Pictures while using frequent flyer miles

[adrianspeeder]

Trip 239, Fall 2018, Aurora CO

Chilly decent into the mile high CO.



Probe heat; On. Engine anti ice; On. Wing anti ice; On. Windshield heat; Norm.



Minimums. Go around.



Second try a short time later found the mark.



Quick turn fuel load and cargo change before the snow catches us.



“Chiefs up on ground for engine start. We gotta go Cap’m!” No deicer service here.



Barely made takeoff before it started sticking. Thank goodness, because now we can go drink Coors Light in California!



Sunny California dreaming.





KC-10 in the pattern.



Quick California pit stop for left side tires, wedge adjustment, and a splash of gas.



Didn’t know it at the time, but my last visit to Travis.



Back to CO to fill up with more junk in the trunk.



That brand new rebuilt used number 4 motor runnin’ tight!



Buckle up for our landing in Dover. She gonna be sporty!



Adrianspeeder

[390FE1972]

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!!!!

Regards

[adrianspeeder]

Trip 240, Tyndall AFB with Hurricane Michael

Had time to edit up video and time lapse footage of hurricane support mission to Panama City Florida. These are not flights I enjoy to count up, but I am proud to perform. Americans that have lost everything can look up to the sky and see a continuous line of C-17s bringing salvation. No other aircraft can load and haul mind boggling tonnage, fly to dark and small airfields, unload quickly, and reliably do it day after day from all across the country.

https://youtu.be/PASXMuv4aK0

Little ducks learning how to run a poop truck. