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nfojm
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Name: Josh
Metro:
Gender: Male
Interests: Aviation, USN, Photography
Expertise: Laying out in the Florida sun without getting tan.
Occupation: Naval Flight Officer
Message: message me
Member Since:
6/27/2005
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| I had my last flight in flight school yesterday. I'm now what they call "soft winged." I get to wear wings on my flight suit, but not on my other uniforms yet. That will change on the 30th. It feels really strange to be done. I cranked through the last flights really quickly. They were possibly the most fun I've had in flight school. BFM or Basic Fighter Maneuvers. Dogfighting like on Top Gun. All that "Don't break the hard deck" stuff. At 5.5Gz I weighed about 1025 lbs. My head was somewhere around 60lbs and you're trying to move around in the cockpit to keep sight of the guy who's trying to shoot you. Next time you're in the gym, hang a 45 off the back of yoru head and try to look over your shoulder. Good times. I won't be doing that much in my Prowler, but it was a good experience. I can't believe I'm done. It took forever, but seemed short at the same time. | | |
| So I'm getting close to finishing training for my wings. I've been flying a lot until now. I've actually had a week with no flights because I'm waiting to select my airframe. It's down to F/A-18F super hornets or EA-6B prolwers. Both are grey jets that get shot off of the front of a big boat. Sounds like a sweet deal huh? I can't believe I've made it to the big time. I've learned how to take off from a location that's about 500 miles away from my target, and get there on time, to the second. I've also "shot down"(not with real missles) other planes using my radar. Pretty cool stuff. | | |
| Cool thing. I was praying on the way home from work yesterday... "God I really need a day off. I've been studying too much, and have had no time for anything else." I checked the flight schedule when it came out, and I wasn't on it. Yay God! Don't get me wrong, I love flying, but the 8-12 hours of prep for each one gets old when you do it every day. Fly, come home and get ready for the next one until you go to sleep. The whole up at 5am thing is kinda icky too. Boo 5am. But today I slept in until 7:30 am! I am happy. Still gonna study some today, just not with a sense of urgency. | | |
| It's kind of strange to have the job that I have. This weekend I had to work. By work I mean that I got up at 4am on Friday, and flew to Ashville, NC for training. We then hiked up part of the Appalachian Trail, and camped out. Saturday we hiked back down, and slept in a hotel. Sunday, up at 4 again to fly back. It just doesn't seem right that we can do that. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's kinda nice. | | |
| Allright fellow xanga bloggers. I have to say "I'm sorry." Even in Basic Training, I updated more than I have these past two months. I have reasons, but they aren't excuses. I could have been giving you all a glimpse into my life of crazy Navy fun times.
I've moved on to a different type of airplane. T-1 Jayhawk (all you Kansas people think it's named for you, but it isn't). It's a jet, but before you get excited, move away from the Top-Gun images scrolling through your brains, and think "Walmart Corporate Jet." It's a small business style jet (BEECH 400A). 2 engines, which makes it a little safer in some ways, but no ejection seats, which makes it less safe in some ways. I'm sad to leave my last plane (the T-6 Texan II), because this one doesn't go upside down. I like going upside down.
I've been pushed really hard the past month. I flew more in a shorter time than any other student I've met. It was tough, but really fun. I got to go to Colorado Springs and visit Eric Baird. 6 flights up and back, at 2 hours each. I got to fly lower to the ground and navigate off of terrain features and buildings. I also got my first taste of formation flying. Nothing quite like seeing a prop spinning 5 feet from your head, bouncing around in turbulence. The best part was by far the "tail chase" where we chase and get chased. Rolls, loops, and other fun stuff, all while trying to look behind you and keep the other plane in sight. Did I mention it's really tough to turn around and look when your head weighs about 50lbs from pulling 4 Gs?
At any rate that's what I've ben up to. Now I'm in ground school for the T-1, and my folks are going to be here all week. I better get going now. I've got some chart work to do before they get here. The homework never ends! | | |
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