HuggyU2

I was 1.5 years into my airline job, sitting sideways as a 727 second officer, on a flight between MCI and ORD. I was a 2nd Officer Line Check Airman and was giving a new guy a checkout. We got a few odd messages from the crew scheduler on our ACARS unit, and thought there had been a power failure in the North East US. Landed in ORD, and nothing was moving. That was when we knew something very unusual was happening. Sat on the tarmac a few hours. I tuned in a news broadcast on the radio, and literally gave the passengers a play by play for 90 minutes. I remember walking back through the cabin to check on the pax, and a women stopped me and said "my brother works in the twin towers.". After a few hours, we were able to get permission to drop the rear stairway of the 727, and off-load everyone. Once I was inside Ops, people were in shock. I recall the staff ladies crying, and the pilots watching the TV. I figured out where my hotel was, and headed out of O'Hare. What was very eerie was going through that tunnel between the two United terminals: middle of at the day, and I'm the only person in it. Came up to the main ticket area of O'Hare, and the only other people there were National Guard with automatic weapons. Surreal. Spent 5 days in Chicago, and was on the first plane that went into San Antonio. I had decided 6 weeks earlier to go back onto Active Duty, and return to the U-2. I'd also called the U-2 SQ/CC at that time, and he supported my decision. I had completed all of the paperwork for AFPC, and that stack was sitting on my desk at home when I left to fly that trip on 10 Sept. Once I arrived back home, I waited about 2 days, and made the 15 minute drive out to AFPC at Randolph, and hand-walked my Return to Active Duty application in to Adriana Bazan. Couldn't wait to get back in uniform. I was back on Active Duty on 19 Nov 2001.

The MC-12 virus is 99% permanent. I spent 13 months there as an O-5, and was overjoyed to leave that shitshow. Hopefully, you are persistent and will beat the odds.

So classy.

Good info again. I'll speak to the airport manager and see what the story is. In any case, the Airshow is sponsored by an excellent craft brewery, and ends with a concert. Last year, Everclear headlined. Good static warbird turnout, including one of only 3 flying P-63s and one of only 7 flying P-38s.

Yup. But if your experiences are like mine, I'll take a military jet to a civilian field over a military field any day. Example: taking a T-38 into Eglin for gas. Then going to Million Air at Houston Hobby. The night and day differences stand out when you visit them just hours apart SBD would be my choice over RIV.

Thanks for the replies. Great information, as I had not considered a few of the aircraft mentioned. The airport is KREI and is at 1600' MSL. I'm guessing the largest aircraft they could handle would be a C-130, just based on the limited parking. That's probably a stretch too. The M-28, U-28, T-6, and C-12 would be a hit. If any of you are interested in a one-day, cool SoCal show in May 2017, drop me a p.m. and let's see if we can make it happen. BTW... flyovers: stage out of March ARB or KSBD, do flyover, then come to the party. Two years ago, the Canadian Hornet Demo guy staged out of SBD, and they helicoptered him back and forth, since it is only about 5 nm away.

What fixed wing AF aircraft could potentially support being a static display on a runway that is 4500'x75?

BWAA! Hahaha!!!

Has anything official been reported in the Thunderbird mishap? Also, could someone post the link for the public site that has the AIB results for past mishaps?

Is there any relevance to having this thread remain in the "Pinned" section?

Heresy!!! Burn the witch!!!

More good video and narrative... and Lt Gen "Matic" Otto in an interview. He's a great American and military officer. For those considering a career in the U-2, enjoy the following: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-air-force-reveals-new-360-degree-video-of-u-2-pilot-perspective/

I went for just Wednesday. As expected, amazing time. Lots of rumor and scuttlebutt about EAA losing big patrons. I'd like to see their financials for the past year.

I just heard about the crash yesterday near Vance. I'm curious what kind of knee-jerk reaction the AF will make due to this. Irrespective, my sincere condolences to the friends and squadron mates of the Lieuteant that died.

I was in Miami a week ago, and Pan Am Flight Academy has a 707 sim they do type ratings in. They apparently have clients, Educate your FSDO.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gene-lee-72368312

Why is any of this relevant... to anything? A 2Lt that's unpopular with the status quo. Newsworthy.

DEFINTELY not. Great guy.

EXCELLENT news! Thanks for posting. In this case, it's perfectly fine to say "I told you so".

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/06/07/air-force-thunderbirds-return-to-flying-after-crash-but-air-show-schedule-uncertain/

Yes, he hit another jet in the Diamond at the Patrick Airshow early in the season. I have no idea if there was a documented problem earlier, or if it was a one mistake policy.

Sorry to disappoint. His 2d star is enroute. https://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/467062/brigadier-general-russell-l-mack.aspx

Most likely, that rumor would only be true if #1 was released from the team. The other positions can be replaced in short order. When Smack Mack was fired, they brought Lefty Arlinghaus back. Movers were at his house, and everything came to a stop. He got back up to speed pretty quick, even though he went from 2 years as a Solo, and into the Diamond. That happened late April, and I seem to recall they were back on schedule in mid June.

No kidding. The Swiss Demo team had a mid-air today too. https://www.airlive.net/breaking-swiss-f-5-fighter-jet-just-crashed-near-leeuwarden-air-base-in-the-netherlands/

Very, very well done, Jack. https://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/783640/edge-of-space-emergency-tests-aviators-skills.aspx He's the 4th U-2 pilot I know to earn this distinction, and the 3rd since 2003. I believe the Kolligian Trophy is the only individual award given by the CSAF.