on)....taxied straight back to the hangar after landing and threw up out of sight of the spectators.

Went to a goat rope fly-in yesterday. One of my biggest fears since returnng to GA is a pattern mid air so I played it safe and held. Then this at Reno. My heart goes out to their families and those that witness it.

Sort of. After TPS buddy was sent to some safety job. Fed up, left AD to fly Guard -16's/airline. Airbus hired him away from airline to be test pilot in Toulouse.

especially with the amount of OCV those old farts have available to burn every year at their tenure. but I along with many in the younger crowd say F these guys. They’re a bunch of greedy MFers that don’t seem to remember how good.... Nice. Were you hired prior to 2008?

Worked for me. With what the airlines are paying today, I would suggest an Extra.

In all seriousness would you explain those?

When I left USAFE for TAC I was able to hand carry my medical records. I purged the BS that my squadron FS kept me grounded for a few months. Had to go to the head USAFE FS that over ruled him. 40 years later I can still pass a Class 1 physical.

Best advice to a UPTer I have seen in a while. YouTube vids also "skewes the mindset" of what is cool or not. Very little of your life is spent in the cockpit. The "lifestyle" you want should play a big role in what a/c you choose. Fortunately the choice I made was the correct one for me.

I was at Maple Flag when a 4-ship of 141's flew initial in fingertip and pitched out to land. For guys that probably didn't do much close formation, they were as good as any fighter 4-ship.