In a nut shell………. I am in QA; I look at our planes at the end of the process. We have Examination and Evaluation or E&E people who look at the plane at the beginning of the process. It is their job to look the plane over, and direct work. When I find something wrong, the artisans go these E&E people, and E&E will tell them to fix it, or they will put that discrepancy on a list, and give that list to the Squadron, and basically the list says that while we had the plane, we found these things wrong with the Aircraft, and did not fix them. We will fix all safety of flight things!!!!!!!! And we will fix all the things that the Squadron pays for. Most of the time I find things wrong, it is because North Island messed with it, and did not do the job right, then North Island has to pay to fix it right. I am going up against them on a daily basis, and something’s I will not let them get away with not fixing them. Sometimes we get engineering involved, and let them decide. Their famous line is, well it flew in that way, and it can go home that way! So it is all about the $$$$$$. This clip had perfect timing. If the plane flew in missing an entire wing, can it go home missing that wing?
dont worry, I am winning most of those battles. They are fixing a lot of stuff. Here is a small example. These Planes have 2 radios, and both of them have 20 preset channels. Channel 18 on Radio #2 causes a huge hum in the headset. The squadron lived with that problem. And we here at North Island found it on our "Induction". Now then, Aircraft RK35 has a radio problem, and the radio from RK30 is the same part number. Because as these planes rolled off the assembly line, they received newer and better radio's. So we take the radio out of RK30, but it has that Channel 18 problem. Now we are giving the squadron that sent in a plane with a good radio, and while it was here at North Island the radio died, and we have to fix it. So now we give them a radio that kinda works. Plus now while the radio comes in from supply for that and now we paid to fix a problem that the squadron has lived with, and we gave a squadron a bad radio. Things you could careless about, but I have to stay on top of.
And when you call in the air support, My #2 Radio better work, because with that one I am talking to your ground Radio guy, and with my #1 I am talking with that OV10 who is playing air traffic director. But dont you move, I'll get him, I love the smell of Napalm in the morning.
Actual radio conversation, whilst RT California is being chased one day, near the HCMT in southeast Laos; Me, thru bouts of heavy breathing: "Blue Dart, you got any soft stuff??" F-4 pilot: "Yup, two pods-hung your *** out there again, didn'tja, Doggie??" Me, feebly: "Yup, drop your load 150 meters south of the Willy Pete!!" Blue Dart: "Wilco Doggie, see y'all next time!!" Me, elated: "You Sweet Mother F**ker!!"
Air support, its a good thing. All I did was keep those SR71's flying so they could take your picture with your *** hung out to dry! Next time smile.
Those F-4's didn't have much station time, 'specially once they kick in their after-burners when they're on short final...only about 10 minutes.
By today’s standards, an F4 would be like flying an 18 Wheeler, F18's are like Ferrari’s. But F4's were the thing back then. They were designed on a slide rule. Today everything is Computer designed. They have a program where they can simulate a Mechanic working in a compartment removing and replacing components.
Yup, I don't think ANY pilot woulda been ableta bring in/land an F-4 with onea its wings shot off!! :no: :icon_sad:
On a side note................. My oldest has been talking with some recruiters here these last couple of weeks. Thursday he took the test. Today the Army informed him that he qualified for, and there is one opening for Air Traffic Controller! The Air Force said they could match it, they just don’t know if there is an opening right now. He also qualified for some Satellite Communication's MOS. I told him he had better take that ATC job. It is a 6 Year Enlistment with a 2 Year School in Biloxi Misssissippi.
Keesler AFB. I agree, the AF is the way to go if ATC is what he wants. I can't imagine the Army having any fixed wing A/C worthy of an ATC. Plus, his basic is right here in San Antone, at Lackland AFB...we could hook up when you come for his graduation!! :yes: :icon_toast:
True, but only acuppola fixed wing - U-21, O-2. :icon_shrug: The choppers can be landed anywhere-we used C-4 and claymores to blow an LZ big enuff for a UH-1 to land and pick us up. I guess the ATC in those cases mighta been the FAC/Covey :icon_shrug: :icon_huh:
True a chopper can land anywhere, but it has a home base. And how many of those choppers call a base home? And when you start mixing Choppers and fixed wings, things can get tight.
Hadn't thot of it, but alluv'em, I reckon. Purty much every major Army base has a flight detachment :yes:
Here at North Island they mix Choppers and Fixed Wings and Jets. The Choppers approach and departure is from one direction, and the Fixed Wing approach and departure is from another. Now some of those Fixed Wings are Jets, so now you have a problem with those Choppers blowing rocks on the Airfield, those rocks can ruin a Jet Engine as a Jet is a huge vaccum on takeoff. so now you have to control and seperate 3 different Airframes. And everyone has a schedule, and everyone wants the same air space.
Thats why they have ATC's. Planes headed east fly at one altitude, planes flying west fly at another altitude, planes flying north fly at another altitude,and planes flying south are at another altitude. its only when they climb and drop do they request permission to do so. Thats when ATC's have to know whats going on around thier field at all times.
And speaking of Radio's......... He enlisted yesterday, and leaves May 31st. He will spend the next 7 Months in Georgia. He will spend 9 weeks in Basic training, then on to 17 weeks of Signal Support Systems Specialist School (Communications). ATC School wasn’t there, and a few other jobs that he was interested in. The Air Force would not guarantee him anything. After School he will receive an $11,000.00 Enlistment bonus. He will be going to Iraq, he just doesn’t know when.
Crap!! Well, that's too bad about ATC school...one of the other BT posters has a son in BT now, and IS gointa ATC school. If you want, I'll PM my phone numbers to you, so he'll have a local contact in case he needs anything.
Some ATC humor- Tower: "Delta 351, you have traffic at 10 o'clock, 6 miles!" Delta 351: "Give us another hint! We have digital watches!" Tower: "TWA 2341, for noise abatement turn right 45 degrees." TWA 2341: "Center, we are at 35,000 feet. How much noise can we make up here?" Tower: "Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 727?"
From an unknown aircraft waiting in a very long takeoff line: "I'm f...ing bored!" Ground Traffic Control: "Last aircraft transmitting, identify yourself immediately!" Unknown aircraft: "I said I was f...ing bored, not f...ing stupid!" O'Hare Approach Control to a 747: "United 329 heavy, your traffic is a Fokker, one o'clock, three miles, Eastbound." United 329: "Approach, I've always wanted to say this... I've got the little Fokker in sight."
