Originally Posted by
usmc-sgt
Funny you mention that...I had some buddies who were CH46 drivers and at static airshows they would often pull battery cables and let kids jump in and throw switches and twist knobs. Talk about a thorough preflight before taking that plane back to the base.
I wish things were like that more now - but they certainly weren't that way at airshows that I went too - and it wasn't just becasuse the squadrons wouldn't allow it - but every SOP up the chain absolutely would not allow such things.
It would take an act of Congress just to get the ropes pulled away
OK - that might be an exageration - but certainly if I even got a stand up to the aircraft the canopy had to be closed.
I as doing the static once at the OKC airshow and while I was gone starting the spare for the airshow flyer, on of the ground crew opened up the static's cockpit and was giving tours of the cockpit and even letting people sit in the seat.
Some former Chief took a picture of it and eventually e-mailed it to the Squadron Maintenance Officer.
I ended up taking the hit for that one because it was my aiplane even though I wasn't even in the area. Ah....responsibility
I wish it was like it has been in the old days.
The pilots hanging around answering questions from kids. Stands up next to every cockpit, sitting in the seat and having your picture taken with the pilot. Good times. Nowdays the brass is more worried if some kid is going to stump his toe getting into the cockpit.
Of course it didn't help circumstances when those young teenagers pulled the emergency canopy jettison handle on the Prowler so many years ago.
I guess times change - for the better or worse.
Thanks to those aircraft and crews that still allow a tour of the aircraft!
USMCFLYR
PS - I remember bing at an airshow with a F-117 quite some time ago. All roped off and had a number of Security Force personell standing around with their M-16s. I just thought to myself - I wonder what their ROE would be for someone crossing the line. Could you just see them using deadly force at a crowded airshow? Please. Pepper spray would be a better option!