Left out of NAS Whiting in Milton, FL to reposition a plane to PNS for weekend operations one lazy & hazy Friday afternoon and as I'm turning direct to PNS, I get this call:
ATC: BlackBird 123, traffic at 11 o'clock, 4 miles, regional jet for 17 vis at Pensacola
Me: Negative contact for BB 123.
After a minute or so...
ATC: BB 123, traffic 11 o'clock, 3 miles, same altitude, regional jet on extended left base for visual 17 at Pensacola.
Me: Negative contact, BB 123. (I did mention it was hazy, right?)
Right away,
ATC: BB 123, traffic approaching your 12 o'clock, 2 miles, same altitude, regional jet, a big white tube with wings and a red and blue tail crossing from your left to right, do you have him in sight?
Me: (Finally seeing him through the haze) Roger! BB 123 has the big white tube in sight! I'll follow him to 17 at Pensacola!
Unfortunately for me, there were at least 5 other instructors on frequency doing the same thing. Needless to say, I STILL get ragged about that one!