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Best flyover or military aircraft experience
Posted on 10/19/23 at 10:34 am
Posted on 10/19/23 at 10:34 am
We had a B-2 stealth bomber flyover at the Alabama/Arkansas game in Tuscaloosa this past weekend, which happened to be during a partial solar eclipse.
If I was fighting in a third-world country and saw this shite overhead, I'd just lay down my weapon and give up.
ETA: link goes to a random YouTube video of the flyover; there's probably a better one out there somewhere
If I was fighting in a third-world country and saw this shite overhead, I'd just lay down my weapon and give up.
ETA: link goes to a random YouTube video of the flyover; there's probably a better one out there somewhere
This post was edited on 10/19/23 at 1:51 pm
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Posted on 10/19/23 at 11:24 am to paperwasp
A close buddy of mine's dad told us this one — he was working on an Air Force base before the general public (or much of the miliary) knew what an SR-71 Blackbird was.
One day they got word that there was an emergency, and that they needed to clear the runways of all non-essential personnel.
So eventually an SR-71 lands, a crew comes in to fix something, and for their trouble they allowed some of the guys to watch it takeoff.
He said it got airborne at the end of the runway, turned almost ninety degrees upwards, and essentially went straight up into the sky until they lost sight of it.
Imagine witnessing that thing both on the ground and in the air up close, having no prior idea that it even existed.
One day they got word that there was an emergency, and that they needed to clear the runways of all non-essential personnel.
So eventually an SR-71 lands, a crew comes in to fix something, and for their trouble they allowed some of the guys to watch it takeoff.
He said it got airborne at the end of the runway, turned almost ninety degrees upwards, and essentially went straight up into the sky until they lost sight of it.
Imagine witnessing that thing both on the ground and in the air up close, having no prior idea that it even existed.
Posted on 10/19/23 at 12:18 pm to paperwasp
Got to fly in an Apache Helicopter one fine fall evening in Bavaria, Germany. It was pretty cool.
Flew from Ramstein to Charleston on a C-17 loaded with Huey helicopters. Flew back to Ramstein on the same plane loaded with pallets of ammo headed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Have a picture of me and my daughter sound asleep atop one of those pallets. They refilled that flight in the air....it was very cool. On the way to Charleston we landed in Iceland and stayed about 2 hours and they let us off the plane on the tarmac.
Flew on a military version of a Gulfstream IV from GTMO to Key West, GTMO to Puerto Rico, GTMO to Kingston, Jamaica and GTMO to Jacksonville MANY, MANY, MANY times. Not such a cool experience...very small and uncomfortable. My son had to sit on the porta potty a couple of times LOL.
Flew from Ramstein to Charleston on a C-17 loaded with Huey helicopters. Flew back to Ramstein on the same plane loaded with pallets of ammo headed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Have a picture of me and my daughter sound asleep atop one of those pallets. They refilled that flight in the air....it was very cool. On the way to Charleston we landed in Iceland and stayed about 2 hours and they let us off the plane on the tarmac.
Flew on a military version of a Gulfstream IV from GTMO to Key West, GTMO to Puerto Rico, GTMO to Kingston, Jamaica and GTMO to Jacksonville MANY, MANY, MANY times. Not such a cool experience...very small and uncomfortable. My son had to sit on the porta potty a couple of times LOL.
Posted on 10/19/23 at 1:38 pm to paperwasp
While in Jungle Training in Panama, Canal Zone...I was in charge of rigging a jeep to be picked up by a Chinook in a small clearing deep in the triple canopy jungle.
As the Chinook hovered above, then slowly descended I was standing in the jeep holding the webbing together with a huge shackle, ready to slap it on the heavy duty hook on the belly of the Chinook.
A door on the bottom of the Chinook slid open and a crew chief started talking to me. He said, "Son..we're low on fuel so if I was you I'd haul arse from under this craft".
Of course, he was joking but as a 18 year old private in the army, I took him seriously and hauled arse after the shackle was on the hook.
A few days later I was able to fly in that same Chinook and it was awesome.
As the Chinook hovered above, then slowly descended I was standing in the jeep holding the webbing together with a huge shackle, ready to slap it on the heavy duty hook on the belly of the Chinook.
A door on the bottom of the Chinook slid open and a crew chief started talking to me. He said, "Son..we're low on fuel so if I was you I'd haul arse from under this craft".
Of course, he was joking but as a 18 year old private in the army, I took him seriously and hauled arse after the shackle was on the hook.
A few days later I was able to fly in that same Chinook and it was awesome.
Posted on 10/19/23 at 7:29 pm to paperwasp
quote:
He said it got airborne at the end of the runway, turned almost ninety degrees upwards, and essentially went straight up into the sky until they lost sight of it.
Watched this very thing when a Blackbird IFE’d into MacDill back in the 80’s. Loudest noise I’ve ever heard when that sucker lit off.
Also watched C-130s take off from a dirt strip called Firebird in Alaska. We were just a step off the edge of the strip. Impressive.
Almost shite my pants flying in a Beaver on a bear hunt on Kodiak. Pilot was nuts. Tried to make it over a clouded in mountain pass and at the last second he aborts and turns the SOB on its wing to bank out of there. Wing tip on my side got spruce sap on it.
Posted on 10/19/23 at 7:33 pm to five_fivesix
quote:
Tried to make it over a clouded in mountain pass and at the last second he aborts and turns the SOB on its wing to bank out of there. Wing tip on my side got spruce sap on it.
Fuuuuuuuuck that.
Love all these stories, keep em coming.
