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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Jan 11, 2010 23:43:52 GMT 9
you mean I'm older'n you???....dang!!!...I'll be 58 in apr....we have GOT to meet up for a soda/beer
thanks....over the yrs I've lost both parents/grandparents/nephew/2 roomies and a bunch of friends from work.....I came close to dying myself from an auto immune disease 10 yrs ago....so...for me...every day is a gift....
life's short...enjoy the ride....
Steve
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Jan 11, 2010 12:37:00 GMT 9
well...seeing's how I've just read all the posts on this one..I'd be afraid of being in competition with Bull as a BS'r....  ...just kidding bull....I do feel it was an uncalled for attack... on another note....since I was stationed at Travis AFB...my ole roomy and myself had stayed in touch with each other..he moved to Las vegas to make his fortune only to die penny less....I moved all over the country after college to make a living and career...Larry always had plans of making a million bucks on crazy stuff....he ended up with throat cancer that didn't get treatment until it was too late.... he called me and finally asked me to come down to Vegas ....I took a flight down right after work one friday ....the wife said it was ok and that she would stay home..normally I'd take her with me... when I got to vegas...I found the rental car company and my hotel to check in..then gave larry a call...I picked him up and I was stunned...between the chemo and lack of food...he literally looked like death warmed over...just like someone pulled up a corpse from the ground and walked him around....Larry was always fit and had jet black hair....we'd been friends since the mid 70's....I'd held him when he was divorced and crying...took him to the airport when he won custody of his son from an unfit mother.....we'd been almost like brothers..... well...we went to a big casino and had a nice dinner...which he couldn't hardly eat from the radiation treatments in his throat... next day he wanted to show me some of vegas...here he is sick as a dog and wanting to take me out and show me the town...well...after some of vegas's sights, he took me to the hoover dam for a tour....of course I paid for everything and although it was a good tour...I really couldn't enjoy it much....so.....on the way back at this casino right outside the dam...they had Helo tours on a jet ranger....larry got all excited and said he wanted to make sure I got to see a good show....so..again I paid for the helo ride and asked to stick larry up on the left seat....which he got to do...man....seeing larry's face all lit up with a grin from ear to ear was worth every dime of it.....the helo drive took off and headed over the dam....I asked for a second spin for larry and then we came back to the helo pad at the casino....larry was all pumped up and smiling like crazy.....I slipped the pilot an extra 10 spot for it and we left... larry was rattling about the ride all the way back to my hotel where I dropped off some souveniers to take back... we then went out to see the belagio fountains and he really wanted to show me cesars palace....amazing place....after that and walking the strip for a bit...larry was getting really tired and I took him home....we said goodby and larrry told me thanks for coming brother....I almost lost it then and to this day well up from that comment.....he knew we'd never see each other again and true to his feelings...he died 3 weeks later...I was just going to call him that day when his family called me to notify me of the funeral....it was tough to get off work so...I missed the funeral ....but I lost a friend that week of over 30 yrs......... but that helo ride was the hilight of his life cuz it was special....2 guys that were bonded by the AF... Steve |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Jan 11, 2010 12:13:48 GMT 9
what contest??
Steve
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Jan 11, 2010 10:14:55 GMT 9
oh man...seeing these huey's reallllly brings back a crazy memory.... our sqdn shared the hanger with the sac's huey's and I was talking with a lt. that flew one...we were shooting the bull and he was giving me a nickel tour of the thing...I'd seen em alot there but never got to get close before...he invited me to fly with them..all I had to do was go into ops and sign up for a jafo flight...(just another f#cking observer)....they had me sign up on a roster and gave me a push time the next day of 1:30...it was an escort flight to a missile silo in grand forks No. Dak... well...back then being as young and stupid as I usually was..the next day,I went to the bowling alley for lunch...I mean...that was one of my favorite lunches..hotdogs..chips and a 7up....I know I was young and stupid but it never occured to me that lunch would be an issue...more on this later... well...1pm came around and I walked across the hanger to ops...signed in for the flight...walked out with the crew to preflight the helo...my job was to sit in back and look out the window....not hard you would think.....wellllllll???...not so....they gave me a headset...and binoculars to look for anything suspicious...after all..this was a nuke missile.... I climbed aboard after the pilot signed for the aircraft from the crew chief....and then engine start...rotors started turning....cleared from the tower...and away we went....boy was this cool!!!....I was in a huey!!!....whop whop whop...... we (hm...hovered?  ) over to the main taxi ramp then started picking up speed to leave the base.... remember me telling you that we were to provide air support for the missile crew going out to a silo??..well..we were on hold outside the base doing circles waiting for the commander to sign out the missile for transport to the silo....while we were on hold....doing circles...I started not feeling well.....to top it all off...I'd just got told that our pilot was fresh from Nam...so...I think he was a little crazy.....ok...I know he was crazy.... finally the missile was leaving the base and away we went..once the convoy of 2 security cop trucks....missile....missile maintenance crews....then another cop truck made their way down the roads(all back roads I might add)....the crazy pilot started in on doing gun runs from about 1500 ft down to 300 ft..then pulling up into a steep climb and then back again......after about a dozen of these attack runs my hotdogs, chips and 7up...along with my combat boot strings, wallet, and anything else you could think of all came up to revisit me.....2 bags full....I was good though...I screamed give me a barf bag quick!!!...got hit in the face with about 4 of em....filled 2.....was sick as a dog...I mean wanting to throw myself out the door sick and walk back to base!!!... the pilot realizing I'd lost everything twice over.... calmed his flying down and let me settle down....about 2 hrs later we are back at the base...I'm kissing the ground and to this day I still can't stand the smell of a 7up.......it took me over 10 yrs to eat a hot dog....chips are ok..but not in combination with hotdogs....... that's my story and I'm sticking with it...... but I still love helo's....100,000 parts all flying in the wrong directions... Steve |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Jan 8, 2010 5:48:21 GMT 9
you really need to write all of your stories into a book.....wonderful story that I can relate too as I was growing up...we had ships...boats..forts and war games with all the kids at the naval bases we lived in...
