Sunday, November 22, 2015

The WSO's Ride

VFA-2 Rhino, about to trap aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
This pic was sent to me by the Big E, father of a Rhino pilot who was a squadron mate of The WSO back in her VFA-2 days.

 If you look closely, that WSO is The WSO.

 Yup, that's the Sarge's baby girl at work.

 At least BTM* is pretty sure that's her.

 Looks like her.

 Hey, Dads know these things.

*Big E's son's callsign. Short hand for Big T!tty Mike. Oddly enough, BTM's name isn't Mike. How did he get that callsign? You'll have to ask him.
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20 comments:

  1. (not necessarily your) Uncle SkipNovember 22, 2015 at 10:16 AM

    "Dad's know these things"

    Yep... and a really good radarman can tell on his scope who's in the back seat.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Big ENovember 22, 2015 at 11:19 AM

    Sarge, The WSO gave BTM his call sign, to BTM's mother's chagrin, so you may have to ask her how it was derived. Even worse, he usually just referred to as "Titties" now. Big E

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeNovember 22, 2015 at 11:25 AM

      Wow, I didn't know LUSH was responsible for that.

      I can well imagine Mrs. Big E's distaste for such a callsign.

      Yes, I knew that last bit.

      Thanks again for the pic!

      Delete
  3. Well Seasoned FoolNovember 22, 2015 at 11:20 AM

    Proud papa! (And deservedly so)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeNovember 22, 2015 at 11:27 AM

      Thanks WSF.

      (Also thanks for sparking a memory, I have a rare third post today. It was a dark time but I'm glad you mentioned it before, made me revisit a day I'd sooner forget. But I did like JFK.)

      Delete
  4. juvatNovember 22, 2015 at 3:43 PM

    What's the view out the front like in the back? Looks to me she should have pretty good vis. Enough to land?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeNovember 22, 2015 at 4:29 PM

      Way better than the Phantom, that's for sure.

      I'm sure landing is very doable from the back seat, except that most F models don't have a stick back there.

      Delete
    2. juvatNovember 22, 2015 at 7:23 PM

      Well, that would be problematic, wouldn't it?

      Delete
    3. UnknownNovember 22, 2015 at 7:28 PM

      With lots of time in the backseat of the F4, I'll opine that you could always "slip" a little (tiny bit) to see where the stud had you pointed. But it wasn't the most funnest.

      Delete
    4. OldAFSargeNovember 23, 2015 at 7:33 AM

      @Juvat, yup problematic indeed. The second problem is that most WSOs aren't pilots in the Navy.

      Delete
    5. OldAFSargeNovember 23, 2015 at 7:37 AM

      @Unknown, yeah, you can see a little from around the instrument panel, I do remember that.

      Of course, most of the time when we maintainers were in the back, the seat was removed so we could get to the various things which might require "adjusting" in the back seat. (I spent most of my maintenance time in radar calibration where the back seat was always removed.)

      Delete
    6. juvatNovember 23, 2015 at 2:32 PM

      That is one thing I'm positive the AF did better. I made darn sure every WSO I flew with had the capability to recover the aircraft from unusual attitudes on instruments, could fly an instrument approach and could land the aircraft if needed. If they couldn't after a reasonable time, I didn't fly with them. It was a rare sortie where the WSO didn't get stick time, an overhead or instrument approach.

      Delete
    7. OldAFSargeNovember 23, 2015 at 3:50 PM

      I agree.

      Delete
  5. AnonymousNovember 22, 2015 at 5:12 PM

    BTM's Mom is most definitely not happy with the call sign but most proud of all the men and women at work on the seas and in the air--by the way, his name is Matthew.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeNovember 22, 2015 at 5:45 PM

      Heh. I know his name, truly I do.

      I consider him a friend.

      Delete
    2. Big ENovember 23, 2015 at 8:01 PM

      Sarge, BTM called from Rio yesterday and Mrs.Big E's first question was: "When are you getting a new call sign?" BTM's answer: "Probably never." Big E just grinned.

      Delete
    3. OldAFSargeNovember 23, 2015 at 9:49 PM

      Hahaha!

      Delete
  6. rkinionNovember 22, 2015 at 8:16 PM

    It must be the WSO, I can see the family resemblance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeNovember 23, 2015 at 7:38 AM

      Well, you've seen one member of the tribe in the backseat of the F-4. I'm guessing we just carry ourselves a certain way.

      (I'm also pretty sure she's not making jet noises and pretending to fly. Not saying that I did that. Then again, not saying that I didn't!)

      Delete

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