NAVAIR's F/A-18 Program Celebrates 25 Years of Flight

J wrote:

You start suspecting your old when every aircraft you have flown is in the
boneyard or museum, and every carrier in the fleet was commissioned after
you got your wings. Heck there are only two remaining, that I ever landed
on.

When they are gone? I think I will just get drunk. Hell why wait.

Red Rider


Come on over Red, I got enough homemade wine to skunk us both. I
probably rode plane guard on your carriers if they were in the Atlantic.
Still, you gotta reckon it's better to be an old sailor than a dead one.

George

(WaltBJ) wrote in message . com...
Back in 1979 we were waiting for one of the F4Es to get fixed so we
could go on up to Avon Park Range - the crewchiefs and I were sitting
under the wing in the shade away from the South Florida sun. one of
them looked at me and asked "Sir, when dod you get your wings?" I
answered "1954." A funny expression crossed his face and I asked "When
were you born?" He answered "1961."
Second 'old' feeling, about the same time. I was strapping into an F4E
in the same outfit (307TFS) and a staff sergeant was helping me with
them. I caught his name tag - 'Klix'. I asked "Is your dad's first
name Danny?" He replied, 'Yeah, and I used to play with your kids!"
His dad and I had flown 104s in the 319th FIS at Homestead AFB back in
1964-65 . . .
Walt BJ

.... similar circumstances, CO (me) and XO were commenting on the
occasion of the 25th anniversary of the 1st landing on the moon (where
we were, etc.) when up piped our newest acquisition (ENS, 1 each,
nugget NFO) "Hey Skipper -- guess what, I wasn't even born then!" ...
long pause... (me) "OPS, I think we have our first volunteer for the
0200 launch..."

Will Dossel
Last of the Steeljaws (VAW-122)

You start suspecting your old when every aircraft you have flown is in the
boneyard or museum, and every carrier in the fleet was commissioned after
you got your wings.

Or when you go to Oshkosh, wander down to the "Antiques" section, and
see all the airplanes you used to fly.

vince norris

On 12/1/03 1:05 PM, in article , "Mike
Kanze" wrote:

Woody,

What is "old?"

1) You don't know what "old" is (or feels) until you see a bird whose BuNo
adorns several of your logbook entries sitting in a museum somewhere. In my
case: KA-6D, BuNo 152910, now sitting forlornly in the back lot of the
Western Aerospace Museum at Oakland airport. Just a bunch of aluminum held
together by a bazillion coats of paint. Tanker package still installed,
though.

2) When I went through VT-10 as a SNFO in 1969, the flight syllabus
consisted of several low-level visual nav hops about the south Alabama
countryside in the squadron's fleet of venerable C-45 / SNB "Bugsmashers."
The VT-10 CO had the following painted above the pax hatch on each of these
birds: "NFO Trainer - Built 194X," with the "X" variable indicating the
exact year of manufacture.

Oldest "Secret Navy Bomber" in his fleet was one built during the third
Roosevelt administration. All of these tired birds were older that the
students using them, and in many cases, the instructors teaching in them
too. The Skipper always made sure that this fact was explained to each
visiting Poo-Bah - especially anyone from Washington or having anything to
do with Naval appropriations.

Owl sends.

Owl,

What a hoot! (No pun intended.) And no question... You'll always be older
than me. |:-) But I have some old airplanes too...

149484, a KA-6D, January 1990. The airframe was estimated to be 28 years
old back then. It was still older than me. I think it's a reef now. Got
lots of hops in the one on the stick in Grand Junction too. It used to be a
China Lake bird. Got time in several 149 BUNO A-6E's when I was a FRP in
VA-128. I'm sure we've got time in the same jets. Scary, huh.

You get the picture. The cycle repeats itself.

Now I read that the Hornet just turned 25? Struck me as ironic that I can't
get away from old jets (162 series BUNO's in Lot 8's now). Even weirder to
think I'm now flying them against guys who graduated college in 2000.
Parading my stories of night Intruder traps on LEXINGTON in front of them
wouldn't even be sport any more. Can't impress these kids because most of
them don't know anything smaller than KITTY HAWK class.

--Woody

Owl- 1) You don't know what "old" is (or feels BRBR

Or all the squadrons you were in or ships you served on were decommisioned

VF-33, VF-151, VF-31, VF-101(F-4), VF-171, VX-4, VF-126, USS Forrestal,
Independence, Midway...

Not sure if VF-31(F-14) is gone or not...
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

Owl,

What a hoot! (No pun intended.) And no question... You'll always be older
than me. |:-) But I have some old airplanes too...

149484, a KA-6D, January 1990. The airframe was estimated to be 28 years
old back then. It was still older than me. I think it's a reef now. Got
lots of hops in the one on the stick in Grand Junction too. It used to be a
China Lake bird. Got time in several 149 BUNO A-6E's when I was a FRP in
VA-128. I'm sure we've got time in the same jets. Scary, huh.

Spent quite a bit of time keeping that bird in the sky with VA-176
(never flew in one - just spent a good chunk of my life working on
them). Was one of my favorite birds - flew it's first check flight for
the Navy (per the log book) about two months before I was born.

