First flight

[daveleau]

As some of you may know, I just finished with training and am now flying in a real B-52 squadron (20th Bomb Squadron). Well, Monday was the beginning of inprocessing. My first day was long and full of briefings and uneventful. The next day was slated to be more of the same until my flight commander came in and asked if I'd like to fill in on a sortie where the Nav was sick. Of course, I jumped at the chance, even though I did not knowing what the sortie profile was or anything. I just wanted to be back in the air after such a long holiday. Well, I had already missed a lot of the mission planning for the sortie, so I felt out of the loop. And then I found out that the sortie did not cover just one or two topics, but everything (and I mean everything) I learned in training and included the one thing I missed out on in training because of a weather cancellation. We had several different types of weapons to employ, a fight with some fighters, 3 timing problems and night air refueling. Shees! The sortie went very well, though. It is a testament to the training and how good it is. Let me tell you that American tax dollars are not being wasted in this regard. We have the best training in the world and that is why we are the power that we are today. Other countries might have superior equipment (ie some Russian fighters outperform some US fighters in some situations), but as with Korea, Vietnam and every other conflict since WWII, our training is what sets us apart. I was hoping for a good first impression on my first sortie, and I think that I left my flight-mates with one. I just need to make sure I don't get complacent if I have a few other good sorties in the coming weeks.

Well, I hope everything is going well with everyone. I am not trying to gloat by saying this, but I hope everyone has a chance to work in a field that they love as much as I love flying in the BUFF.

Have a great rest of the week,
Dave

[brandon184]

Sweet.

I'm glad you're doing what you love... Sounds like a blast.

[nunyadam]

I'm glad you enjoy working in the "BUFF". I hope all goes well for you in the future, By the way my oldest sister works in "LUST" (E.P.A. speak for Large Underground Storage Tanks.)

That's so cool, Dave. It's wonderful to hear about what you're doing and your love of it and heartening that you with more inside info than many of us might have, give high marks to our military in training. We know you guys are good, it's just good to hear it from you, too

If it's what you love doing then I hope you get to fly more and enjoy each time out more than the last.

Be safe, have fun, and Thanks for being there. Say hi to Wendy

[The Real Bingo]

Thats awesome Dave. I find airplanes very fascinating, so when you encounter more situations, please share. I will most definately read. Good luck, sir.

[vass0922]

Congrats dave

What no pics?!

Good stuff. Have a blast up there. Pun intended.

[Quidam]

Clear skies and calm air to you.

[Optimus Prime]

Nice one Dave.

But, er, the SAS are the most trained force in the world if we are being general.

You just have a lot of ammo, my sister's fioncee Carl (who is in the British Army) wonders how you guys lug it around!

[RedFury]

Really big planes Optimus!

So, what's it like getting up there in the big guy? I've always been fascinated with the B17 and if I had had the money, would have jumped at the opportunity to take a ride in one last summer...