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| Old Snow |
Today I stayed busy, straight through lunch. A new project, learning new things, making new mistakes. For that is how we learn.
I suppose.
The week has had it's ups and downs. Sleepless nights, long days.
The death of a pilot in the high mountains over the weekend near Naval Air Station Fallon leaves me worried. The WSO left there not long ago, she and her wing will be heading back soon. And then out to sea again. I worry.
His name has not been released yet, except to the family. They are experiencing that sudden pain, then the aching dullness which follows. When will we wake up from this, they and many before have wondered.
Big Time is teaching the fledglings the mysteries of the Rhino down in Key West. Inexperienced pilots, fast jets. While he's good, very good, I worry.
Naval aviation is a small community. While its joys are many, the dangers are not very far away. Forget that at your peril.
There has been too much death lately. Too many memories of death. This time of year is hard.
While driving home there was just a hint of snow in the air. When I pulled into the driveway, there were light flakes dancing in the cold air. It cheered me. As I've mentioned before, I like the snow. (But in moderation, of course!)
Spring is close. The cardinals are starting to sing in the mornings. We see quite a few of them this time of year.
The darkness of winter is starting to recede, I pray it takes my dark mood with it.
Ups and downs, we have them.
Yep.
ReplyDeleteThis is one I don't know how to address. I had many near misses. Me and an F-5 Aggressor passed within 10 feet of each other. In another close one, I banked left coming over a ridge line. Thankfully so did the RF-4C coming the opposite way. We passed belly to belly within wingspan. It's a dangerous occupation. I relied on a higher being protecting me (AKA God) and a certain fatalism that it wouldn't happen to me and if it did, I'd never know. Hardest day of my USAF career was being Supervisor of Flying at a Cope Thunder in the PI and hearing calls on Guard to knock it off. I was a Flight Commander and two members under my command, flying in different flights had seen the same bogeys from opposite side and turning to engage, had hit each other. The lack of clearance was absolutely minimal. One survived. the other didn't. The elevator of the first passed through the canopy of the second decapitating him. The first did not even know of his involvement until he landed.
ReplyDeleteBeing a fighter pilot is a risky business. One must rely on luck and Devine intervention. All we can do is pray for the Devine Intervention part. And I do.
Sorry, Divine not Devine
DeleteReminds me of the book God Is My Copilot by BGen Scott. I haven't read that since I was a kid, need to revisit that book.
Delete