Trip 001 Spring 2011 Afghanistan
001/002 - Kickin' back for a day in ole Ramstein on 2011-04-08 on my first ride as an FCC.
003 - Haulin' a big ole forklift unit on 2011-04-08 on my first ride as an FCC.
005 - Cruzin' at FL 320.
006 - Cruzin' at FL 320 as night falls.
007 - Mother Russialand!
008 - No flight suit yet...
009 - 1000 below FL 270.
010 - Who's flyin' this bird? Oh right, all four Flight Control Computers hummin'.
011 – Hero shot.
012 – HUD
013 - Cruzin' smooth.
014/15 - Afghanistan has quite a few high hostile snowy very cold mountains.
016/17 - Yeeeehaw, ring 'er out a little bit of angle and dangle.
018/19/20/21 - Afghanistan has quite a few high hostile snowy very cold mountains.
022/23/24 - See anything down there? Just reach out and touch 'em.
025 – How we roll.
026 - Doin' it fer 'Murica.
027 - The gates of hell ain't far from Kandahar.
028 - A dollar ride story that I will forever remember. We had left Kandahar, gone to our next FOB, and as we were engine starting to leave, the call comes in to head back to Kandahar for a no-notice medivac. A soldier was not an hour or so before hit by a sniper above his armor, in his throat, through his spine, and out the back. Well, myself and the loadmasters had the cargo reconfiged, onboard medivac equipment setup, and ready for the pickup in under 30mins. It didn't look good with all the breathing equipment, and was given a 50/50 on surviving the flight. Amazingly while coming out of anesthesia, the soldier was able to lift his arms and wiggle toes. I packed it full of fuel while the AC got the waiver for weight, and flight plan to push those motors to the redline, and we went as fast as she would go into Germany. The absolutely smoothest landing fell into place where you couldn't tell approach from touchdown and full stop, and he was sped away still holding on.
029 - This better be the smoothest landing ya can swing in...
030 - They told us all his chances were greatly increased being still alive on the ground back in Germany. We all made it happen, and all had a drink for him. Whoever that soldier is, hope you are still doing well. Never knew his name, or how his story turned out, but I like to think our piece of the puzzle all came together and made a mission happen.
On to a happier part of being in Germany...
I spent 2 years in the mid '80s building tooling/fixtures for the C-17 at Douglas aircraft in Torrance CA. ...It's good to know that they are in good hands and doing good things.
