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Finally some more pix
OK, here are the promised photos. My internet connection finally lasted long enough to pull them together. Today was a pretty good day as well. I flew this morning while the ship transited a very busy, restricted waterway. It started out as a busy flight, investigating all kinds of surface contacts around the ship. Later in the day (after the flight), I went up to the bridge to observe the Officer of the Watch and his team drive the ship through this tight navigational problem. The observation was another "check in the box" for me as I work to earn my Command Duty Officer qualification on this deployment. The CDO qual is not something I must have as a pilot, but it's considered a must for pilots to be considered for future command. We have several evolutions on the ship we must either observe or participate in, to learn about how the ship operates (beside the flight deck stuff that we already know) and how to drive the ship. A little taste of the surface navy world. Otherwise known as "aviation appreciation days". I am just as thankful for the job that I have as I am for the job that I don't have! The qual is just one more goal to work toward. Fortunately the ship is pretty cooperative and we have several guys in the airwing that are in the same boat (pun painfully intended. insert gufaw here). Keep in mind the pictures below are chronological (mostly) from yesterday (except for the first picture which was still on my memory stick from a few days ago). I think they tell a story by themselves, but feel free to ask any questions. I'll do my best to make up answers.
(obtw, I updated the Care Package Ideas entry)
Preflight at sunrise on a recent morning.
Going from a cool ready room to a hot humid flight deck will cause your lense to fog up!
All Clear on the Firing Line! Shooting off the fantail.
Scott on the ready...
Aim...
Fire!
617 ready for takeoff (note the PC and his trainee in front)
Arming just before launch
Lifting, Spot 5.
On The Go, checking in for plane guard.
The "Helo Hole" where helicopters wait to go flying
In a turn, looking for winds to recover fixed wing aircraft.
Steadied out, clear the Landing Area!
COD on final. "Greyhound ball"
OK 3-wire?
A little trouble getting the wire to release from the hook.
Folding wings and turning
Retracting the wire
Turning clear of the LA. Unload that mail!!
Chilling out in my room after a long day.
4 comments:
Between the mustache and rifle in your hands, you look pretty mean! Remind me not to mess with you - like bringing another dog home. *smirk* Thank you so much for the pictures!!!
~Janell
Great pictures. You look very comfortable with a rifle in your hand. The LT beside you looked like she had never touched one.
Kaitlin "liked" your haircut. I heard a loud "WHOA" out of Alec when he saw it.
What was the AO arming? The only thing I could think of was chaff buckets, but shouldn't that have been done earlier?
Nice picture of the SPN-46 antenna. I was able to explain to Mel that the antenna in the picture is the system we certify when I go to the ship. It put a nice visual to my job.
Looks like you have carpet in your room.
Great pictures and great mustache Scott.
Rich,
Funny you should comment about having never touched the M-16. We had several LT's who never had shot the M-16 before! Can you believe getting to this point in their career, as a mid-grade LT, never having shot the M-16? I was shocked.
Sure enough, AO3 was arming the dispenser buckets on the tail. All arming pins are pulled just prior to takeoff (even after the chocks are pulled).
Your welcome for the SPN-46 photo. I just thought I had some stupid antenna in the way of my photo subject! :) Pardon my ignorance.
Yeah, my roommate scavanged a carpet scrap that fit perfectly in our room back on C2X. It's obviously light colored, and it's not holding up too well under the black crud we bring back down off the flight deck on our boots. I have some Resolve. I just need to find a scrub brush to do some spot work.
Glad the kids are enjoying my new look. :) It won't last, I assure you.
-Scott
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