Flyin' around the sandbox.

A place for discussion of off topic subjects. Pretty much anything goes - just keep it civil, please!

Moderators: Kid, Casey 65

User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

Trip 134, Summer 2016, Bahrain

276 - “Can you leave for another flight? It’s with a reserve crew, and their crew chief had other commitments.” Turns out the copilot did as well, so call up a favorite copilot from the Japan trip to ride along reservist and active duty rainbow mix style.

Image

277 - Back to the desert. Again.

Image

278 - Something big hit there.

Image

279 - Non OCD desert farming.

Image

280 - Random abandoned airport with not a thing around.

Image

281 - Aww dick. “Chief!” “Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.” Actually, it’s not that big of a deal out in the system. I have a pin kit that isn’t that hard to disable the thrust reverser and its opposite paired motor on the other wing. Then the engine that has the problem I put 14 bolts in all three thrust reverser cowlings to physically keep the doors from moving. Only penalty is a longer stopping distance having to rely on only two engines and more brakes to stop after landing.

Image

282 - Beachfront Gulf property.

Image

283/284 - Fancy with money in the bank.

Image

Image

285 - Picture in picture!

Image

286 - Aperture Priority, f/4.0, 28mm, ISO 100, 2sec

Image

287 – Ready to load on a hot sticky night.

Image

288 – Fueled and waiting on cargo.

Image

289/290 - Stunning sunrise.

Image

Image

291 - Full service window licker.

Image

292 - Windows cleaned, gas in the tank, let’s go fly!

Image

293 - So even though I still have a flip phone, I’m moving into this era with an Ipad Pro. Laptop had died, and I replaced it with an Imac at home, but still would like to have something out on the road with me, so let’s see if I can learn a touch screen. How do you make this thing work?

Image

294 - Decent picture taker too.

Image

295 - Headin’ home, and I wonder what the next trip will be?

Image
Last edited by adrianspeeder on February 20, 2022, 11:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

...
Last edited by adrianspeeder on February 20, 2022, 11:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

Had a day off today to knock out the next few trips worth of photos from last summer, but also worked on some new material as well. Switching gears for a minute for a current observation.

The Bagram Bowl. Few other places in the world test men, or machine, on both sides of the trigger, with one of the most challenging approaches and departures for heavyweight airlift. Millions of years of terrain with thousands of years of fighting stack into that one possible shot being a golden BB. Everyone staring closely at the view looking for a smoke trail of a rocket with the motors at max fighting for every foot to get as far above as fast as we can. Sharp eyes looking out mix awe inspiring views with threats to livelihood, but our greatest risk is also own doing. The greatest safety of a crew driven airplane is when the sum of the parts equals greater than the whole. “Hey man, will you double check that …” “Where are we on completing this …” “Can you remind me for …” “How can I help you do …” “What do you think about …” And the possible scenarios list on to get one more load in and out and over the mountain. Ya know, this place wouldn’t be bad for a ski resort, but gotta stop 4000 years of fighting first. ‘Till next flight, - Adrianspeeder

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

Trip 135, Summer 2016, Djibouti

296 - Well big surprise after a day off to mow the lawn, and pack the laundry up, lets head back to Africa.

Image

297 - Copilots pushing buttons! So many to choose from, so we watch closely.

Image

298 - It’s like herding cats.

Image

299 - 2 out of these 3 are broke.

Image

300 - C-17’s sexy sister the MD-11.

Image

301 - Training in progress.

Image

302 – Paid to watch the world go by.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

311 - “Good safety RACM. Punch it!”

Image

312 - Launch the fleet!

Image

313 - After almost 10 years of wearing the same Casio watch, I was swimming in the Mediterranean at our crew rest stop in Italy, and noticed it filled with water. “Hey copilot, when was the last shuttle from the beach back to the hotel?” “No idea chief.” “Screw it, let’s keep drinkin’.” Ended up having the bartender drive us back at last call, but I still need a time piece on the airplane for all my paperwork. Preferably one that shows two times at once for local and Zulu. Only thing an Italian watch shop the next morning down the road from the hotel that fit the bill was a throwback to 1993. “Hey, I won’t have to divide fuel quantity numbers in my head anymore back at the refuel panel. Win!”

