AVIATION BACKGROUND

[Oldiron]

Aviation Elect USCG. HH-3Fs were our birds. If you remenber the chopper off of Top Gun that was one of the ones I had worked on. SAR Aircrewman, Radio operator, Flight Mech, which for the CG back then required qualification to replace any part on the A/C, and QC. Got about a 1000 Hrs in the four years in San Diego (69-73) Five Sikorsky Winged S Awards, an Air Medal and Navy Helicopter Assoc Aircrew of the Year Award '73. Lots of fun, gradification in the work. Although I never got shot at like contemporities in S/E Asia I have had several severe pucker moments. Saying had always been you have to go out but you don't have too come back.
Spent last three years of my time in, farmed out to the Navy teaching at NATTC Millington.
Larry

 

[ajgibb]

Flying since 1964; learned in a C140. All general aviation. Comm, ASEL&S, Multi, Inst. Have owned alone or in p-ship C182, C206, Cessna T210R, NA SNJ-5 (two of 'em), NA T-28B. Flew one of the SNJs as one-half of a 2 ship aerobatic team (Pair O' Sixes) in the midwest late 70s early 80's. Just recently let my medical lapse; going to fly sport aviation now.
If I had spent, on guns, even a small percentage of the flying money I've spent I would have a world class collection!
To soon old, too late smart!

 

[CW Spook]

Just an SEL private pilot. I had a beautiful 1946 Aeronca Chief that was destroyed in a windstorm last July so my flying days are over.

 

[Bill_inBouse]

Army Air Traffic Controller for 7 years active duty and 25 years DOD civilian controller. Private Pilot SEL, Instrument, AA-5

 

[jrm53]

Started in 1964

Was in a flying club in 1964, soloed a 46 Luscombe 8A, then bought a 1940 Piper Cub coupe (J4) last flying done for Razorback CAP wing out of Rogers Ar. in a 1946 Cessna 140, from 1970 through 1973. I have ridden in 2 Stearmans, one a 450 hp Red Barron pizza bi-plane flown by Randy Drake, and 2 times in a 1929 New Standard flown by Beagle air tours out of Florida. Cant stop my self from looking up every time an aircraft goes over. Got my private license on March 20 1966. Jeff

 

[Captain Hornet]

I am the retired Chief Pilot of the NBA Charlotte - New Orleans Hornets basketball team. I retired in 2008 with 14000 hours and seven type ratings in jet aircraft. The FAA thought I would fall over dead with Alzheimers the day after I turned 65. I must tell you I really miss flying for a living and hate that the powers to be made me quit. David

 

[Retired W4]

I am the retired Chief Pilot of the NBA Charlotte - New Orleans Hornets basketball team. I retired in 2008 with 14000 hours and seven type ratings in jet aircraft. The FAA thought I would fall over dead with Alzheimers the day after I turned 65. I must tell you I really miss flying for a living and hate that the powers to be made me quit. David

And I flew that JS II. From just down Flightway Drive, David. Call me.

Tom (K. Enterprises)

 

[Straightshooter2]

I was hired by Delta 1 1/2 months after my 18th birthday in Air Cargo. About half of the time I was part of the ground crew on our L-100 (C-130) freighters. A year later I took Military Leave of Absence and enlisted in the Navy. Four years Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician (AT) on A-7A,B&E Corsair II's. During two years with VA-174, I was the first AT on the east coast to work on the A-7E. Spent December 1, 1971 to Sep 10, 1972 with VA-46 in USS John F. Kennedy. Went back to Delta in 1972 working ramp, operations (weight and balance), ticket counter and finally was involuntarily transferred to Delta Reservations due to on the job injuries. I took the retirement package offered in 2001 after 9/11 at age 52. So my experience is with these aircraft. L-100, Convair 440, Convair 880, DC-6, DC-7, DC-8, DC-9, DC-10, MD-88, L-1011, Boeing 707, 727, 737, 747, 757 and 767.

CW

 

[Edmo]

Retired USAF pilot...

Edmo

 

[FirebirdV8]

I'm an avionics tech and airframe mechanic for a helicopter support company in PA.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

I hung around the local airport as a kid, washing and pushing planes in hopes of snagging a ride.

Joined the Navy in '62 and flew as a ASW Tech and door-gunner on a P5M out of Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.

Got my Private Pilot, SEL, in 1986, bought a Cessna Cardinal that I flew for 10 years.

Now I fly RC aircraft. I was named after a B-25 pilot killed in WWII, so my favorite is my B-25 Tondelayo.

 

[sourdough44]

8.5 years as a Naval Aviator, most traps on the USS AMERICA, late 80's. I've been flying 777s the last 10 years. I also own a Piper Warrior.