Pechs,

You will be happy to know that Felix adorns the tails of F-14Ds

JD


"Pechs1" wrote in message
...
Owl- 1) You don't know what "old" is (or feels BRBR

Or all the squadrons you were in or ships you served on were decommisioned

VF-33, VF-151, VF-31, VF-101(F-4), VF-171, VX-4, VF-126, USS Forrestal,
Independence, Midway...

Not sure if VF-31(F-14) is gone or not...
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye
Phlyer

Jake- You will be happy to know that Felix adorns the tails of F-14Ds
BRBR

That's good news...are they slated to get the 'Bug'??
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

Woody,

149484, a KA-6D, January 1990.

For what it's worth -

According to my A-6A/B/C NATOPS, at that time (1974) 149484 was "not in
fleet use" and not even a A, B or C. A number of its production-mates were
/ were being converted to EA-6As at the time, so it's possible that this one
was sitting around at Grumman, in mod to become queer or in reserve. BTW,
149484 was No. 18 off the A-6 production line at Grumman. At that time all
of the EA-6As were conversions from among the first ~90 straight As
produced.

The "seniormost" A-6 in my logbook is 149950 (No. 36 off the production
line), an AFC 200 A-6A at the time. Flew it first in 1972 as a FRBN in
VA-128, who then foisted it onto we Lizards for our 1973 cruise.

Even weirder to think I'm now flying them against guys who graduated
college in 2000.

Curt Seth, an LCDR on AIRPAC staff is screening for command. He was a
little kid running around in his Dad Roy's yard on the Rock when Roy and I
were Lizards together. When the kids of your shipmates are screening for
(and getting) command, you tend to look in the mirror just a bit longer.

Can't impress these kids because most of them don't know anything smaller
than KITTY HAWK class.

I have a slightly different take on this. My Dad, a Naval aviator from
1940 - 1965, and Mom attend Tailhook every year. He runs around the exhibit
area wearing a F-4U sweatshirt. It's a sure-fire conversation-starter. He
finds the "kids" as interested in that era of Naval aviation as he is in
what's currently happening with them.

One of the more poignant things at each year's Tailhook Reunion Luncheon are
the recognition awards for the old-timers, including "most straight-deck
traps" and "earliest date of designation," among others. Most of these guys
can still taxi under their own power, too, which is remarkable since they're
all in their 80s - early 90s. THAT'S impressive!

Owl sends.
--
Mike Kanze

"I never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back."

- Zsa Zsa Gabor


"Doug "Woody" and Erin Beal" wrote in message
...
On 12/1/03 1:05 PM, in article , "Mike
Kanze" wrote:

Woody,

What is "old?"

1) You don't know what "old" is (or feels) until you see a bird whose
BuNo
adorns several of your logbook entries sitting in a museum somewhere.
In my
case: KA-6D, BuNo 152910, now sitting forlornly in the back lot of the
Western Aerospace Museum at Oakland airport. Just a bunch of aluminum
held
together by a bazillion coats of paint. Tanker package still installed,
though.

2) When I went through VT-10 as a SNFO in 1969, the flight syllabus
consisted of several low-level visual nav hops about the south Alabama
countryside in the squadron's fleet of venerable C-45 / SNB
"Bugsmashers."
The VT-10 CO had the following painted above the pax hatch on each of
these
birds: "NFO Trainer - Built 194X," with the "X" variable indicating the
exact year of manufacture.

Oldest "Secret Navy Bomber" in his fleet was one built during the third
Roosevelt administration. All of these tired birds were older that the
students using them, and in many cases, the instructors teaching in them
too. The Skipper always made sure that this fact was explained to each
visiting Poo-Bah - especially anyone from Washington or having anything
to
do with Naval appropriations.

Owl sends.

Owl,

What a hoot! (No pun intended.) And no question... You'll always be
older
than me. |:-) But I have some old airplanes too...

149484, a KA-6D, January 1990. The airframe was estimated to be 28 years
old back then. It was still older than me. I think it's a reef now. Got
lots of hops in the one on the stick in Grand Junction too. It used to be
a
China Lake bird. Got time in several 149 BUNO A-6E's when I was a FRP in
VA-128. I'm sure we've got time in the same jets. Scary, huh.

You get the picture. The cycle repeats itself.

Now I read that the Hornet just turned 25? Struck me as ironic that I
can't
get away from old jets (162 series BUNO's in Lot 8's now). Even weirder
to
think I'm now flying them against guys who graduated college in 2000.
Parading my stories of night Intruder traps on LEXINGTON in front of them
wouldn't even be sport any more. Can't impress these kids because most of
them don't know anything smaller than KITTY HAWK class.

--Woody

"Mike Kanze" wrote in message
...
Woody,

149484, a KA-6D, January 1990.

For what it's worth -

According to my A-6A/B/C NATOPS, at that time (1974) 149484 was "not in
fleet use" and not even a A, B or C.

Funny thing happened as I scanned this exchange. I checked my logbook and
I've got two hops in 149484 Feb 14 and 21, 1985. PMCF from rework at NADEP
Norfolk. Have no idea about the history of the airframe, but its the oldest
A-6 variant in my logbook (which includes a handful of EA-6A and the first
flight of the first ever rewing A6-E ... that'll get me a cup of Starbucks
for $6.95).

Well Woody, I tried to hide it from you, son. But I occasionally flew
something other than a fast mover.

R / John (AKA Masher, former fighter ... phighter? ... pilot)