Image

314 - I was asked on another page how we can do 24-hour duty days, and this right here is where it happens. Top bunk is for the augmented loadmaster, bottom bunk is for the augmented pilot, and I’m left with the floor of the crew rest area behind the flight deck at the top of the stairs down to the cargo compartment. Not too bad of a spot with a small air mattress, but just don’t step on me!

Image

315 - One more homebound ocean crossing sunset. Where are we going next? Aperture Priority, f/3.5, 28mm, ISO 1600, 1/15.

Image
Last edited by adrianspeeder on February 21, 2022, 8:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

...
Last edited by adrianspeeder on February 21, 2022, 8:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
shipwrecked
Posts: 1457
Joined: December 29, 2012, 10:06 pm
Location: Yorktown VA
Contact:
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by shipwrecked »

How many flight hours you have? I know pilots like to count theirs... our coastie air crews count theirs...

We sea faring folks count our sea time in years, not hours.... I have 9 years.
The months may change, but I am always APRIL
'63 F100 Custom Cab 223inline 6, 3speed manual- mostly stock
https://www.youtube.com/coastiereid
Truck has been home in CA,OR,WA,NJ,VA since it's birth in San Jose Jan63
User avatar
ThinLizzy13
Posts: 763
Joined: October 5, 2012, 5:29 am
Location: Catskills NY
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by ThinLizzy13 »

Nice pics man. I spent some time running around in the hills of that Bagram bowl. Felt bad for those pilots flying in and out - one combat type landing was enough for me lol.
'63 F100 223 3OT
‘20 F150 XL
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

shipwrecked wrote:How many flight hours you have? I know pilots like to count theirs... our coastie air crews count theirs...

We sea faring folks count our sea time in years, not hours.... I have 9 years.
One week ago when I did my last batch of post-mission paperwork I was at 2432.3 hours.
ThinLizzy13 wrote:Nice pics man. I spent some time running around in the hills of that Bagram bowl. Felt bad for those pilots flying in and out - one combat type landing was enough for me lol.
Thanks for your work! The less people that can shoot at us, the better we are over the hills.



Adrianspeeder
Last edited by adrianspeeder on February 23, 2022, 10:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

Trip 136, Fall 2016, Colorado

001/006 – Next trip was a nice change of pace to a training line out in Colorado. High altitude practice of low level terrain following is a tricky bitch sometimes, but gets some great pictures and views. First stop was in Kansas for Army Guard training of loading vehicles at Manhattan Regional Airport.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

007 – A favorite character from a dollar rider flight a while ago is back with me again, but he’s sharper now, and harder to trick.

Image

008 – What is this? The WMCA?

Image

009 – C-17 groupie? I actually don’t remember her story, as she wasn’t on our crew, but hung around the jet for loading and engine start.

Image

010 – The fire department showed up for training, and I’m always happy to show egress and entry operation of the jet to all that could someday have to pull my ass out in an emergency. He was asking about fuel fire load, and eyes got big when I said a full tank of gas could be 36,000 gallons.

Image

011 – Four turnin’ up tight. Let’s go earn money!

Image

012 – Back to high altitude training while out of breath in Colorado.

Image

013 – The mission and metal is meaningless without the men to make it happen.

Image

014/017 – Colorado mountain views.

Image

Image

Image

Image

018 – “Attack the mountain with flying knife hands.”

Image

019 – This didn’t come out as cool as it looked from the air.

Image

020 – High altitude low level terrain following training time! Pull them ‘belts up tight.

Image
Last edited by adrianspeeder on February 23, 2022, 10:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

021/022 – “Copilot’s aircraft.” Take ‘er down Lt!

Image

Image

023 – Middle of nowhere somewhere.

Image

024 – Tricky approach and departure of Gunnison – Crested Butte Regional Airport. Elevation of 7680 foot has a painful slow spool up of the motors on a go around.

Image

025 – “You got this friend!”

Image

026/030 – Later that day at Colorado Springs there was a forecast of skies partly sunny with a 100 percent chance of aluminum overcast.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

031/035 – There’s a storm brewin’ up!

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

036/040 – Gassed up and back to VFR in the Rockies.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Last edited by adrianspeeder on February 25, 2022, 12:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

041 – Tall pointy thinger in sight. Official tech speak.