 

[Tony C.]

The OP is onto something, I flew glider for a number of yrs, 3 of my shooting buddies are private pilots, another is a retired software designer for a major aerospace defense contractor.

Now I fly RC helicopters.

 

[CH47gunner]

I had wanted to be a fighter pilot since I was a little kid. But - my eyesight was way too bad for that.
I did and still do read everything on military aviation, particularly WWII, that I can get my hands on.
Enlisted in the Army in 1969, for Aircraft Maintenance, attended that and was fortunate enough to be asked to volunteer for Doorgunner School. I flew Hueys, in the States, with enuf time to get my Crewmember wings.
Arriving in RVN Dec. 1969, I wound-up crewing CH47C Chinooks.
Aviation has always been in my blood - my pops was a radio operator on C47's during WWII.

Bruce

 

[Rock185]

Me too. Always loved airplanes. Got my private license in the early '70s. Quit for a long time after I got into LE. Much later got back into aviation again and got my commercial pilot certificate, multi-engine, instrument rating, etc. Spent a couple of years as an Air Suppert Unit supervisor at a large metro police dept. Partners in a small airplane for awhile. Haven't flown in ages. Might be fun to get back into it, but it's not inxpensive. I wouldn't be able to buy many guns if I did...

 

[ancient-one]

Started in 1942 at age 17 going to school as a mechanic learner for the Army Air Corps to be employed at Tinker Field which was under construction and being staffed. Was assigned to Flight Test but got there and the hanger was not completed. Still 17 and joined the Navy and was first assigned to a primary training base with lots of Yellow Perils(Stearman). Liked to fly and managed to get a lot of ride time and quite a bit of stick time with cadets just putting in flying hours.
Transferred to an Operations Squadron that had SNC's,SNJ's, Vultees,
SB2C's,SBD's,Howards and GB-2's. We also took care of all transient aircraft. Was sent to coast to be replacement on carrier but it got sunk and I ended up in Emergency Repair at NAS NI on a rigging crew working mostly on F6F, TBF,SB2C, F4U and F8F. Also got to work on the first Navy Jets, the Ryan Fireball.

Upon discharge went back to Tinker at Base and Transient Aircraft where we maintained all base assigned aircraft and fixed anything that came through with a problem. Flew a lot of test hops as flight engineer. Eventually ended up in B-47 Command Workload Production Management about the time that the wings were falling off. After a time ended up being assigned as Production Specialist to the Douglas B-47 Mod-IRAN program, the RB-47's at Forbes and the EB47's at Lockbourne plus several contractor field teams. Very enjoyable job. Flew all over the country.

When the B-47 phased out I ended up in Accessories production management and I was unlucky enough to end up with the C-130 starters which were initially a bunch of junk. At one time we had one thousand starters in baskets at Brookley AFB waiting for parts(Thanks to McNamara and his buy before you fly and procurement policies). Highest NORS item in the AF. Also had the F-4 and A7 starters. Lots of pressure and finally had a heart attack and retired in 76 and have never flown again.

 

[Tom C]

Former Marine F-4 pilot. I flew in the ‘70s. Haven’t flown much since.

 

[Diamondtreo]

After I got out of the Navy (as an Engineman - diesel mech) in the 1970's I went to Oregon Institute of Tech. to become a gunsmith. Not wanting to start my own business, I decided to go on for a 4-year Engineering degree & have been with Boeing Seattle for the past 31 years working as a Manufacturing Engineer. I spent the past 14 yrs. on the F-22 program working with the factory to improve process performance. For a while I ran a job shop in my garage & still have a large lathe to play on when I get the time. Over the years I have taken all the course work for an A&P license, just don't have the time with a wrench to satisfy the FAA. Working on my 1971 Electraglide project or 1969 Karmann Ghia is the closest I come to an aircraft engine these days. On the other hand, finding a doggy old shooter & bringing it back to life is almost as fun.

John

 

[jdb3]

I was a corpsman in the Coast Guard and attended Navy Aviation Medical Technician school at Pensacola. I flew in HH52's, HH3F's and C130's. Flew out of Port Angeles, WA and Kodiak, AK. Flew more medivacs than I care to remember in the 8 years I was in (received quite a few Sikorsky "S" awards). I have my wings and those of my father who flew PBY's during WWII. Jim

 

[semperfi71]

Air Traffic Controller at MCAS Yuma from 1972-1975. ATC at Albuquerque ARTCC from 1977 to 2008.

I worked a lot of airplanes and talked to a lot of good pilots..............when I wasn't sleeping.