Posted on 10/19/23 at 7:42 pm to paperwasp
Used to see B-52's and the B1's fly over my house all of the time then after the gulf war broke out I guess they didnt have to have dry practice runs anymore because I didnt see them much after that.
Used to see a couple blimps a year fly over too.
When I was in JR High we were practicing football on our field instead of the practice field. One of my teammates yelled at the coach "look its the Goodyear blimp".
Coach told him to shut up and stop goofing off and to get a lap around the field.
Then we all heard the buzzing sound of the blimp and watched it fly over. It stayed at our local airport that night. Local paper said it was traveling from Dallas to Kansas City..
Used to see a couple blimps a year fly over too.
When I was in JR High we were practicing football on our field instead of the practice field. One of my teammates yelled at the coach "look its the Goodyear blimp".
Coach told him to shut up and stop goofing off and to get a lap around the field.
Then we all heard the buzzing sound of the blimp and watched it fly over. It stayed at our local airport that night. Local paper said it was traveling from Dallas to Kansas City..
Posted on 10/19/23 at 7:54 pm to OK Roughneck
I think I’ve seen damn near everything man’s ever invented to fly. Except the Goodyear Blimp. That’s cool 
Flew on a Huey over the Skyway bridge in Tampa. The height perception when looking out the open door is fun. Looked like we were only a few hundred feet up. When I asked, the pilot said 3,000 ft. I still think we were only a few hundred.
Flew on a Huey over the Skyway bridge in Tampa. The height perception when looking out the open door is fun. Looked like we were only a few hundred feet up. When I asked, the pilot said 3,000 ft. I still think we were only a few hundred.
Posted on 10/19/23 at 8:18 pm to five_fivesix
That had to be a cool view !!
I haven't ever been on a helicopter. Next time I'm in Vegas I may have to do it.
I haven't ever been on a helicopter. Next time I'm in Vegas I may have to do it.
Posted on 10/20/23 at 8:07 am to five_fivesix
quote:
Wing tip on my side got spruce sap on it
quote:
Fuuuuuuuuck that
Posted on 10/20/23 at 9:57 am to Lutcher Lad
quote:
A few days later I was able to fly in that same Chinook and it was awesome.
I flew in a Chinook once and that thing is like a flying school bus. I mean you look at it on a video and say, that's a big helicopter, but when you get inside it? Hell, I've lived in smaller places than that helicopter.
Posted on 10/20/23 at 2:01 pm to paperwasp
I got a couple; first I was in the F-117 program and the DoD decided (well some Senators decided) to bring 4 SR-71s back in service (mid 90s). I was at "place" that all of the flight checks, take-offs, low approach's, etc. were done. Every low approach would rattle the shite out of the building and set off everyone's car alarm. TBH the building and parking lot were pretty close to the runway. I was probably 50 yds from the runway watching them.
The other one was a Thunderbird show in Alaska and it turned out to be the low-level show due to cloud cover. If you've never experienced a low-level show of the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels, you're seriously missing out. Imagine them doing a show in your living room......OK a little of an exaggeration but not much.
The other one was a Thunderbird show in Alaska and it turned out to be the low-level show due to cloud cover. If you've never experienced a low-level show of the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels, you're seriously missing out. Imagine them doing a show in your living room......OK a little of an exaggeration but not much.
Posted on 10/20/23 at 2:19 pm to paperwasp
Rocket assisted takeoff of a C-130 at NAS Subic Bay. I know Fat Albert does it at some airshows, but I was in elementary school at the time, so it made a big impression.
Also, any time the F-4 Blue Angels flew. The Phantom was just cool as hell.
I was on a Tiger Cruise at 11 years old, and got to stand on the deck of an LHA as it fired a Sea Sparrow at a drone being pulled by an A6?
Also, any time the F-4 Blue Angels flew. The Phantom was just cool as hell.
I was on a Tiger Cruise at 11 years old, and got to stand on the deck of an LHA as it fired a Sea Sparrow at a drone being pulled by an A6?
Posted on 10/20/23 at 2:52 pm to Wtodd
quote:
Every low approach would rattle the shite out of the building and set off everyone's car alarm
I saw that movie!
Posted on 10/20/23 at 2:54 pm to LemmyLives
quote:
I was on a Tiger Cruise at 11 years old, and got to stand on the deck of an LHA as it fired a Sea Sparrow at a drone being pulled by an A6?
wut
This post was edited on 11/13/23 at 10:10 am
Posted on 10/20/23 at 9:12 pm to Arksulli
quote:
Hell, I've lived in smaller places than that helicopter.
You're right about that, brother!
Posted on 10/27/23 at 11:37 am to five_fivesix
quote:Right near my house
Skyway bridge
Used to cross it every day on my commute to work (Pinellas Park).
Posted on 10/27/23 at 11:46 am to paperwasp
quote:Tiger cruises allow friends and family of deployed sailors and Marines to spend time aboard a sea-going vessel to experience the ship's day-to-day operations.
Tiger Cruise
quote:Landing helicopter assault
LHA
quote:RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
Sea Sparrow
quote:A towed target that gives the appearance of being a threat aircraft or missile.
drone
quote:Grumman A-6 Intruder
A6
Posted on 10/27/23 at 12:44 pm to Wolfhound45
quote:
That's a beautiful aircraft.
Have you ever seen the Savage Bomber??
This post was edited on 10/27/23 at 12:46 pm
Posted on 10/27/23 at 2:24 pm to teamjackson
quote:I have not.
Have you ever seen the Savage Bomber??
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