AVIATION BACKGROUND

[Bob R]

In 1971 the USN turned me into an Aviation Electricians Mate. In 1972 I became a crewman on the ship's C1A on the USS Forrestal. After that I went to shore duty in San Diego at NAS North Island working intermediate level maintenance on the S3A.

After that tour of shore duty I became a P3 Orion Flight Engineer for the next 12 years. For my last tour before retirement I went back to San Diego and did 3 years as a crewman onboard the C2As that delivered people,mail, and other stuff to the carriers off of Southern California. I was grounded medically for a shoulder injury right before PG1 so I finished out my tour and retired in 1992.

I haven't had much to do with aviation since then, not a lot of civilian flight engineers anymore.

bob

 

[VPNAVY]

Ah, the memories...

 

[Indiana George]

Only as a frequent passenger in my BIL's TH-55. Other passenger flights have included a Grob sailplane, a Pitts and a 140. The smaller the better!

 

[bigmoose]

I flew P-3's in the Navy and currently fly B-767's. A lot of my coworkers are hunters and gun collectors. Seems to be somewhat of a common interest of aviators.

 

[Memphis]

Got my private license back in 1974. Haven't flown in 30 yrs so it would be like starting over for me. I have an unexplainable love for flying. Any and all forms. I love r/c aircraft, old aeroncas (C-3's etc) and have been to Oshkosh once. My dad flew back in USAAF (bt-13's, AT6's, Stearman's and ultimatly a bit of time in the P-51). He was the one that on my 16th birthday surprised me with lessons. For some reason every day I read the NTSB website on crashes and incidents. There are more than I ever realized. Back when I flew and rented the planes they were only $15 per hr (Cessna 150) and another $5 for the instructor. Those rates have gone up. I only flew for fun. Loved the uncontrolled airfields and grass strips. I still to this day darn near run off the road trying to watch the cropdusters while driving down the highway. I miss flying but have some wonderful memories.

Roger

 

[DeadAye]

In the early '70s I was partners with a friend in 2 Cubs and a Citabria.
I wish we would have stayed with the Cubbies - The Cit was an expensive toy that eventually priced me out of General Aviation.
In the '90s I was in the top 10% of miles on Northwest Airlines.

I would much rather drive - And do... Haven't been in an airplane since 2002.

 

[mooney1el]

Private, SEL, Instrument, currently fly '77 Mooney M20J, N201EL.

Spent 1970 with 13th Avn Btn, Soc Trang, RVN

 

[5-Shot]

I flew for years and owned an old 172. It just got to be too much of a hassle. I still miss it though.

Ed

 

[427mach1]

26 years as an aerospace engineer performing wind tunnel tests for a major airframer. I'm also an aviation enthusiast, especially when it comes to military aircraft.

 

[H Richard]

USAF Jet engine mechanic on B66, F84, T33, KB50J. Back in the early 60's.

 

[rags]

USS America CVA-66 Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class.This was my house for 4 years. 90 aircraft total. 1980-'84 The guns were bigger.

 

[mkk41]

Former Navy Aviation Ordnanceman , and P-3 aircrewman. Currently working for a defense contractor in the avionics field. If I ever hit the lottery , my own plane is at the top of the list.

 

[doc540]

Son of a B-17 pilot in the 8th.

He turned 90 in November and is still barking orders.

 

[deanodog]

Aircraft mechanics in USAF 1956 to 1960. Multi engine airframe
mechanic.

 

[linedo50]

I was a crewchief on the B-52. In 1971 I was sent to Phan Rang RVN to work on C-123s. When they stopped using 123s to spray chemicals I was sent to TSN to work on C-47s. In the 80's and 90's I worked all over Alaska and most of the villages I worked in were either fly in or go by boat. I made a lot of trips in the Grumman Goose, Beavers, Otters, Caravans and other aircraft. I don't know how to put a photograph on here but I have a picture of myself sitting on a Mig 17 near Phnom Penh Cambodia in November of 1971.

 

[BE Mike]

Started out training as a rotorywing Army Aviator in 1967. After the Army, went to school at Embry-Riddle. Got my degree and fixed wing ratings. Flying got put on the back burner for a number of years. Last ten years of my last job, I flew a lot. Ended up with 10,000+ hours of accident-free flying of small planes and helicopters.

 

[linedo50]

Mig

This aircraft had been damaged when a bad guy tossed some exposives in the exhaust.

 

[Retired W4]

Flew TH-55, TH-13T, UH-1A/B/C/D/H/V, OH-58A/C, UH-60A, U-8F, U-21A/F, C-12A/C/F, UC-35A. Instructor pilot in 4 helicopters and 4 Fixed Wing, Maintenance Test Pilot/Examiner in 4 FW. That was for the Army. S-76B, Lockheed JetStar II in the corporate world. ATP. Oh, and SEL too. It was good while it lasted (39 years). My Father was a pilot in WW II and retired from the AF the same year I joined the Army. My Son is an A-10C pilot (Cpt. P), so it's kind of a family thing.

 

[Evil Dog]

Loaded bombs on F-5's in '66. Also flew doorgunner a time or two... does that count?

 

[safearm]

Retired AF Master Navigator. Trained in T-37B, T-43A; Instructor/Evaluator/Staff navigator in KC-135A/D/E/R/T, EC-135C, B-52H; Weapon System Officer in RF-4C. Also had plenty of rides in OH-58, UH-60, HH-60, and CH-47 while assigned as Air Liaison Officer.