Flying to the South Pole and landing. Never thought I'd ever do that.
Partying in the PI back in the 80's during a WESTPAC deployment. As for the PI, I guess there are those who have and those who wish they could have now.

 

Bar none, the caliber of person is amazing. (Cliche, but true statement box checked)

Getting paid to witness true hero's at work.

Watching your ordnance impact smack in the middle of the target. It was like throwing the winning touchdown on prom night after 5.5 years of two-a-day practices.

Having your Hero's (Infantry and SF folks) smile, shake your hand, and say "Thanks". (I'll never look back and think: 'I only shoveled sh!t in Louisiana')

Sitting on an airline flight deck listening to part 135 war stories while waiting for the sheep to load and realizing that you have no choice but to get back in and fly for the military again.

Drinking coffee at the USO on 24DEC after a long, long trip to theater for the second time and being psyched to be back in the game.

 

Being on top of a Soviet attack sub that sounded like a washing machine just before the USSR expired. I always tell people that I had a front row seat for the end of the Cold War.

Getting to work with some of the best pilots and people I've ever known.

Watching my students grow through FAMs and learn to make good decisions.

Sitting in the rear seat of a T-34C hardly able to believe that I got paid to instruct.

Listening to "war stories" from my fellow pilots.

 

Working with so many young professionals willing to put their service ahead of personal desires.

Offloading that extra bit of gas to support those in a firefight below... and then getting creative to get the jet home.

Watching my students succeed.

The exotic locals we get to visit, and especially the TCN's take on classic American eats!

But best of all was last Thursday... despite the 21 deployments, a year long remote and the numerous TDYs totaling approx 7 years away out of the last 20... My wife and two boys helped me celebrate my last AF flight in the KC135... the pride they displayed in me and OUR accomplishment as a family will be etched in my memory forever.

 

That last flight is one of the most memorable times that I had in my time in the military also. What a combination of sweet and sour! Congrats on a job well done Cousteau135 and thank you and your family for the service.

USMCFLYR

 

It's still early in my career, but this is one flight that I will never forget!

We all hated the instrument rides (all three of them), but the I-3 had some wiggle room to add a low level! It was my second to last ride in the program so my IP wanted to have some fun!

Step to the jet, find out my crew chief and I, grew up within 30 miles of each other. We played football against each other (we won!)…small world! Startup, taxi out, and take off! The low level is way north, on the AZ/UT border, so we have to sky hook it up there. Level off at 27k, check out meteor crater up by Winslow, AZ. Thinking of a good road trip as I watch monument valley pass to my right, on the decent into the low level! Get into the low level where the mountaintops are above us. Being cleared to wedge because we can't fly line abreast due to the mountains. Weaving our way through the canyons on eastern part or Lake Powell. RALT (set at 500 feet), going off when I turn to stay in the canyon! My IP making a radio call every so often...to make sure “I was still back there.” Rounding a corner to see a group of ~30 boats tied together, seeing them holding up their beers as I stand my jet on it’s wing over them! Hitting the burner and doing a ridge crossing over the canyon wall, right in front of that crowd of ~100 people. Exiting the canyons to fly over, what looks like, "the painted earth" at 500 feet. A few more ridge crossings... Flying line abreast, straddling a very busy US 89. Standing our jets on their tails to go from 500 feet, up to 14k to exit the low level. Turn south at 14k, autopilot on and watch, in amazement, at the Grand Canyon below! That was the first time I had laid eyes on the Grand Canyon…can't think of a better way see it! Blah blah...boring instrument stuff at Grand Canyon airport. Climbing out, checking out one of the few green spot in AZ...Flagstaff. Plan my next weekend adventure as I check out the awesome landscape that is Sedona! Descending back into the Valley of the sun with the biggest smile on my face! Up initial, pitchout, land, shut down and thank my crew chief for a great jet! It's Friday afternoon, the debrief is short, the beer light is on...time to drink with the best group of friends & IPs I could ever ask for! As the bar gets rowdy, shot glasses being broken…I can’t help but think I have the best job in the world!

Yes, I know…I won’t give up my day to job to be a writer.

 

When you are ready to PCS, stop by with orders in hand and they will let you (and the family) in for free.

This must be what we called 'cruise', but we chased the students on the section low level (gave us the ability to have a little fun "back there"). Of course that flight is no longer in the syllabus

I said that too until I stood on the rim and looked at it from up close and personal. Don't miss the opportunity to actually go there!

Stayed at the hotel right by the airport up on the mesa. Beautiful scenery - again - even more amazing in first person than flying over it in the flight levels. Of course if I hear anything more about those 'vortexes'

USMCFLYR

 

I never had a single tanker say no to extra give in either theater when we needed it. Thanks.

 

I thought of one more - my most rewarding kind of flight - C-141 airevacs going home from Vietnam (via Clark AFB) . Loading patients was a sober experience; there was lots of pain, fear, and quiet contemplation. Inflight the Nurses, Med Techs and Loadmasters worked their buts off to treat, feed, console and convince them to rest. The lights were turned down and it got very very quiet (for a C-141) - almosy scary.

During the second meal (they got three in eight hours) we announced passing the half way point "home." It was like a miracle. Fear gave way to joy, quiet comtimlation gave way to conversations like a buzzsaw. Lousy apptites became ravenous. Every crewmwmber was engaged in conversation. I spend some of the most rewarding time of my life talking to those kids (I was 28.)

 

After thinking about it, and after 20 years in single seat jets, I came to the same conclusion. Never once denied. A belated and anonymous thanks to the tanker bro's.