Helicopters:
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For more information on the Boeing MH-47E Chinook, click HERE.
Me
Ramp-Riding on a CH-47D in
A crew chief ramp riding with me in
Improper use of the teeth! Teeth are for chewing, not
tearing duct tape! At least, that's what the dentist said.
Boeing CH-47D at
Same CH-47D taking off. What a beautiful sight.
Some Aerial Refueling Shots:
Checking out the HC-130 Tanker:
Getting ready for the plug-in:
Contact, and into the refueling position.
This is the "easy" part:
Airplanes:
Airplanes? I can only WISH I had
a real airplane at this point. I got my Commercial Helicopter/Instrument
Helicopter license in July of 1990, at which time I really wanted to get my
airplane ratings. After a few years of dilly-dallying around, I completed my
Commercial Airplane Single Engine Land and Instrument Airplane ratings in
August of 1994, Since that time, I haven't flown a whole lot, since it became
quite expensive once VA quit paying for 60% of my flight time. Every once in a
while, I break the surly bonds and fly. The planes I flew for my ratings are
Piper PA 28-140 Cherokees rented from Aviation Scene of Killeen, at Killeen
Municipal Airport (ILE). My realistic dream airplane is a decent Cessna 182
with fixed landing gear. Realistic because the annuals and insurance are
reasonable (no retractable landing gear to mess with), but it still cruises
pretty good with the constant speed prop, and they are pretty reasonable prices
used. Will I really ever get one? That remains to be seen. Kind of depends on
how the ol' mutual funds hold out for the next few years.
Gyroplanes:
Just today (
Lately, I've thought a little more seriously about getting into ultralight type airplanes (kitbuilt), or kit gyroplanes, which seem to be a little less costly to get into. Considering that I just want to slip the surly bonds every once in a while, I'm beginning to think that may be the way to go. Within a year, I should have the verdict (I'll know if I'm going to make CW3 by that time!).
20 Sep 97: The list for CW3 came out a couple of days ago, and I'm on it, and I figure I'll get promoted around March of 1998. Guess I'll have to start thinking a little more seriously if I want to buy a kit, now!!!
Some pictures of the Air & Space 18A Gyroplanes, like I trained in for my rating:
Pictures of home:
Here are a couple of aerial shots of my parents' home in Lucas, Texas. If you look REALLY close, my sister is by the road, my dad is in the front yard by the driveway, and my mom is on the front porch watching me fly around (you have to look REALLY close, though!). This was on my long cross-country solo flight from Killeen, TX, to Oklahoma City, OK. Quite a fun day (not to mention expensive)!!
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