Bored while recovering from a recent surgery, I "googled" a bit and found a picture of an A-4 from a squadron in which I used to fly (VMA-324).

I can't believe that I used to get paid to do this!.... It's a beautiful picture of a masterfully designed and long-lived little airplane that performed well above any original expectations.

Not a day passes that I don't pine for the tiny little a/c that was a pure joy to fly.

Judge,

I always heard that the Skyhawk was a fun little bugger. I'd have liked to flown one.

Judge,

Thank You for your service!!

Great airplane, I always wanted to fly the A-6B Intruder, but do to flunking out of College, bad eyes and feet, I had to go the Civil route. Now my eyes are fixed, my feet are still bad, but I do fly. I still can't do Calculus but I never claimed to be perfect.

Semper Fi JudgeG!

I never had the privilege to fly in any of our fighter/attack aircraft. I tried but have 20/25 vision. So I decided the next best thing was to work on them. I was an intermediate level Power Plants mechanic at MCAS Yuma, AZ. I worked on the J52 engines for VMA-311 and VMA 214 just before they converted to AV8B's. I loved to see the A4's flying. Removing the engines was always entertaining too. My primary MOS was for Harrier power plants.

Speedy recovery brother!

I reckon you guy who fly jets and everything that entails - (esp) landing on carriers etc must be nothing short of Gods.......... I battle to land a bloody Cessna or a Kitfox on a long tar runway......

If there was an Olympic medal for bad landings, I'd get a gold in it. I'm not too bad on everything else, but my landings are truly horrendous!

Practice, practice, practice. That's the secret.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
I battle to land a bloody Cessna or a Kitfox on a long tar runway......

Cheer up, you have the worst of it.

A sealed runaway is the worse thing for a light plane, esp. in hot weather, and x-winds, gusts and esp. with high wings. Low wingers may float for ages on hot tar but I just dump all the flap.
Watch you don't lift the gear instead though.

Now if you "arrived" like they do on a carrier,
you'd likely need a crash wagon.
Besides,THEY have "indications" on how to approach, and just keep going until the deck stops 'em. Then full power in case they need another go. (What a lerk.)

Yeah, a grass strip, fairly short, uphill maybe and no go-arounds possible, gets your attention all set for a greaser.

Another way to land well is pitch black night using only runway lights. What you can't see you don't worry about.

Well Judge why don't you get one for the weekends...!!

While back I saw a Zero-Timed F100D for sale (my father flew them). The price was in reach then but waaaay to expensive to operate. Now I wish I'd have bought the beast and put it in storage for another time...

Shakari:

Right after I got out of the Marine Corps and entered law school, I bought and sold a series of light aircraft. During the summer, I'd find a tail dragger and fly it up to Alaska and sell it, luckily, always making enough money to get back.

Before I'd sell the a/c, I'd do a magical mystery tour about the mountains, tundra and bush of our number 50 49th. With all seriousness, I believe that some of the strips bush pilots fly out of...

(that assumes they made it in )... were just as difficult an environment as a carrier deck.

Serious bush flying isn't for casual pilots!

I believe that would be the 49th state JudgeG

Just

Seriously, I thank you for your service and I always enjoy your recounting of the hunts you have been on.

John

Dang... I really meant the 57th state!... or should that be on the political forum

Always wondered where those palm trees came from??? Thanks for the correction. I fixed it.

quote:

I'd find a tail dragger and fly it up to Alaska and sell it, luckily, always making enough money to get back.

What a great idea! I will have to try this some day!

Flying along the AlCan Highway is a fun, fun thing. Once, I flew in about a 1000 foot ceiling when we took off. At times, the road would go up into the clouds and I could see it emerge 10 miles away. I'd just dip down a bit into the canyon and follow the stream bed, occasionally scattering moose or sheep. Dang was that cool.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
I reckon you guy who fly jets and everything that entails - (esp) landing on carriers etc must be nothing short of Gods.......... I battle to land a bloody Cessna or a Kitfox on a long tar runway......

If there was an Olympic medal for bad landings, I'd get a gold in it. I'm not too bad on everything else, but my landings are truly horrendous!

Shakari,

Having been a flight instructor for over 20 years I'll tell you right now what the problem is with your landings.

The problem is that you haven't taken me hunting.

I'll trade you one hunt and I promise you that you'll be landing your Cessna or your kit fox as smooth as a fine lasses butt within the confines of a postage stamp. If it doesn't work for you on the first time out we can always arrange another hunt.

In all seriousness the secret to a smooth landing in anything from a Kitfox to a jumbo jet is speed control and holding the airplane off until it lands itself. Your job is to hold the wheels six inches off the ground and don't let them touch. The airplane will do the rest.

Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
Flying along the AlCan Highway is a fun, fun thing. Once, I flew in about a 1000 foot ceiling when we took off. At times, the road would go up into the clouds and I could see it emerge 10 miles away. I'd just dip down a bit into the canyon and follow the stream bed, occasionally scattering moose or sheep. Dang was that cool.

Judge,

I've been up the Alcan three or four times I've also been up the trench and a bunch of times up the inland water way on the west side.

Next time you go if the weather is good do the trench. It is awesome!

I took an old beater 180 up there and carried 12 extra gallons of fuel. I landed on a little dirt strip about half way up refueled and spent the night under the wing. The next day I flew into Whitehorse, Northway and down to Anchorage all at about 500 AGL and under.

The weather was perfect. Talk about scenic overkill!!

What a fantastic trip. That's one I wish I'd done.

quote:

Another way to land well is pitch black night using only runway lights. What you can't see you don't worry about.

Ain't that the truth! Dundo, Angola all over again. I still get chills.