Back in the early '80s I worked with a 135 freight hauler called Cal Air Charter (I say with because my paycheck came from the ground side of the company) at KOAK. We received notice that one of our Aztec's had damaged a taxi light at Tahoe airport. Manager didn't think anything of it and wrote up the pilot involved. Months later when the props were sent off to the prop shop for overhaul, they called and said that one of the props was a quarter-inch short on all blades. Turns out, the pilot involved bought a file, and spent his layover filing down the blades until they were balanced enough that no one noticed!

(Written on 2015年 04月 24日)(Permalink)

The USAF has never wanted the CAS role. Not even when they were the Army Air Corps. Who got the glory over Europe in WW2? The 8th AF flying "strategic bombing missions" with their Memphis Belles and Bond drives(thank you Billy Mitchell). Who did the CAS, that you've never heard of? The 9th AF with their P-47s and A-20's. Thank God the Marines know how to do it correctly with their MAGTF fully integrated Air/Ground commands.

(Written on 2014年 12月 05日)(Permalink)

About 30 years ago I worked for a FAR 135 freight hauler based at KOAK. The CAF had a hanger down the ramp from us. Used to love watching the old warbirds come to life. Thanks for posting.

(Written on 2014年 11月 21日)(Permalink)

I grew up near Castle AFB in CA where they trained in the 60's and 70's. Used to watch them come over with the wings bowed. Locally, everyone would just pause their conversations when one went over, and resume them like nothing happened. We also have a fantastic oil painting of one in flight that had been given to my late father-in-law by the 416 SHS (SAC) Hospital at Griffis AFB in NY. It's over our bed.

(Written on 2014年 09月 06日)(Permalink)

Beautiful a/c. Thanks to Breitling for sponsoring the 700,000€ annual maintenance bill. Whew!

(Written on 2014年 08月 15日)(Permalink)

That was funny!

(Written on 2014年 08月 08日)(Permalink)

Unfortunately it is an example of the fighter/bomber mentality of the USAF. Goes back to at least WW2. Everybody talks about and celebrates the 8th AF, but no one in the general public remembers the 9th. Same theater, but the 8th was "Strategic Bombing" with B-17's and 24's and mixing it up with the Luftwaffe at altitude with P-51's. While the 9th, operating originally out of airfields mixed in with those of the 8th, was using P-47's, A-20's, and B-26's to provide close ground support and tactical bombing. Sad to say, but no Army unit, relying on the AF, will ever get the same close cohesion as a Marine unit does with its MAGTF (Marine Air Ground Task Force) structure. But the A-10 is a wonderful airplane, used to see them giving the folks traveling on I-15 between LA and Vegas a thrill.

(Written on 2014年 05月 16日)(Permalink)

Snort. The Sun is not really noted for understated headlines, is it? In addition, their general level of truthfulness is only a half-step above the National Enquirer's. I checked the Guardian and BBC and didn't see anything about this... Great visual though. Can't you just see him pounding on the cockpit door screaming "I want to rape the flight deck". Hope they tased him if it did actually occur.

(Written on 2013年 02月 08日)(Permalink)

whoops, WEST of Mather

(Written on 2012年 12月 07日)(Permalink)

In the late 70's I lived in Sacramento, east of Mather AFB and south of McClellan AFB. Depending on the wind I would either have B-52's or C-130's coming low directly over my apartment. Loved it.

(Written on 2012年 12月 07日)(Permalink)