Over and done with...
 

A member suggested that the Military section would be a more appropriate forum to post this thread. It has been on the Hangar talk forum for a few days now, so now I'm moving it over. I agree that many more in this section might better understand the bitter sweet time.
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APC states that Hangar Talk is for sharing aviation experiences.
I had an aviation experience today that I would like to share.

Today, 18 Dec 09, I had my last flight in the F/A-18 Hornet.
It was in a F/A-18C Hornet, Buno 164057, side number 326. It used to have my name on the side but has our Flight Surgeon's name on it now.
It was probably fitting because without his help I would have not been flying for the last year. (Thanks Doc)!

I was able to fly the last flight with my best friend in the squadron.
Based on the weather (foggy and cloudy) and the gas available (plus some other things I wanted to do) it was a toss up between flying low and a little final fight. I chose low.

I chose the section takeoff, Hornet 5 route to the R-2508. Isabella airspace all altitudes and scheduled/activated the Black Mountain Supersonic area. Enjoyed the view from FL500 and then did a few supersonic runs, ending with a nice near idle nose low slice turn south of China Lake found me driving through the Trona Gap and into Panamint Valley. What great cons up high today!

My wingman chased me down low at 200' and 420-500 IAS while I did a few of the maneuvers taught in the Low Altitude Tactics Training (LATT) phase, ending with a Maximum Recovery Maneuver (MRM) leveling off at FL280.

Because of the weather we knocked it off early enough to come home with enough gas for the actual instrument approach, but I was hoping that the traffic pattern would be open. I led the section approach to section landing with the wingman full stopping and I did a touch-n-go into the pattern for 2 more bounces. I had family and friends out at the lens (landing area) and they got some pictures/video that I might be able to post on here after I get it.

That was the end of my 20 years and 3,000+ hours in the Hornet. It has been a heck of a ride the entire time. The great times were unbeatable and the lowest times were tolerable - it was certainly worth every minute in the end, but at the same time I know that it is time to move on.

USMCFLYR

Congratulations on ending your great career on such a high note. You will have incredible memories for yourself and that you will be able to share with others.

Thanks for posting about your last flight.

Bravo Zulu.

Sounds like a great last flight. Congratulations on your twenty years!!!

Well done, Sir!
 

--"Still the Same"

Ooorah! Congrats on 20 good years, sounds like it was well worth it.

How long until you hit the streets? Have any plans?

USMC, thank you for your service, and congratulations on your career. Best of luck to you down the road!

A tip o' the glass to ya, USMCFLYR. Thanks for posting it up for us.

Semper Fi!

Congrats on a great career, USMC. Your country is grateful and we're proud of you too. Now get those pictures up for us to see! :)

Thanks for sharing B and congratulations.

Now go get a job!!!!

Congrats USMC and thanks for the years of service to our country. The Hornet was the one machine I wanted to fly. Some aircraft get everything right - looks, performance, handling. In the commercial world the 757 is that plane. I think the Hornet is my fave in the military world. Best of luck in your future endeavors.

Also, how did the iPhone search go? You can PM me on that if you want.

It's not very often in life that we do something, knowing full well that it's the last time we'll ever do it. It's bitterseet, isn't it?

Semper Fi and thanks for your service to our country.

USMC,

Congratulations on 20 years doing something meaningful and difficult to attain. As somebody just trying to get into military aviation, I've learned quite a bit just reading your posts. I hope you enjoy your next endeavor and thanks for your service.

Thank you for your service. I appreciate it.

Illini

What a great last flight. That beats getting a water canon salute for sure.

Congratulations for a successful career and thank you for your service to our country.

Great writeup.

Congrats on 20 years in the air. And thanks for blowing stuff up for me that I was too lazy to do myself when Id call it in.

The first important thing to happen after my last flight was for my computer to crap itself so I'm writing this reply on my new iPhone (there is your answer Dal :-) Anyways - thanks to all for the well wishes. Your heart felt congrats are appreciated. I do have some pics to share as soon as I can get to a new computer next week - so please stay tuned!

USMCFLYR

Thanks for posting that. I enjoy reading your comments. You always have something of value to contribute. Must have been hard to walk away from the F/A-18 for the last time. Sounds like it was a great flight and I look forward to pictures/video. Thanks for 20 years of service to the USMC.

Congrats! And thank you for your service.:)

Congrats and Thank you for your service. I hope that you find something as rewarding as this job has been.

USMCFLYR,

Congrats Amigo!

Thanks for sharing your final flight and your thoughts. Awesome debrief!

Congratulations on 20 years of flying, serving, and defending our country. I salute you.

I wish you the best as you begin a new chapter in your life.