Image

042 - 600 feet above the ground at 8500 feet in the air.

Image

043 - Low level views of beautiful country.

Image

044 – Beauty of a view.

Image

045 – Watch out for that tree.

Image

046-050 - Low level views of beautiful country.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

051 – Watch out for that bunny hill at 12000 feet. “Powers in. Visual.” At this altitude the motors take over a half a minute to spool up, so the power has to be planned ahead of time, or else we don’t have it available.

Image

052-054 - Low level views of beautiful country.

Image

Image

Image

055 – Next trench to go dive down in. Gotta be a kickass show on the ground screamin’ by at 500 feet.

Image

056 – Dropping by for a BBQ.

Image

057 – Do good work Lt, we’re counting on you.

Image

058 – Just li’l bit of angle of the dangle. More to come.

Image

059 – Kickass views.

Image

060 – Chase and taste the rainbow.

Image
Last edited by adrianspeeder on February 28, 2022, 9:13 am, edited 2 times in total.
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

061 – Boss man driving time.

Image

062 – Damn rainbow just seems to keep out of reach.

Image

063 – Mostly sunny with a chance of aluminum overcast skies.

Image

064-065 – Back down in the ditches. Nice that we don’t have people shooting at us here.

Image

Image

066 – Rocky Mountain High.

Image

067 – Terrain. Terrain. “Wooooeeeee! Here we go.”

Image

068 – Finally getting around the rainbow.

Image

069 – Hold on to your butts, she’s gonna dance!

Image

070 – To the moon!

Image

071 – Hold on to your butts, she’s gonna dance!

Image

072 – Put ‘er on the floor.

Image

073 – Back to the moon!

Image

074-075 – With the Sun setting, we are done for the day.

Image

Image

076 – Seems legit.

Image

077 – Preflight for takeoff time.

Image

078 – Hi friends!

Image

079-080 – Alright CO, it’s been real.

Image

Image
Last edited by adrianspeeder on March 2, 2022, 12:08 am, edited 2 times in total.
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

...
Last edited by adrianspeeder on February 28, 2022, 9:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

...
Last edited by adrianspeeder on March 2, 2022, 12:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

...
Last edited by adrianspeeder on March 2, 2022, 12:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

Highs and lows.
I was happy to have left working in the desert, but sad to have left work still to be done. I was thankful to have gotten a rest in Germany, but regretted to not have met with all my friends there. I was excited to hear of an unscheduled early flight that would directly to Dover, but somber to find out the priority cargo was a Dignified Transfer of a fallen Navy Seal. I was proud to have worked the airplane's issues for an on time takeoff, but emotional to tears as his friends carried the flag draped transfer container down the ramp. Combat aviation is like nothing else in the world. We work the sum of all skills for the safe landing, but then curse the ground for holding us until the following time in the air. Looking to the next flight saying, "Best job I ever had."

Home after a 106 day trip to the beach with no water.

Image

Adrianspeeder
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

Half way, equal time point, mid way, half time, middle of the road, straddling the fence, or all downhill from here. Anyway you say it, 10 short years have been racked up today answering the question of, “What do you do?” with, “I’m in the Air Force.” While I’ve had the most epic trips around the world 100 plus times to 44 states, and 56 countries on 6 continents, more importantly there have been countless friends I’ve made working C-17s. It all started on May 15 2007 with flight 413 and 414 coming together to kick it off. I’m honored next week to be able to reenlist again.

Adrianspeeder
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

Ten years was last week, and this was the third time I put the hand in the air. Hope to be able one more time in four years.



https://youtu.be/N-2Tr7uurKA

Adrianspeeder
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

After some tech difficulties, got a second angle. Going on camping NASCAR vacation this week, so I'll be back to posting the next batch of edited photos when I return to the land of internets.



Image

Adrianspeeder
Image
User avatar
adrianspeeder
Posts: 504
Joined: August 6, 2006, 8:09 am
Location: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
United States of America

Re: Flyin' around the sandbox.

Post by adrianspeeder »

Image

Well friends, hit a goal on today's mission of 2500 hours in the air. I'd like to thank all the crews that have driven me this far.

Adrianspeeder
Image
Post Reply