A Visit to Valiant Air Command
Vacations are to unwind and relax; nothing can relax me more than being in the company of great people and historic aircraft. This is why I always perform an online search for any museums and airfields in the area...
Monthly Archive: July 2011
Fly Navy – The Book
When one thinks of the great aviation photographers of our generation, names like Bowen, Carlson, Dibbs and Hildebrandt come to mind. For years photographers of this caliber have brought the world some of the most riveting aviation photos to ever grace...
Sentry Eagle 2011
The 2011 Sentry Eagle hosted at Kingsley Field located in Klamath Falls Oregon was very much a success as it was the first year the event has been held since 2007 and the 14th time overall. Sentry Eagle was...
Genesseo – The Greatest Show on Turf 2011
Genesseo bills it’s self as the “Greatest Show on Turf” and is located in upstate New York just south of Rochester. I’ve made enough trips to the show to say it’s a good one. When you talk to the...
Dr.Sky Joins Media For Launch Of STS-135/ Shuttle Atlantis
Dr.Sky was given the high honor of being a part of the last space shuttle launch (STS-135), attending as part of the media. This was the first time that I have seen a live launch and memory of the event, will last a lifetime! I had arrived in Florida on July 7th, with poor weather prospects predicted for the Friday morning launch; (11:26AM EDT). Heavy rain was all around us for a good portion of Thursday, July 7th,
Patty Wagstaff’s Second Act – Fire Fighting
When Patty Wagstaff rolls the OV-10A Bronco into a smooth right turn to look at the white smoke below her, she is not above a runway. There are no cheering spectators, no crowd lines, and no ribbon cutting poles. Instead, there are tall trees, rocky hills, and flames. Often, she and her backseater, an air tactical group supervisor, who acts as an air controller, are the first people at a wildfire. Wagstaff will circle well above so her air controller can
Genesseo 2011 Mishaps
Genesseo 2011 had two accidents in which fortunately nobody was seriously injured. As we arrived at the field on Saturday morning about 8:40AM, emergency crews were rolling on a S-35 Bonanza. According to the Sheriffs Department, Leon Rousselle of...
Major General Tom Conant – 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Commanding General
At precisely 0830 hours I was ushered into the office of the Commanding General of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), Tom “Stash” Conant. Major General Conant, dressed in a tan flight suit, took a minute to finish up...
STS-135: The Final Mission
STS-135 MISSION OVERVIEW – Dawn approaches after space shuttle Atlantis completed its historic final journey to Launch Pad 39A from NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building. Atlantis was secured, or “hard down,” at its seaside launch pad at...
Quonset Air Show – Rhode Island’s Famous Air Show
Rhode Island’s Famous Air Show – Although officially known as the “Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show”, local enthusiasts call it by another name – the “Quonset Air Show”. Sponsored by the National Guard Association of Rhode...
Bomber Boneyards – An Early Visit to AMARC
When I visited Tucson’s Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) in early 1993, it was filled to the brim. Hundreds of Boeing B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers, some intact, others looking like the skeletons of deceased animals in the desert, ...
USAF Fighter Weapons School Graduation – Mission Employment 11a
On June1st – June 9th the USAF Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB held its bi-annual graduation exercise, M.E. (Mission Employment) Phase for Weapons School Class 11A. Students prepare over the first 5 months of the course with hundreds...
