Leaderboard

In late 1966, a new threat was appearing to our Airmen serving in Vietnam with the North's introduction of the then state-of-the-art Soviet MiG-21 Fishbed. The MiG's had used slash and run attacks to which they were well suited, to avoid the air-to-air armed Phantom fighters and to press their attacks against the heavily bomb-laden F-105's. They scored their first kill in October of 1966 and in December had shot down two attacking F-105 Thunderchiefs. More importantly though, the small number of MiG's, being able to carefully pick their battles, and operating from the safety of airfields that the US military was not allowed to attack, caused 20% of all strike sorties to jettison their weapons prior to attacking their targets. But what if a plan could be put into place to fool the North Vietnamese into attacking a strike force of Thunderchiefs, that turned out not to be heavy strike aircraft, but air-to-air armed Phantoms - ready and waiting?

Cost of ground school = 2-3 hours of flight time with instructor. Value gained by knowing how to find an altimeter and what it means = priceless. BL, your SA will be much better and you'll get more out of each hour if you spend your flight time flying instead of trying to figure out all the things going on around you.

All of the books mentioned are good for the overall aviation knowledge experience. However, if you want to learn the aerodynamics behind light airplanes, nothing beats Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche. Also, I agree with Rainman A-10 that avoiding ground school is a big mistake. My CFI taught me almost everything in the airplane and it cost me more money and time to learn than it would have.

Agreed. I will never deny his accolades. His 10 air medals and DFC are just deserved. I will always be proud of him and he's one of my best friends. It's just tough to make your own way, as much as I try, without that as a part of my life. My comments were to educate without his influence- of which I never asked beyond a recommendation. But thank you for the honorable mention. He deserves inclusion always. I let him know that daily. I would be happy to help any ass-kickin' driven bro out there. Barney

OLD FIGHTER PILOT A ragged, old, derelict shuffled into a down and dirty bar. Stinking of whiskey and cigarettes, his hands shook as he took the "Piano Player Wanted" sign from the window and handed it to the bartender. "I'd like to apply for the job," he said. "I was an F-4E driver, flying out of Udorn back in ' Nam , but when they retired the Phantom all the thrill was gone, and soon they cashed me in as well. I learned to play the piano at AUSSIE-Club happy hours, so here I am." The barkeep wasn't too sure about this doubtful looking old guy, but it had been quite a while since he had a piano player and business was falling off.. So, why not give him a try. The seedy pilot staggered his way over to the piano while several patrons snickered. By the time he was into his third bar of music, every voice was silenced. What followed was a rhapsody of soaring music unlike anything heard in the bar before. When he finished there wasn't a dry eye in the place. The bartender took the old fighter pilot a beer and asked him the name of the song he had just played? It's called "Drop your Skivvies, Baby, I'm Going Balls To The Wall For You" he said. After a long pull from the beer, leaving it empty, he said "I wrote it myself." The bartender and the crowd winced at the title, but the piano player just went on into a knee-slapping, hand-clapping bit of ragti me that had the place jumping. After he finished, the fighter pilot acknowledged the applause, downed a second proffered mug, and told the crowd the song was called, "Big Boobs Make My Afterburner Light." He then launched into another mesmerizing song and everyone in the room was enthralled. He announced that it was the latest rendition of his song, "Spread 'em Baby, It's Foggy Out Tonight and I Need To See The Centerline", excused himself and headed for the john. When he came out the bartender went over to him and said, "Hey fly boy, the job is yours, but do you know your fly is open and your pecker is hanging out. "Know it?" the old fighter pilot replied, "Hell, I wrote it!"