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Praetorium Honoris

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Cuppla Things ...


Though suffering from a flare up of my diverticulitis, I felt that the antibiotics I had onboard, and which I would be downing throughout the week, would be sufficient to keep me on my toes and capable of performing useful work while out in Sandy Eggo. Said place being where I'm at right now. I am surviving, but I ain't blogging, not for now.

At one point in the trip, early on as a matter of fact, I had the impression that the trip was going to be exciting, though short-lived.

Now you may be wondering about that opening photo, which, by the way, is of U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-3 "Dauntless" dive bombers from scouting squadron VS-8 from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) approaching the burning Japanese heavy cruiser Mikuma. Well, therein lies the part of the exciting but perhaps short-lived aspect of the trip out to California.

I departed T.F. Green from Rhode Island on a cloudy morning, bound for Newark where I would connect to Sandy Eggo, after a three hour layover. The day was overcast, the air was very bumpy. There were bands of thunderboomers to the west which might cause me delays getting out of Newark. The ride was indeed bumpy as we climbed to our cruising altitude. Naught of the ground could be seen initially.

As the lower cloud layer began to clear, somewhat, the aircraft dipped its left wing, rather precipitously I thought. There, some 16,000 feet below, was not the Japanese carrier fleet, but what was probably Connecticut. I wondered just what target in Connecticut we were about to dive bomb, for it felt just like that.

The aircraft recovered, momentarily, then the left wing decided to go off on its own again. A passenger somewhere behind me, male, yelled something about making fudge, though preoccupied with thoughts of my own imminent demise, I couldn't be sure. Oddly enough I had a moment of calm, almost preternatural, sense of "Oh well, I've had a good run."

Yup, I seriously thought that my days had come to an end and I was about to become part of Connecticut (at least I would remain in my beloved New England). But nope, the pilot recovered the aircraft and on we went to Newark, none the worse for wear.

As I deplaned, I happened to pass by the flight attendant and one of the flight crew, perhaps the pilot, perhaps the co-pilot, I couldn't be sure. I waggled my hand at the flight attendant, mimicking the motion of the aircraft during our little excursion from level flight, and said, "Well, that was exciting."

The flight attendant gave me a smile and then she said, "Yeah, what was that?"

I believe the flying chap just sort of grimaced at me. He seemed to be not amused.

I wonder why.

Now about that aircraft, relatively new I think, an Embraer 175. Due to the humidity on that day, I expected a bit of condensation from the overhead air ducts when the engines spooled up and the bird went to internal power, I was not disappointed. But what really interested me, is that upon taxiing out and later taxiing in, there was a sound running down the length of the fuselage (over our heads) which sounded very much like small pebbles being poured over us.

The very sound which I understand German U-Boot crews heard when being "pinged" by British ASDIC¹ during World War II. No doubt the last sound many of them heard. I read that somewhere, can't remember where. I've never been pinged in a U-Boot.


No doubt many of you have seen the trailer for the upcoming film directed by Ridley Scott about Napoléon, starring Joaquin Phoenix. For those who have not, I present it for you below.

Many of you might know that I am an aficionado of those times and have read much about the Emperor and his armies and foes. I have to admit, a chill ran up my spine when I first saw this. If the film is anything like the trailer, then I say, "Come October, come quickly."


'Tis a day of rest for me as you read this. We have a day off, a day I plan to spend sleeping and reading, by turns. I am, after six straight long days (one of travel, five of work), exhausted.

To put it mildly.

My friends, I shall be back, probably not until I set foot upon the soil of Little Rhody once more, but I'll be back.

Until then, juvat is up Monday, and Beans is, as always, a real team player who has been pitching in on all the days I should be blogging, but aren't.

Thanks, Beans!




¹ Which is what the Royal Navy called sonar, it was named after the Anti-Submarine Detection Investigation Committee.

38 comments:

  1. Hope nobody in the cockpit dropped an iPad Sarge. That trailer does show promise though.

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    1. Heh, it was a very exciting minute, don't wish to repeat it!

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  2. Oh Geez Nylon, I just saw that yesterday. What a sorry way to go. If you heard pebbles Sarge, my guess would be hail. Hail isn't a friend to any aircraft. Avoidance sounds like the proper path.

    We were coming into Love Field back in the 80's on South West. The pilot basically said "hang on!" He did the most amazing roller coaster run into a smooth landing I've ever been on in a commercial jet. We dodged all the thunderstorms but it was a wild ride. I thanked him for the fun, and told him I felt like giving him a tip. No one else seemed to be amused getting off the plane. But I liked it. A lot.

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    1. We were on the ground, wasn't hail. Probably the cabin pressure shifting the composites from which all things are made these days.

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    2. That was poor reading comprehension on my part. You nailed it, I reckon.