Steve
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Jan 6, 2010 11:56:30 GMT 9
I have one from the USS Parche SSN683...does that count???....
Steve
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 27, 2009 7:39:07 GMT 9
Steve, Thanks for your pictures and reporting on the 787 and your contributions to the Forum and some recent fine jokes! Deserves a Exalt! Pat P.  Whoa!!....didn't see this one comin!!!..thanks...somehow I got 2!!... does that help with my boating fuel budget??  ..  just kidding... also saw AP#3 flying around today....we're starting to get on a roll now!!...AP#4 is scheduled for next week after the first of the yr... thanks.. Steve  |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 24, 2009 8:58:55 GMT 9
Priceless
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While she was 'flying' down the road yesterday, a woman passed over
a bridge only to find a cop with a radar gun on the other side lying
in wait...
The cop pulled her over, walked up to the car, with that classic
patronizing smirk we all know and love, asked, 'What's your hurry?'
To which she replied, 'I'm late for work.'
'Oh yeah,' said the cop, 'what do you do?'
I'm a rectum stretcher,' she responded.
The cop stammered, 'A what? A rectum stretcher? And just
what does a rectum stretcher do?'
'Well,' she said, 'I start by inserting one finger, then work my way
up to two fingers, then three, then four, the n with my whole hand
in. I work from side to side until I can get both hands in, and then
I slowly but surely stretch it, until it's about 6 feet wide.'
'And just what the hell do you do with a 6 foot *jerk*? ' he asked.
'You give him a radar gun and park him behind a bridge...'
Traffic Ticket - $95.00
Court Costs - $45.00
Look on the Cop's Face........ ......... ... PRICELESS
Steve
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 24, 2009 8:45:02 GMT 9
Guilt Doctor Jerry had slept with one of his patients and felt guilty all day long. No matter how much he tried to forget about it, he couldn't.. The guilt and sense of betrayal were overwhelming. But every now and then he'd hear an internal reassuring voice in his head that said: "Jerry, don't worry about it. You aren't the first medical practitioner to sleep with one of their patients and you won't be the last. And you're single. Just let it go." But invariably another voice in his head would bring him back to reality. Whispering...... Jerry..... Jerry......... .........you're a vet.  Steve |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 23, 2009 12:15:24 GMT 9
Today airplane 2 took to the air...we got out there in time to see her fire the engines up and taxi out for 2 high speed taxi tests..some steering tests..and then finally ready for 2nd flight... so..here's a few pic's of her I took over 40 pic's but didn't think you guys would want to see it inch along...  but ...2 down...894 to go!! ANA is the launch customer for the 87!      |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 22, 2009 4:58:17 GMT 9
Random Thoughts for the Day ... Some of these are pretty original ... 1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die. 2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong. 3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger. 4. There is great need for a sarcasm font. 5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet? 6. Was learning cursive really necessary? 7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood. 8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died. 9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired. 10. Bad decisions make good stories. 11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day. 12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again. 13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page report that I swear I did not make any changes to. 14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this -- ever. 15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away? 16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste. 17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call. 18. My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day, "Dad, what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that? 19. I think the freezer deserves a light as well. 20. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay. ;D Steve |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 22, 2009 1:03:36 GMT 9
A Woman's Poem He didn't like the casserole And he didn't like my cake, He said my biscuits were too hard Not like his mother used to make.. I didn't perk the coffee right He didn't like the stew, I didn't mend his socks The way his mother used to do. I pondered for an answer I was looking for a clue. Then I turned and smacked the crap out of him... Like his mother used to do. ;D Steve |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 20, 2009 11:59:18 GMT 9
The Hunter
He walked over to a tree and propped up his gun. Just then a gust of wind blew, the gun fell over, and discharged ... shooting himself in the genitals.