I know how you're feeling. I did my last flight in a Super at Lemoore two years ago, December...this month. Like you, 20 years of flying fighters (USN). It is a bittersweet feeling.

A wise man once said:

"A Fighter Pilot's career will end in one of two ways...

The first way a fighter pilot ends his career is that he will walk to his fighter jet KNOWING that today is his final flight in a fighter and he will never fly a fighter again...

The second way a fighter pilot ends his career is that he will walk to his fighter aircraft and NOT KNOW that this is his final flight in a fighter and he will never fly a fighter again."

"Well done" on finishing your career in the former and not latter category.

Congrats again and best of luck as you open a new chapter in your life.

NOTE: I am not sure how to "bump" this thread to the "military" section but I STRGONLY recommend someone do this. USMCFLYR you should let the rest of the military bro's who read this forum add their wishes. I almost missed reading your great post because it was in "hangar talk" and not in the "military" section.

Cheers,
ImTumbleweed
"Afterburner is a great substitute for poor headwork"

Congrats USMCFLYR.

Had no idea that you'd been flying that long. That's one helluva run. Based on the content of all your post here on APC and kinda getting an idea of the type of person you are, your transition no doubt will be seemless and successful.

All the best!

HOOAH!;)




atp

Congrats and good luck on your next move!

Wetting down
 

Again - thanks to all of those sharing congratulations.
Of course during this holiday period it hasn't yet sunk in; it just feels like one of those rare leave periods.:)
Here is one of the pictures that I thought I would share with APC.
A fine tradition....and one that is nearly impossible to escape!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/...155eddb8_o.jpg
Video to come once I figure it out :o

USMCFLYR

Good for you USMCFLYR. Congrats as well :)

Section Approach
 

This was the first approach that my wingman and I made. The weather did not allow for the standard overhead for the carrier break. I shouldn't complain. The weather had been so foggy all week that I was afraid that I wouldn't get the flight out at all. It isn't the usual way to end the flying career - but it has it's own appeal ;)

http://www.flickr.com/photo_embed.gne?id=4212255984

Final landing
 

After the section approach (sorry about the ending of that clip), I did a touch-n-go and my wingman full-stopped. I went around the pattern a few times and this was my final approach to landing. I thought my squadronmate's comment at the end of the clip said it all:
"That's it" :(

http://www.flickr.com/photo_embed.gne?id=4211495887

USMCFLYR,

Congratulations on a successful career flying fighters. Deeds such as that were seldom seen in the past and undoubtedly will be rare in the future. As well, as has been said before, Thanks for your service and dedication in keeping this country safe.

Next time around, I'm going Navel Air, because the Air Force doesn't allow single seat fighters to do touch-and-go's. No, no, never mind. I just remembered I like waking up in a bunk that will be in the same geographical location as it was when I went to sleep.;)

Again, Congratulations.....Bravo Zulu......Sierra Hotel..

JJ

Congratulations! Awesome work.

Does this mean that you'll be posting on APC twice as much now? :cool:

Thanks. Twice as much? If I don't get a job I might as well take this place over because "I've got no where else to go!" >insert Lou Gossett Jr. standing over me here< :o

USMCFLYR

Good one dude;

YouTube - I got nowhere else to go!

Gratz!
 

Congrats on the 20! Didn't see your post until it was moved to Mil section. It made me re-live my own "fini flight". What a bitter sweet thing it is. Glad you had fun and thanks for sharing. Congrats again!

Bagger!
I'm going to come up just short of 2000 hours before I go off to fly big steel.

USMCFLYR,
Congrats!. Hope to fly with you in EFD or elsewhere down the road.:cool:

Enjoy the big steel Milky!
Bagger huh? How many -3 division night formations did I take from you I wonder? :D I worked my tail off! I need new POC info when you PCS.

USMCFLYR

I would love to have a reason to come to EFD again down the road. Keep forwarding any info you have along those lines please.

USMCFLYR

Thank you for your service, you are an inspiration to all of us!!

Well thanks ryan1234 - that is very nice of you to say. If I could *inspire* one or two as I was inspired as a young pup then I'll consider it a job well done.

USMCFLYR

Good Job
 

I am glad that you got your three landings in for currency. :) Thank you for your service to our country.

Your friend,

Skyhigh

Congrats..
 

Gump,

Just saw this thread after a much deserved holiday break. Congrats on your last flight. When I saw you in NJK in November I had no idea you were that close, I hope the job hunt is going well for you. Sounds like you had a blast on your last flight minus the weather, but hey why should it have been a 'clear and a million' day anyhow right? Safe flying, keep in touch.

PADI