1980s: Technician goes joyriding in A-4 Skyhawk.

"Rick" wrote in message
oups.com...

We were talking about this ambitious joyride at work, and I remembered
a case in the eighties where a military technician, who I believe was
an accomplished glider pilot with a world altitude record, took an A-4
for a spin in the middle of the night -- perhaps over the holidays
while the field was closed. It might have been at El Toro.

Does anyone remember this? I promised a friend a link to this story if
I can find it.


I remember this, it was indeed at MCAS El Toro and at night too. I belive
it was an enlisted man, aircraft maintenance type, who had access to a
simulator and knew that he would probably get in trouble, but REALLY,
REALLY, wanted to try his hand at flying an A-4. He landed safely and was
immediately arrested as the Marines don't take kindly to having their
aircraft stolen. I think they threw the UCMJ book at him. Perhaps they
should have given him pilot training, he may have ended up being a valuable
asset.

JD

"Joe Delphi" wrote in message
news:j5t3f.73269$lq6.67752@fed1read01...
"Rick" wrote in message
oups.com...

We were talking about this ambitious joyride at work, and I remembered
a case in the eighties where a military technician, who I believe was
an accomplished glider pilot with a world altitude record, took an A-4
for a spin in the middle of the night -- perhaps over the holidays
while the field was closed. It might have been at El Toro.

Does anyone remember this? I promised a friend a link to this story if
I can find it.


I remember this, it was indeed at MCAS El Toro and at night too. I belive
it was an enlisted man, aircraft maintenance type, who had access to a
simulator and knew that he would probably get in trouble, but REALLY,
REALLY, wanted to try his hand at flying an A-4. He landed safely and was
immediately arrested as the Marines don't take kindly to having their
aircraft stolen. I think they threw the UCMJ book at him.

So does he still 'live' in Leavonworth?

"Joe Delphi" wrote in message
news:j5t3f.73269$lq6.67752@fed1read01...
"Rick" wrote in message
oups.com...

We were talking about this ambitious joyride at work, and I remembered
a case in the eighties where a military technician, who I believe was
an accomplished glider pilot with a world altitude record, took an A-4
for a spin in the middle of the night -- perhaps over the holidays
while the field was closed. It might have been at El Toro.

Does anyone remember this? I promised a friend a link to this story if
I can find it.


I remember this, it was indeed at MCAS El Toro and at night too. I belive
it was an enlisted man, aircraft maintenance type, who had access to a
simulator and knew that he would probably get in trouble, but REALLY,
REALLY, wanted to try his hand at flying an A-4. He landed safely and was
immediately arrested as the Marines don't take kindly to having their
aircraft stolen. I think they threw the UCMJ book at him. Perhaps they
should have given him pilot training, he may have ended up being a
valuable
asset.

JD




Actualy I was in the USMC at the time.... and having worked on A-4's this
story stuck in my memory at the time.

The "Offending" joy rider was a Flight Line Mechanic Sgt, who had hopes of
becoming an Attack or Fighter pilot
himself in the USMC, it seems he did have his own Private pilots license and
was into piloting Gliders also and had been
since he was about 16. Unfortuneatly he liked to soar the gliders to very
high altitudes, and on one flight he got an embolism in
one of his arms. Which disqualified him from ever becoming a pilot as far
as the USMC was concerned.

Since his dreams were dashed he decided to take a "joy ride" late one night
in an A-4M, after everyone had gone left the hangar.
He did a good job of take off and approach, but gave the aircraft a bit of a
hard landing at the end, but no major damage.

If I remember correctly, he did get a court martial, and was given 6 months
in the Brig, reduced in Rank and a General Discharge.
(His own commanding Officer asked the Court to NOT give him a Dishonorable
Discharge due to his outstanding record - except for this one blemish).

From what I understand he was just a guy who really, really loved to fly and
made one stupid mistake.
They should have made him sign up as a Cobra Pilot for 6 instead of booting
him out. - IMHO.


Helomech