DC10FE

You can check me out there, too. Look up Don Rogers -- now we can put faces to these posts. Don R.

I was looking for something for a friend of mine & came across my old T-29-1 (dated 8/11/65). I thought guys like SEFE George & other oilers would get a kick out of the airplane's fuel panel -- very hi-tech. Don R.

I agree with Dan -- the very best job an "E" can have in the military. I enjoyed it so much that after retiring, I spent another 20 years doing it in the commercial world. Yer gonna love it! Just one question, though. Did you mean to write "19+ years as an engine mechanic?" That doesn't give you much time to enjoy the job after training, does it? Don R.

The beer cooler as the toilet tank is a nice touch, but where's the seat belt? You'd get pulled over in a second here in Florida. Don R.

Back in 1974 when Dyess first got the H-models, the FE's would usually call out the torque, "15, 18, pull 'em back." I've never understood why the US military FE's are not allowed to set power on takeoff & cruise. It certainly allows the pilots to concentrate more on the flying of the airplane. Don R.

Sir? Don R. PS -- Congrats, anyway!

The Dyess H1's didn't have the dump SOV's, but didn't the rescue H, P's & N's have them? I haven't been on a rescue bird since 1972, so I'm really overworking my remaining brain cells. Don R.

This video almost makes me miss commercial flying, except for all the crap you have to put up with. Also good if you like big jets Click here: YouTube - The FE's Lament 2010 HD Another good one. In fact, check out all of Balleka's videos on YouTube. MK Airlines is a British registered 747 cargo airline owned by Mike Kruger. They were originally registered in Ghana & would only hire Rhodesians. Click here: YouTube - Balleka's Channel#p/u/6/TesxpJdZWO8 Don R. PS -- Oh, how many times have I thought "clowns to the left of me; jokers to the right."

Bob, To add just a bit to to the explanations -- later H-models & commercial Hercs have guarded safety wired switches at each end of the fuel panel to control the dump valves. Agarrett My memory is shot, too. Are the x-valves you're referring to also the dump valves? Don R.

Peter Taber is an ex-Southern, ex-Transafrik captain. He sent me a CD a few years ago with photos of some of his adventures. It looks like he's updated his web site since the last time I visited. Don R.

From yesterday's (3/6/10) Tampa Tribune: Here's a follow-up on the a$$hole who was arrested here in Florida for faking his military history. He got convicted on 3 federal misdemeanor charges under the Stolen Valor Act. Each count carries a 1 year prison term & a $100,000 fine. No sentencing yet, but I hope the judge is an ex-Marine. Don R.

Mikey_G, I guess if you're piloting a Cessna or a Beaver, you'd fall under FAR 135, but the majority of "freight dogs" fly under 121 rules. From the time I retired from the USAF in 12/85 until I retired from Gemini Air Cargo in 8/03, all I did was haul frieght with some of the most experienced pilots I've ever flown with. Of course, as in any job, there were some idiots, too. The majority of the crews would rather haul freight than pax. Cargo doesn't complain about the food or the temperature in the back, plus the cockpit crew doesn't have to put up with ditzy FA's during layovers. There was an article in Men's Vogue a couple of years ago about freight dogs. I guess there's no copyright infringement if I post this link to the article. The article is about 99.9% true -- especially when the author mentions Bryson's Pub in Miami Springs. It used to be an aviation icon at MIA. You could walk in there any time, day or night, & put together a current & qualified & relatively sober crew to fly anything from a C-46 to a 747 to anywhere in the world. Click here: Freight Dogs - PPRuNe Forums Don R.

Dan, do you know where that video was taken? It looks like Cabinda, an enclave in northern Angola. The rapid response of the fire department is surprising. Actually, in Angola, the existance of a fire department is surprising! Another testament to the durabliity of Russian airplanes. I don't think the Il-18 had reversable props which is probably why the brakes were hot. Wonder how many bottles of vodka were broken? Don R.

Jimmy, Maybe you ought to check with the engine guys there at Ramstein. I'm sure they could fill you in. Don R.

Bob, I just found the photos in the flteng1994 album. Don R.