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  3. Well Sarge, we should all be prepared for the end of the run; and for those who cannot say it was a good one, better change things so you can say that.
    Been doing a lot of Midway reading and research for an upcoming presentation. The Hornet Air Group deserved better leadership in that battle. Would that John Waldron had been leading the Group instead of that incompetent popinjay prig Ring. Mitscher later redeemed himself, though his performance probably didn't warrant giving him the opportunity. Those people are all gone now; it's up to us to tell their stories, the good, the bad, and the ugly. You do a great job of that story telling, Sarge and set a good example for the test of us.
    Boat Guy

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  4. Hang in there, Sarge. Just keep telling yourself, "All will be well". - That is the same photo on the cover of "Shattered Sword" which I started re-reading. Most excellent book about the Battle of Midway. - The movie looks great. I believe I will find myself at the big screen theater when it is released this year. - Aircraft stories: one LTC with whom I served was a commercial airline pilot flying MD-90s. Earl was telling me how one time he departed DFW airport and was climbing through 5000' when the plane suffered a total engine failure. He declared an emergency, circled around, and landed safely. As the passengers deplaned, Earl was there to see them off. He said one of the passengers stopped, looked him in the eye, and stated, "Today! Today, you are the world's best effing pilot!" ;-)
    -Barry

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    1. Shattered Sword IS a great book! Did not know there was a movie in the works. Will be awaiting it; hope we're not disappointed.
      BG

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    2. Barry - this one is definitely a theater-going thing!

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    3. BG - I think he was talking about the Napoleon movie. But a movie based on that book, an absolutely fine idea!

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    4. A dead stick landing.???? That IS the world’s greatest pilot. Extraordinarily glad I never had a chance to compete for that title!

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  5. Sarge, I had completely forgotten you were flying from the Northeast. Nighean Gheal was supposed to fly from The Big Big City to the MidWest two weeks ago; her flight ended up getting delayed two full days. Glad you safely arrived.

    The trailer looks great. That said, I have too often been disappointed by the trailer to movie transition.

    Do what you need to do and rest accordingly. We will, of course, be patiently waiting.

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    1. I will say that one portion of the trailer had a rather glaring historical inaccuracy, from what I saw. But hey, it's still Hollywood.

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  6. I might be able to help out this week. I have a few items bouncing around in my head. On another note, have you seen the trailer for Oppenheimer? I like Christopher Nolan's work so I will probably watch.

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    1. I think this will be a year where I go to the cinema more than usual Oppenheimer looks excellent and Cillian Murphy is one of my favorite actors (Dunkirk, Peaky Blinders).

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  7. Onboard radar can warn of avoidable hail, sounds like he avoided the worst, got tagged by the storm spitting at him. Well done, well told. Trailers ... some days I think they spend more thought (and money) making the trailers than the movies.

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    1. The noise was not hail, we were on the ground. More likely things shifting due to cabin pressure.

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  8. I think it might behoove you to contemplate not travelling for a while once you get home. As the saying goes, "These things come in threes."

    Been on one plane that had a 'frisky' flight. The first plane trip I ever took, some two-engined turboprop job from Santa Maria to San Francisco. Turbulent, shaky and my ears were stuffed so oh so very painful.

    And glad to be of service. Glad to hear you are alive, shaken and stirred, but alive. Interesting times, no?

    The movie does look good.

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    1. I am traveling again next month, for a grandson's third birthday, but just down to Maryland.

      You've produced some excellent work here at The Chant. I pray it continues!

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  9. Enjoy the SAN clime, Sarge. Not the political one.
    Thanks for the update. Frankly, as a pilot hearing weird noises coming from inside my airplane on the ground, might make me have a talk with maintenance guys. I’m not sure whether I’m hearing you correctly, but the fuselage talking to you due to pressurization differentials isn’t good. Looks like weather in Little Rhoadie isn’t great right now. I just had a friend from Manchester write saying that they’ve had four and a half inches or rain since midnight.

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  10. Exciting moments on a trip are not usually welcome... I hope the rest of your time away is boring!

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  11. Look on the bright side, you know that your ticker is sound!

    About the trailer, I grimaced when he covered his ears at the cannonade.

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  12. Came into Pittsburgh a few years ago in a puddle jumper turboprop. We caught a severe crosswind on landing. Wingtip missed the ground by about 4 inches. I had a perfect seat to watch it. When I was leaving I shook my head at the Pilot and said "Whew". He looked at me and nodded.

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    1. Now that would get your attention!

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    2. Once I returned to Grand Forks. CAVU. A routine descent and on final approach. Suddenly the nose rears up, the engines go to full power, and the pilot executes a STEEP climbing turn (probably light traffic in the way - GF International is one of the busiest airports in the country). The flight attendant is clinging to a seat back and a luggage bin and announcing "We will be landing in Grand Forks shortly".

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  13. My berthing space on my first carrier (CV 67) was on the 3rd deck. We'd hear that sound pierside in Norfolk & know some ship was headed out. It does sound a lot like washing the hull with gravel.
    --Tennessee Budd

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  14. Sort of like half of a Dutch Roll?
    Kudos to Beans, he has done well, holding the fort!

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  15. While I am sure you are eager to get back to Lil' Rhody, having had family traveling from Sandyeggo to Old Saybrook CT in the past 4 days, only 2 of the 5 had no airline/airplane issues...the other 3 had flights delayed/cancelled etc due to the weather in not only New England, but also New York City and Chicago. So I hope when you are headed back, things will have settled back down. Plus there has been a LOT of "drift wood" that has evidently arrived via the Connecticut River from VT to the Long Island Sound. Much more than we have ever seen in 60+ years of coming to the beach.
    Safe flight home..

    Suz

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    1. Weather has been awful in northern New England. Not as bad in Little Rhody. But yeah, things happen.

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