USAF Wake-up call
 

Just had a visit from two F-18s. They came directly over the top of our house at about 1000 feet ,or less, altitude heading SW. Talk about rattling windows, and flash backs.

We are near the easterly flight path for the Eugene airport. We thought maybe an Airliner was going down at first. Our dog headed for cover and I found my Wife standing frozen in the kitchen. I've never seen her eyes that big before.

Not sure where they were heading, we're not having any big events or air shows nearby.. :confused:

Probably chasing them UFO's out that way!

F/18's are Navy/Marines, not Air Force. Hornets & Super Hornets; Navy should have the Super Hornets (about $20M more each); Marines the Hornets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonne..._F/A-18_Hornet

Canada has F/18's...Maybe the Canucks are invading???

Sound of freedom :)

Personally I miss the ack-ack of helo's - the huey has a certain sound, the Blackhawk still sounds and flies good, but not as nice.

Never took pictures when I was in - just took pictures much later :)

I work on H60 pave hawks im a crew cheif. helicopters are much more pleasant compared to the pissed off lawn darts...(jets). But yes I agree sound of the rotors beating the crap out of the air is a pleasant sound watching one break ground after a major over haul amazes me everytime. Literally would have it in pieces for 30 days and back mission ready on the 31st give or take.

Nothing I remember about Viet Nam was sweeter than a Cobra directly overhead and it raining hot brass.

Ron, from your discription they were at 500 feet or less. Bill

I suspect there is one sweeter sound...the sound of a Slick hauling your shot-up carcass back to a medical unit.

They're coming to get you Ron!!

Mike:roflmao:

I wasn't referring to Jerry as the "shot up carcass". I meant any grunt that had served his country well and now had a chance to live another day because some Duster came in under the protection of gunships (or not) and carried him back to get the aid he needed.

Ron, Yes! Fortunately I never had the pleasure of hearing that sound under those conditions but I agree..the sound of a dust off coming in to take you out must have been sweet indeed.

To add to Ron's post we often have aircraft of all types scream through here at treetop level and well below us! We live on a pretty severe mountain and often we look down on them! If they are just right you can see the pilots looking around. You have to be outside when they go over because it's just seconds and they are gone! Apparently we are on a favorite path for them to fly along our mountain range. We call it the sound of freedom.

Where we live in Yuma AZ the sound of jets is almost a constant with the gunnery range just a few miles away and the Marine Corps Air Station in downtown Yuma.

The UH-1H that I work on early in the morning. I have to admit I'm not fond of the sound, however. It just means more work for me!
Marc

I did a fair share of mountain and Hill walking in Scotland years back. A very rugged and remote country. Just when I thought I was miles and miles from any sort of civilization camped all by myself in some beautiful glen......over my head just a couple of hundred feet whizzed by a british jet doing close combat maneuvers. Completely broke any calm chain of thought.

I was assigned to the 229th Attack Helicopter Bn 101st AB when I retired. The 229th was a 1st Cav Huey Gunships Company in Nam. There was a book written about them called "Chickenhawk". Loved flying in any slick when the pilot was a Nam vet. Skimmin treetops brought back memories.

For those who have seen the movie, these were 229th Huey slicks... being depicted.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_Lc3EQkyDU

The story behind the lament "Sgt Mackenzie"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._MacKenzie

Listening to the stories yall tell of Vietnam or some other battle and the experiences yall have been thru. I couldn't imagine. my brother was an F-18 mechanic at Beaufort air station when I was in high school. Back then he could get me on base and walk me through the hangers and seeing those awesome jets up close was pretty cool. I have always loved hearing fighter jets flying. My brother told me once that every style jet has a distinctive sound if you know what to listen for. About 10 years ago or so I was in Virginia beach and heard a F-14 tomcat fixing to land. Well that jet definitely had a distinctive sound to it.

other than being interested in lugers as a reason for being on this sight. Hearing everyone's stories about wartime and military related events is always interesting to hear. I'm sure ya'll have seen things that a regular citizen like myself just couldn't imagine. I respect every one of ya'll for that service and duty to our country that ya'll performed. thanks!

Zorba seconds Skeeter's sentiments!

I had two F-18s cut the highway about 100 yards in front of me a week ago. they were LOW, Maybe 200 feet. This was in the middle of the Everglades on SR41 halfway between Miami and Naples. They were going North-South and undoubtedly heading for NAS Key West. I looked up and down the road and realized with a smile that I was the only one out there who saw them pass.

Old Med Evac pilot here, I think you are so correct Ron.

:cheers: My total respect, sir.:thumbup:

Stick jockeys, Spooky, doctors, "NURSES", and artillery....... my sincere love and respect!!!!:cheers:

It's great to see so many Nam vets gathered in one place with the love for the same hobby!!!!! Does my old heart good.