Several hours later, lying in a hospital bed, he was approached by his doctor.
"Well sir, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that you are going to be OK. The damage was local to your groin, there was very little internal damage and we were able to remove all of the buckshot.'"
"What's the bad news?" asked the hunter.
"'The bad news is that there was some pretty extensive buckshot damage done to your weener. I'm going to have to refer you to my sister."
"Well I guess that isn't too bad," the hunter replied.. "Is your sister a plastic surgeon?"
"Not exactly." answered the doctor. "She's a flute player in the West
Virginia Symphony Orchestra. She's going to teach you where to put your fingers so you don't pi$$ in your eye."
Steve
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 18, 2009 5:59:08 GMT 9
Tex was one of the best...no doubt about it....he decided at the last minute to roll the 707 at Seafair days in seattle over lake washington ...bill boeing about blew a gasket and tex's comment was...."hey..I pulled a 1 G barrel roll and didn't even spill my coffee"...so don't sweat it bill...of course bill boeing said...ok....but don't ever do that again with my airplane!!.... Tex Johnson was a pilots pilot....very technical but big huge brass ones dangling between his legs....we have a giant picture hanging on a wall in the other building of him and his co-pilot in the cockpit of the first B52a production airplane...just something about that pic that always makes me smile!!..... I was told by one of the old timers that worked on the 707 that the wings were so strong..you could lift it up by the wingtips....and it would hold!!!.....seeing how their still flying over 50 yrs later...I believe him.... Steve |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 18, 2009 2:42:32 GMT 9
I sometimes tell people that's where we kept the dingle balls for when the pilots go crusing for chicks but some danged beaner stole em...so they had to suffice with a cone.....
:lol
just kidding..
steve
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 17, 2009 13:45:52 GMT 9
Steve, a friend who watched the flight live on TV made a comment I'm curious about. He said the 787 has what looked like a rope hanging off the tip of the vertical stabilizer or rudder. In the photos you posted there is something there, but hard to make out. Any idea what it is? I'm sure it's not a static rope, like we had on the Gooney Bird. Jim Too  Jim yep...that's the trailing wire speed probe that is extended out the tail from a reel in the aft end of the pax compartment for calibrated speed in unturbulant air...they use this as a reference speed probe to get actual air speed....it's extended about a mile behind the airplane during flat long high altitude flights to ensure they are getting correct air speed data.... I've had alot of folks ask me about that air data probe...there was also 2 probes on the first window behind the door #1 where the pilots came out when it landed... this plane has water tanks mounted on the main deck as well as about 30 consoles for different computers and recorders when flight testing takes place....... hope that splains it... Steve |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 16, 2009 23:00:49 GMT 9
on the SC comment....we need a second line....boeing bought Vought industries in Charleston cuz they were hosing up the empanage production...so...with that said...we have over 840 orders on the books...and we're two yrs late...so..another line is needed...Everett wouldn't work with us here to add more room ie another manufacturing building....the union thought boeing didn't have the cajones to move the line....so...South Carolina would love to have about 4000 jobs in a land that doesn't really have big industry....so..they offered boeing great incentives...like rent on a building for about 100 bucks a yr......fast tracking the building permit process...and tax breaks and training for the employees......yep...who wouldn't go to SC... ? Steve |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 16, 2009 14:15:17 GMT 9
 Second the nice photos. They showed the interior on one of the morning shows the other day. Nice. I guess it could be the angle, but the wings look kind of narrow. Is there some kind of new design at work there? yep....new wing design and material...it is pretty much all composite except for the front and rear spar.... Steve |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 16, 2009 12:56:28 GMT 9
 over she goes  nice underside  notice the T33a chase plane...there were 2....  and yes it was cold....but soooo worth it......me and the wife after the flyby....she was so excited that she squeeled all the way to lunch and home!!.. Steve |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Dec 16, 2009 12:52:49 GMT 9
:patriotic-flagwaver as many knows by now..today the 87 made it's maden flight today...we were there.....got in to work early this morning...answered some emails and then picked up the wife (she works in another building) and drove like mad to get to the museum of flight that one gent mentioned here on another thread..we stood on the burm at the north end of the runway to watch the 87 take the active and head to the south end of paine field... once it took the active at the south end ...Mike Carriker, command pilot waited for the signal to start the takeoff from the 2 .T33a chase planes rapidly approaching from behind....as she made thrust ...she picked up speed quickly and rotated smoothly ...no clawing for sky or anything..but just gently rose up into the sky and smoothly...and very quietly flew past us....the sound footprint is about 1/3rd quieter than a 777.....here's a few first hand pic's....  taking the active...     on the takeoff roll  rotation and slight nose up..... |
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) over to the main taxi ramp then started picking up speed to leave the base....
.. 
Second the nice photos. They showed the interior on one of the morning shows the other day. Nice.
