The Free Big Trip. (Read 13,994 times)

Gary, visiting any US military installation in any country, other than in the USA, as a retired military American person, is a privilege granted by the host country- not the US military. As such, you are a civilian traveling with special privileges. An ordinary American traveling in Turkey, you would not be granted access to any base, except perhaps in an emergency. Be careful what you have your kids buy you- if you can't eat it- think twice about having it in your possession. SOFAs do not protect US retired military....... Enjoy your travels...

I don't think a retired German Military person on vacation in the United States could even get on a military base. Years ago, this retired GAF guy could have gotten on Luke AFB, as there was a part of the base that was operated by the German AF..........

Heading out tomarrow from the base through Adana all along the southern coast to Antalya.
Going to be lots of fun and we are booked into a nice resort for 3 days with a waterpark.
Be exploring the coast for 8 days. 

Thanks Mark for the heads-up. We have noticed it on the Turkish TV - CNN English broadcast channel.
Seems to all be centered around the big city of Istanbul.
We are on the south cent. The central coastline .  The Turkish Reveria.

Will post a few pictures for everyone's viewing pleasure.



 

Yesterday we took a short trip to a castle called "Snake Castle" and then had a snack and cold drink at a restaurant just under and down hill from the castle.
My wife and our daughter sitting and enjoying the view from the restaurant.
We are truly have a great vacation except for the heat in the 90's and raised humid climate.

Too bad I did not bring a fishing pole with me.

Rented two ATV's and a guide for a trip through the Zeleve Valley and all the pointed rocks.
We have been gone about 6 weeks and I'm ready to head home.

Departure Flight for home:

Incirlik Air Base, Turkey – Gander, Canada – Dover Air Force Base, Delaware - Detroit - Seattle!

Showed up at the Incirlik Air Base PAX terminal at 2030 hours and processed for our flight that was to depart at 2300hrs. At 2200hrs we checked through customs with our passports and ID’s. About 2230hrs we were loaded onto a bus that drove out onto the taxiway in the middle of the airfield and stopped. This seemed strange to me. Seemed like 20 minutes later a PAX Stair Truck drove up and then we followed it to the far side of the base to a C-5M that was parked in the dark, but had lots of equipment around it. It was one of the new remodeled C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft with the new quieter and more fuel efficient jet engines. The upgrade allowed them to fly no-stop from Turkey to Dover AFB, Delaware.

We sat on the bus next to the C-5M for at least an hour and were finely informed of a problem. I was hoping it wasn’t a maintenance issue. To my relief it turned out to be a baggage issue. Some bags had to be removed because some U.S. Army Troops we going on the next flight. That left only 14 U.S. Army Reservists left on this flight. That flight was scheduled to leave 12 hours later flying to Bangor, Maine for a refueling stop then onto McChord AFB, WA which was our final destination. I had thought long and hard about waiting for that flight but was glad Belinda and I chose to take the first flight headed to the United States. Delaware is much closer to Washington State than Turkey is.

The mix up and delay cost us 2 hours. Instead out take-off was just about 0100hrs. Belinda and I have never flown before on a C-5 aircraft. We have flown on the new C-17’s and C-130’s, also on the C-141’s, and a KC-10 Tanker when we vacationed with our kids in Alaska.

We exited the bus and walked to the cargo ramp of the C-5M and up the stairs on the PAX Stair Truck. Then once inside the cargo area it was up a steep stair ladder to the upper deck and the airline seats. The C-5 passenger deck has no windows and is painted dark blue to help aid in sleeping, I guess.

Everything was normal during engine start, but it took a very long time to taxi to the runway and take-off. On take-off roll we all were pushed forward away from our seats, I then heard that question from Belinda, “Why are they hitting the breaks?” I reminded her, “We bordered the aircraft from the rear and the seats were facing backwards making it feel like we were braking.” We both order what used to be called back in my Air Force Days as “Box Nasties” but the box lunches now-a-days are pretty good.

In between napping, we munched on our box lunches. Then we got the announcement that we were diverting and landing in 45 minutes. I knew we were 3 to 4 hours away from Dover AFB and we would not be diverting unless there was a problem. The more information was given to us. We were landing at Gander Airport located in Newfoundland, Canada to take on jet fuel. After 9 hours or more cooped up in the back of our C-5M I was ready for some fresh air and a walk.

The aircraft made some turns, banks, and descended with a nice landing. Then the pilot put the jet engines into reverse thrust, spoilers raised, and applied breaks, which pinned us into the back of our seats. Just after we taxied to our parking spot and the pilot hit the brakes one of the emergency exit doors fell open and spooked some of the passengers. I was thankful for the fresh air. It likely would never fall open in-flight because the aircraft is pressurized.

We all deplaned the aircraft for the refueling process. Back down that steep stair-ladder and a 200 yard walk across the tarmac into the civilian passenger terminal where we were met by a very quiet elderly man. Belinda and I were the last of the passengers to walk in and I offered my hand shake to the elderly gentleman and we smiled. I then said, “Welcome to Canada.” He replied cheerfully, “That’s my Line!” and we both laughed. He then showed us around the terminal. It was 0630hrs local time and the cafeteria had just opened 5 minutes after we walked in.

Belinda and I got two pieces of pie, small milk, and 2 coffees which came to just shy of $20.00 but it tasted so good. I took some pictures of the terminal and our C-5M aircraft and about an hour later we were airborne again enroute to Dover AFB, Delaware.

Shortly after we finished our food the Loadmaster announced it was time to walk back out to our aircraft for the remainder of out flight to Dover AFB, Delaware. Three hours later we landed at Dover AFB.

After we got into Dover’s PAX Terminal we were pretty happy to learn there was a C-17 on the schedule that afternoon for McChord AFB, WA. After awhile it was announced that the McChord Mission was rescheduled for the following day because of a maintenance problem and then a required aircrew rest.

After the long all night flight from Turkey we decided to spend the night in a local hotel. We had stayed in the Dover Sheridan Hotel on a previous trip and called them. Rates around town were $159 - $179 , but the Sheridan offered us $90, and a free shuttle van, when they learned we were at the Air Mobility Passenger Terminal at Dover AFB. So we spent the night there. We had a very relaxing night and the next morning had a nice breakfast. We jumped into the hotel shuttle van back to the Dover PAX Terminal.

We caught another C-17 flight to McChord AFB, WA and while over Michigan the aircraft lost it master caution computer and diverted into Detroit International Airport. The C-17 is expecting to be waiting for a Maintenance Repair Team (MRT) for two or three days, maybe four. The aircrew gave all 12 of us Space-A travelers the option to fly out on airlines or sit in a hotel and wait for the aircraft to get repaired. After Belinda and I talked it all out, we chose to fly home on Alaska Airlines the next day. Belinda quickly booked us into a hotel and arraigned airline tickets with Alaska Airlines to get us home to Seattle.

At 8:30 AM we flew out of Detroit and landed in Minniapplous/St. Paul Minnasota. Caught our connecting flight and landed in Seattle at 2:16PM where we were met by our good friends Mr & Mrs Wies. They drove us back home.


I'll post a few more photos later.

I was informed today that I was selected to go on our counties Freedom Flight to  Washington DC. The selection included WWII, Korea, Vietnam Veterans. The trip was one on my bucket list, and I will enjoy very much.