SEFEGeorge

You have to remember that the presidency is an institution not a person. Like it or not he is the C-in-C and he can be anyone from Washington to Custer to Patton to Kennedy in mindset on being the C-in-C.

The Flag Code lists who, what, when, where, and for when it comes to placing the flag at half-staff. Mandela would be included in the "for" category. Since it's a Code and not a Law, there are no repercussions for those that violate the Code. Wikipedia may not be a reliable source for reference material but it's a place to start and it does list the references to research. As for Guard and Reserves, they are sorely needed and serve proudly. But I do recall back during Gulf 1 a news report of some people who were sorely complaining about being called up. "I just joined to get college money, etc. I can't go anywhere, I have kids." Guess there's always some bad apples in the bunch. Just like regular members, G&R people have homes and families to support, but with a bigger civy paycheck, and then they join the G&R for the bennies and a few extra bucks. Guess they never figured that they'd ever be called up and actually "have to pay the piper."

Yep, Bush is a vet. Just like us. But have you read about his military controversy? Interesting read. Including altered flight logs. Joining the Guard or Reserve gives people a way to serve. But for me, Bush did it as a way to fill in the checkmark boxes. Nothing more. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush_military_service_controversy

I just tried to make the point that by the time Obama graduated high school it was after VN and before the Gulf. When he graduated HS and then collage, there was no Draft. Looks like he probably had a political future in mind. Yes Bush, Jr is a vet. And a lot of vets never went to VN or elsewhere. But I think we need to consider that Jr had a political future in mind and Sr probably had a hand in planning the steps Jr needed to take, which included military service. I think we all realize that it's getting to the point where there are fewer and fewer politicians that will not have any military service. Some seem to forget that Romney is not a vet, or not one that I know of. Looks like after HS he spent 2.5 years as a missionary, in France. So if he had beat Obama we'd still have a president without military service. I'm not a complete Obama fan, but let's face it, his presidency is covering some history that has some of the most turmoil in the past few decades. Some seem to forget that Bush 1 and 2 got us involved in the Middle East. Obama just took over and got it all handed to him wrapped in a blood soaked ribbon. Many are complaining about Obama and what he's done and trying to do, but I really haven't seen anyone with any better ideas on things. Seems to me that many are for no healthcare, let's just leave things as they are, and let the un-insured fend for themselves. Ok for us vets, we've got the VA, but what about any one else that's not a vet, no healthcare insurance? I can see both sides of the coin in this, but as a nation we take care of our people, young and old alike. I do draw the line at illegals. Send their asses back to their home countries.

So true giz, but Bush was in during the draft era. If he hadn't enlisted in USAF he could very well have been drafted into the army and actually had to do something, go somewhere. Not sure that even daddy could have gotten him out of that without any political repercussions. Daddy probably told him he needed some military "background" for future political motives.

I regards to Bush serving, I wouldn't exactly call his service as "really serving." Yes he's a veteran, but just not sure about his and his dad's "doings." Don't know why he didn't get assigned to RVN, but maybe it was because of Bush, Sr. I don't particularly like or dislike the guy but: Taken from Wikipedia. But like I said, he is a veteran.

B Model with rig deployed for light satellite recovery. Heavy recovery

Some pictures in the gallery showing the rig out ready to capture. Good mission and assignment. We flew a lot of training missions using concrete filled bomb casings as the "satellite" that we dropped and then zoomed down making passes at them before catching them. Not sure how much op sec is still involved with this but..... If I remember correctly there were 3 JHC-130Hs as catch birds and 9 JC-130Bs. We had 3 HC-130Ps as chopper refuelers. The HH-53s were used if the satellite ended up in the water.

By default the valves had to be configured in a certain position. There are 4 movable 2-position valves, GTC/Engines, LW/RW, 1/2 engines, 3/4 engines. To eng 2 position no valves move just get powered to the position they're in. For #3 only the LW/RW valve moves. If you check the inbd drybay valves on preflight, the small lever is pushed left and springs back to the right, showing the default and proper installation position. The B model was changed to preclude the inadvertent dischaarge of agent without a handle being pulled. Pretty simple figure in the dash 1.

Just might want to get one of these.

I thought that this was an awesome drawing someone created.

Need to add MAG Military Airlift Group (616th MAG, Elmendorf) AFSC Air Force Systems Command (6594th Test Group)

Ditto from Alaska.

I must say that I never forgot the nose pin. My Phase I instructor taught me to put the pin in the back of the co-pilot's seat and grab the streamer when the Before Starting Engines checklist was called. I also put a note at the top of the checklist page that just said GEAR PIN.

Airstart - any guess from the old timers? | | V BJ

Hmmm, I never needed to use a hand myself. First hand or otherwise!!!!

No, no FS visit. Was speaking of other "activities". CRB had a "Steam and Cream" that we'd visit every so often.

Oh, but there are a few alternatives we can discuss! :rolleyes:

Bill Lee did the Brim Frost 85 pic in my gallery. Also had some t-shirts with his cartoons on them but that was many years ago.

Giz, Giz. pussy cut off date.

The B-36 FE station looks like it could be a nightmare at times. Guess that's why there's 2 FE seats. You notice the oil quantity? 150 gal tanks. From my time at WP and being in the Area B hangers (69-70 and 73-75), can't remember all the restore work being done. Do remember a ME-109 that was sitting there uncrated and in parts.

Bill Lee did some pretty nice Herc cartoons back in the day but wouldn't have a clue as to where you can see any on them now.

The wife and I like the ScFy channel and most of it's ridiculous movies. They're entertaining, story lines that are WTF, albeit low budget with "acting" that's, well, acting like they're trying to act. Anyway, yesterday must have been crocodile day. We watched one called Robo Croc. Anyway, around the 1:30 mark they showed some Hercs. One parked, one taxiing, each with the MAFF red numbers, a 1 and a 2, H models. Then a J model taking off and climbing and turning, then a legacy flight deck while airborne. Back and forth a few times. Bought the only time I perked up and watched. Only saving grace part of the movie.

Ok, lets solve this issue. Right from the -1, or at least from the -1 that I have. Good to know that after 27 odd years my memory wasn't too bad.

Think maybe there's a little confusion with this. My understanding, granted from an aging memory. 1. Pull the T handle. 2. closes both hydraulic valves to create run-a-round circuit, 1 solenoid operated, 1 motor operated. 3. closes fuel valves - 2 if I remember correctly, supply and from fuel control. 4. closes oil valve. 5. closes bleed air valve. 6. positions fire directional control valves to that engine. By design FDCV are defaulted to #2 eng. Has to be configured to start somewhere. 1 valve from the bottles (under bottles), 1 valve to select wing (under bottles), 1 valve (inbd dry bays - I always checked the positioning of these with my finger during the -1 preflight - only ever found 1 that was put in backwards) to select engine on that wing. 7. also energizes the fire agent discharge switch, else the agent could be discharged without a handle even being pulled. 8. feathers the prop. Something about speed sensitive control pops into my head but can't remember why or even if affected. Another note: if the 2nd bottle is needed it will be directed to where ever the last T handle was pulled. Thus if a 2nd engine gets shut down without agent discharge and the 2nd bottle is needed on the 1st engine shutdown, you have to reset the T handle for the 1st engine and re-pull it to reset the FDCV. 1986 was the last year i was on a Herc, so there's 27 years of dust on my brain.