Railrunner130 is right -- no TOLD data. The Il-76 is one of my favorite Soviet airplanes -- even flew in one once. If you take a close look at the landing gear, it looks like it was built by John Deere. The crews really abuse the airplanes and they just keep flying. Of course, a bottle of vodka is usually part of the catering -- seriously! Check out these pics of an Il-76 that landed at Sharjah (I think). Don R.

After looking at all the CCK photos in ronsram's thread, I thought this web site would be interesting for the old phartz. It's mostly photos of downtown Saigon in the 1960's & 1970's. There were even a few of the "white mice" & Tu Do Street. Click here: anhwaden's Photostream Don R.

Bob, I don't know if 220 was ever in the gray/yellow stripe livery, but I imagine it was. The only photos I have of the 66-0200 series P-models in that color scheme are some ANG P-models. Don R.

This was my airplane when I was in the 56th ARRS at Korat RTAFB, Thailand (1972), before I went to QC. Good flyer. Don R.

Casey, Here it is: Lars Olausson Ornsuddevagen 234 S-530 32 Satenas Sweden He requests you send $18.00 in cash. Don R.

Tiny, I copied the following from a discussion on Airliners.net. Don't know how true it is, though. Don R. "Why We Squawk During WWII the British developed a top secret 10" x 10" x 10" radar transceiver. It would respond to a radar interrogating signal by responding with a coded transmission. A code would allow the land based radar station to distinguish British from German aircraft on their radar screen. The radio also contained an internal thermite bomb which, when triggered by an inertial switch (crash), would destroy the interior of the set. This was supposed to prevent German discovery of the codes. (A reverse ELT?) The British code named the system Parrot. The United States Army Air Forces version of the system was called IFF, for Identification Friend or Foe. As with many WWII developments, the IFF system was designed to prevent a clever German ruse. The Germans were following the night bombers back to England. German aircraft would join in the stream of returning British bombers. They would wait until the bombers were most vulnerable, just prior to landing, and then shoot them down. Parrot allowed detection of these German aircraft since their (primary) return would not have a distinctive code. To control the operation of the airborne coded set to the best advantage, the ground based radar station would radio instructions regarding the operation of "Parrot". The aircraft would be directed to "squawk your parrot", meaning to turn on the set for identification; or to "strangle (not kill) your parrot" as a directive for turning the set off. The power of the transponder signal would often hide other targets. The only vestige of this that remains today, other than the entire ATC system itself, is the term "Squawk", as an ATC directive for operation or code for the transponder. Old time ATC controllers may still have you "strangle" your parrot (x-ponder)"

Although something from the Lockheed Service News should be taken as gospel, that is not my recollection of the fire on 63-7815 (3889) @ Dyess. That happened waaaay before 9/11 so security wasn't the way it is now. I remember driving down the flightline road right next to the airplanes with my then-wife & kids in my 1974 Ford station wagon & seeing smoke pouring from the fwd escape hatch. This was before cell phones so I couldn't just pick up a phone a call the fire department. I guess my point is that I doubt 7815 was taxiing for takeoff, but just sitting in its parking spot. Of course that happened about 35 years ago, so most of the brain cells from that part of my brain were destroyed many years ago. There is a photo of the mishap in the gallery labeled 3889e. As I also sorta remember that the nose came from Lockheed as an H-model & had to be modified back to E-model specs. That part may just be an urban legend, though. Don R.

Tiny, You're really dating yourself there! Here's the article from the 4/18/79 Stars & Stripes. No mention of the photographer being run over, although I remember reading about it in a later issue. BTW, it was a Northwest Orient 747 & the runway was 25L I don't throw anything away. Still have the article about the C-5 that landed on 07R on 8/29/79 with the nose gear retracted. Don R.

OK, it's been a very long time, but what are Laircm fairings? Don R.

Venom, That sounds like a Tepper Herc. Although they change their registrations like most people change their underwear, according the FAA website, N497C is assigned to a Piper Aztec. Check msn's 4684r or 4796i & j in the gallery & I'm pretty sure you'll find the Herc you saw @ TPA -- or as the news people here like to call it; TIA. Don R.