Bullhunter
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318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
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Posts: 7,445 
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Post by Bullhunter on Apr 13, 2014 14:23:59 GMT 9
I got to fly with a friend in one of these birds this morning.
It was a very nice surprise. Was a grand start of a great day.
Just wish I had my camera with me. We flew for about an hour. Broken clouds, view of the snow covered Olympic Mountains, Discovery Bay, Puget Sound, and the Pacific Northwest Wilderness. The was sprung on me by surprise. We left the men's breakfast at Church and my friend asked me if I wanted to look at his new aircraft. Once at the county airport he opened the hanger and there sat a new overhauled O-1 Bird Dog with USAF markings. We looked it over and then he said it, "Gary, want to go for a flight?" He did not have to ask me twice! He used to Fly C-130's & KB-90's in the USAF and USAFR and then flew for Delta Airlines for 30 years.
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Post by Diamondback on Apr 13, 2014 15:03:12 GMT 9
NICE!
Not to be pedantic, but KB-50s or KC-97s? The only USAF bomber-conversion tankers I recall were all Superfortress variants, both -29s and -50s... though the original requirement for the B-52 did include a tanker variant, which was soon superseded by the KC-135. Again, not trying to argue, just trying to say that with that kind of time in service, there are probably a few things locked up in his head, as in all of you guys', that'd be worth having those stories preserved to be retold for posterity.
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
Location:
Joined: May 2005
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Post by Bullhunter on Apr 13, 2014 15:13:59 GMT 9
Yes indeed you are correct KB-50. I just forgot what he said or did a typo error. Thanks for pointing that out.
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Post by Mark O on Apr 13, 2014 23:23:33 GMT 9
That is very cool Gary! It reminds me of an old family friend from my high school days who was a retired, USAF fighter pilot. He flew everything from P-47s in WWII, to F-4s in Vietnam. After his first tour as an F-4 pilot he was selected to go into the O-2 Skymaster as a FAC. I recall him telling me when he got those orders it really put a dent into his fighter-pilot ego, but after returning to Vietnam as a FAC he admitted flying the O-2 was the best flying job he ever had in the USAF. Something about low-and-slow I guess... |
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Post by Mark O on Apr 14, 2014 18:05:35 GMT 9
That is very cool Gary! It reminds me of an old family friend from my high school days who was a retired, USAF fighter pilot. He flew everything from P-47s in WWII, to F-4s in Vietnam. After his first tour as an F-4 pilot he was selected to go into the O-2 Skymaster as a FAC. I recall him telling me when he got those orders it really put a dent into his fighter-pilot ego, but after returning to Vietnam as a FAC he admitted flying the O-2 was the best flying job he ever had in the USAF. Something about low-and-slow I guess... Went digging a bit, and just had to add this pic of Lt Col Jack Smith's, Vietnamese-made rank insignia, and Command Pilot Wings from his camouflage uniform from Vietnam. He actually gave me the camo shirt these insignia were on when I was in high school. (Sadly, and stupidly, I wore it out, but was smart enough to save these.) Yea, those were tiny wings, but the rank is just about the same size they use today. (Note how the white border indicated a Lt. Col.) Sure don't mean to change your thread in any way Gary, but it brought back a bunch of memories.  |
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
Location:
Joined: May 2005
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Post by Bullhunter on Apr 15, 2014 0:22:30 GMT 9
I have my Dad's old patches from the U.S. Army Air Corp from WWII. Plus a uniform and his fly computer wheel.
I never turn down a chance to fly.
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Post by Diamondback on Apr 15, 2014 4:31:09 GMT 9
I've been trying to stake claim to whatever patches and such are left from my grandfather--the other grandson's sole priority is "what can he wring a fast buck out of for booze, drugs or baubles for his tramp du jour", and from my uncle on my father's side who was attempting to get into NAVAIR during Nam (he was nominally an engineering non-pilot NFO of some kind, but spent most of his time on the boat or chopped to ashore assignments) I have his flight computer as well.
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