Separating the men from the boys

On 11/3/03 5:24 AM, in article , "Doug
"Woody" and Erin Beal" wrote:

On 11/2/03 8:08 PM, in article , "Mike
Kanze" wrote:

Woody,

Back in the day when I flew VA (the REAL Medium Attack kind--not that
Corsair stuff), our SOP called for a 200 FT AGL minalt that we flew at very
regularly--500 FT AGL night/IMC.

My recollection as well, from the early 1970s.

Not sure, but I THINK that on the OB-16 route (Eastern Oregon canyons) A-6s
were authorized lower than 500 AGL at night if the system was tight and the
crew felt OK about things.

Owl sends.

Owl,

I think that the OB-16 turned into the IR-346... Great route... Not the
VR-1355 through the Cascades, but still a lot of fun.

I can still remember my first night low-level on that route when I finally
had enough guts to peak outside on a 1/4 moon night only to see the shadows
of the huge mountains surrounding me.

I quickly buried my head in the instruments again realizing that the "video
game" in front of me had pretty stiff consequences if I lost. I'm sure
we've all had those personal moments. Probably doesn't compare to the 'Nam
though.

--Woody


I meant peek outside. Excuse the pun and the spelling.