My brother was a rotor wing crewchief in Nam. Based out of Saigon, he was one of the last to fly out before Saigon fell. They flew his Huey to Thailand and turned it over to them along with his weapons and then hopped aboard a TWA as he just jump off his skid. When he got home he found three grenades he forgot about in his duffle. He went out to a local pond and did some fishing. :D

if that was your wake up call, i would hate to hear it the second time after you hit the snooze alarm

Heh...One of the former commanders of my USAFR squadron was a C-130 pilot at the end of the war...He was ordered to turn his aircraft over to the ARVN and evac to CONUS...The only documentation he had available for the transfer was an AF Form 1297 'Temporary Issue Receipt'...He had an ARVN officer sign for the C-130 and left...The 1297 was framed in his office while he was our commander... :D

I signed out a USAF Winter parka on a 1297... :roflmao:

I wasn't around, dad told me about it. My brother tried to make a career out of the Army but he soon found out, peacetime Army was not the same as wartime Army and he couldn't adjust. he was thrown out. I was in almost three years before I was levied for Nam so re-adjustment was easy, especially since I decided to stay with my own kind and we just got on with life. Best dose of medicine I ever took. :thumbup:

Those were the days.....:cheers:

We don't have any Navy or Marine bases around, only Air National Guard or Air Force, so I assumed they were from one of those. I do know that the Air Force was or is considering the purchase of F-18s. They may be taking test flights.

They were defintely F-18s, so possibly from a Carrier operating off the coast. We're only about 60 miles from the Pacific, so it's very possible that they were heading back to a Carrier.

My fondest memory is the sight and sound of A-1 Skyraiders making my day all warm and fuzzy again. And making Chuck's Suck...

I found an Aug 2009 post on this -

http://www.govexec.com/defense/2009/...y-f-18s/29710/

...But don't see any follow-ups...It would be interesting to see what happened to this idea...The F/A-18 has folding wings, talihook, special shock absorbing front wheels, all designed for high-impact carrier landings...I'm sure there are other differences between Navy strike aircraft and land-based fighters/interceptors not needed for land bases...Not to mention training of aircrew & ground personnel & logistical support, repair facilities...Agh...

I was reading just the other day that Navy/Marine F/A-18 carrier jets have a 'towel rack' in front of the pilot, so his non-throttle hand isn't on the 'stick' during catapult takeoffs...If it were, it would be pressed back into his lap at 7G and flip the aircraft on its back... :eek:

"I was reading just the other day that Navy/Marine F/A-18 carrier jets have a 'towel rack' in front of the pilot, so his non-throttle hand isn't on the 'stick' during catapult takeoffs."

They won't launch until the Catapult Officer sees both of the Pilots hands in the air, free of the controls.

So the last action the pilot takes is to slam the throttles forward & grab the 'towel rack'??? Visual confirmation???

Do they launch with afterburners on??? :confused:

My shot up carcass was hauled in aboard a dustoff after beig reeled up under fire on rigid litter. Ship took a lot of hits and held hover.

I had been shot in both legs by a NVA while directing a Cobra on his buddies.

We were in triple canopy and the Snake let loose a bit early. I have a piece of his ordnance still in one lung.

Being young, healthy, and determined, I was back in the field a month later to finish out my
2nd tour.

A 2nd Cobra was knocked down by a .51 while doing a visual recon for me just before this.
Pilot killed, gunner survived.

They were all "Blue Max" from the 17th ARA and had big Pour Le Merites on their mast housings.

I imagine he could have flown that plane to Thailand and gone directly into the air cargo business, as the plane was a write-off!

I was recently down in key west doing some fuel tank inspections at NAS Key west. From what I understand by our contact on base, was that was where the hold the TOP-GUN school at now. There were F/18's and I think F/5's flying around all day the whole week I was there. Some of the F/18's look to have British markings on the tail wing and there style camouflage. The f/5's were the type that was used as the MIG in the movie TOP-GUN with Tom Cruise. Them jokers would scat when they took off.

We did some inspections on part of the base that was on the NW side of the island that was interesting. It was a single building out away from the main road with all these radio antennas. I asked what they were for, but was pretty much told none of your business. And usually we take pictures of the tanks we inspect for reporting purposes, not out there!

That was one of the coolest work related trips I been on doing this kind of work I do. The NAS Key West had the best beach on all of key west in my opinion. It had the bar with a private beach with these little barrier islands that you can swim to. We would each lunch there every day. There was some pretty high ranking officers and pilots , I guess, that were eating lunch in there as well.

What was interesting was the fact that there was an air station there in key west. The time we spent down on duval street and down around all the bars and restaurants, you never once saw a Fighter jet. At least I didn't. The was they flew in and out of the base there were out a view from the tourist down that way.

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I'll be down in Key West the weekend of Sept. 20th. for the largest Charity Poker run in Florida. Something like 20 Thousand bikes will be there. Just found out a Navy Vet friend will be there for his hovercraft unit reunión!
There will be good times!!

You just cant help to have a good time down there. I was there on work related projects, but damn if I wanted to do any work. It was a bit chilly down there for weather when I was there. I guess around 60 or so. There were people all bundled up. I about died laughing. I think is was around November of last year. The weather was great. Definitely wouldn't mind going back and doing a little off shore fishing.

Just watch out for the chickens down there. They are everywhere. I wanted to a picture one day, we were at KFC and there was a couple of chickens on there sidewalk. Cant remember the whole story behind the chickens, but I know it aint a good thing to mess with them. Every morning I felt like I was on a farm when I was a the hotel. Good times!