Skip Davenport

Dear Sirs,

In view of what seems to be happening internationally with banks at the moment, I was wondering if you could advise me correctly. If one of my checks is returned marked "insufficient funds," how do I know whether that refers to me, or to you?

This is a great video with outstanding photos. It is several minutes long but it is very professionally done and it brings back many memories of the USAF we care so much about. Flying photos are superb.

http://www.media-magik.com/usaf.html

F-15's and 16's aren't bad, but they are getting old.

The F-22 is supposed to be far more capable, but there won't ever be very many of them.

Now the F-35 is about ready. It's smaller than the F-22, and a lot less expensive. Maybe we'll get a lot of them. Unmanned aircraft still can't do everything.

The link below brings up a video about the infrared sensor system on the F-35. It's about a microsecond behind science-fiction . . . . . Let's hope it really does what they say it does-but it may also be just a proposal.

http://www.es.northropgrumman.com/solutions/f35targeting/assets/eodasvideo.html

I remember crews landing with parts of the gear up to mechanical reasons but were there any Herk unintentional gear up landings? I confess I came close one time.

Bob

Bob I remember one while I was at CCK a crew on a pilot pro somewhere in Taiwan did. I think it was a 345th crew. Skip

I agree with Dan I don't think this Guy couldn't pop a cap on a child molester who was stalking his child he would want to give them a food card and free rent if this is to political you can take it down my opin.

A cap would only cost 9 cents -- not enought -- as it wouldn't support all the other cost he needs to spend to make anything happen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MApJnyk1PV8

Skip,

I don't want to come across as a nit-picker, but MSgt Joe Mayo was an FE on "Republic 4." The helo's call sign was "Bluebeard 3."

Thigpen's book, "The Praetorian Starship" has an excellent detailed account of the entire operation.

All heros.

Don R.

You are correct -- I should not have relied on my memory. I have corrected my post. Thanks.

Bluebeard 3 a RH-53D Marine helo colided with Republic 4 a AF EC-130E during a reposition to fuel. The desert sand was so fine it has been described as talcum powder. The helo's rotor wash obscured the pilots vision and he was unable to clear the vertal tail of the Herk. The AF crew was Pilots - Capt Lewis, Capt Mcintosh, Navs - Capt Bakke, Capt McMillan and FE Msgt Mayo + the 3 Marines on the helo. All wariors, true heros "With the Guts to Try" -- It was an honor to know, fly, fight and serve with each of you.

I started converting the Talon print to the black and green and am looking for some feedback. In order to get details, shadows, etc to show up better I am using a dark gray almost black for the majority of the fuselage (see 1:1 view of the nose.) Does it look okay to everone? I have 2 green colors on the fuselage. Is either close? Anyone have any good reference photos?

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That looks so damn good I almost creamed my pants!!

LTC Oliver North will be hosting a Special Operations review on FOX's "War Stories" this Saturday at 9 PM Eastern. HOOOAH!!

http://www.cartercopters.com/ click on the video link :)

I like the old Black and Green also plus I would add fending lines and yokes as I am old school.

Great Job as is though

Didn't we call it Hermon Boohow? LOL

Skip That was close, too bad we never got to go on a rote together. Bob

Well this Skip did -- and did you ever get a Flight Cap at CCK that did not have a Generals ribbon and two 1LT bars stuck together instead of your Capt bars? I know you blamed it on Bob Shannon or was that Germany that B.S. got that blame?

looks like a photo shop to me :0) kinda low. In my case I was a CP we ended up at 120 degrees bank due to a "screw up" long story. Anyway when the AC started to roll back I said it's shorter just continue the roll. So it wasn't "planned" but it worked out. I seam to remember a story of a Gunship over the trail that found themselves in this situation just completed the roll also.

Just a question to Herky's pilots: is it normal that a C-130E with a spare engine and a spare propeller lands in clean configuration (flaps up)?

I have carried many a spare engine and prop. The only No Flap landings were ones to to some other reason we couldn't get the flaps down or during a severe X-wind.

You are correct "paying dues" isn't experience and more importantly where "attitude" and wanting to be in SOF is. I can remember, AC's, Nav's, FE's & LM's that just didn't want to be in SOF. They didn't believe in the mission and more importantly (my opinion) were just mortified (scared Sh##less) with the low level aspect 250ft TFR at night and later with NVG's. They always found ways "why" we couldn't do the mission (the mother may I attitude) vs being pro-active in finding ways for how we could do the mission. My mother always told me that if there is nothing that say's we "can't" do something then we CAN! More importantly I believed and believe that is exactly what was and is expected of SOF aircrews -- the attitude and can do to figure out a way to do vs not do the mission. Think back to na sayers -- we can't fly 250 ft at night in the weather, we can't air drop at 250ft/250 knots, we can't land on NVG's just to name a few. In SOF you have to believe and more importantly you have to stand up and look and move forward. You must never fall into the pitfall of this is the way we have always done it therefor it must be the correct way.

I see the experience fight is still ongoing. I remember a conference before AFSOC. We were Little Black MAC (23AF). We were told from "those" supposedly in the know that pilot crewmember experience was 300 hours in PAA. At the time I think the 8SOS numbers were running around 500 to 600. When you subtracted Korver's 4000+, my 5000+ Flame and Winters with 3500+ hours each the averages went to below 200. It was agreed that each SQ could handel one pilot and one Nav/Ewo right out of basic flight training every other year. The E's established there own criteria. But I think it was one tour in a slick C-130 Squadron and 1000 total hours Herk time. The process would be by an application/interview sort of like DELTA. Everyone also had to have a Squadron DO/CC recommendation. Back then the DO/CC's didn't want to loose there good "experienced" people so we didn't get many recommendations and the personnel pukes never did buy off on our proposed requirements.

Don't get me wrong as we did get some very good crewmembers with little to no experience -- Lutz was the first. Some did very well some did not and some did not enjoy the mission or the "lack" of control. Back then I as a AC could take a crew all the way around the world and never have to check in with a command post to see what time I was to wake up the next day and what I was supposed to do. We were given the responsibility to carry out the mission we were given and briefed within the parameters and capabilities of the aircraft and IAW the rules of engagement.

it's wasn't that hard to do :)

Stay in if you can -- the jobs out in the civilian market are slim to none!

crossfeed or IFR manifold who cares the JP4 all got the the same place #1,2,3&4 hopefully! no matter they were a pain in the A$$

LIQUIDITY: This is when you look at your retirement funds and wet your pants!

I retired in July, 1992 and the last time I used Benson Tanks was the mid 80's and that was only to keep all the fittings in the tanks fittings from leaking -- IFR negates the need for them.

I wonder how much the clipping is worth? Maybe you should take it to the Antiques Road Show

I think that's the pylon. It's easy to fix. We just get out an eraser...

It's outboard of the pylon get out the eraser FYI I would also color yellow, orange, red the lead coming out the guns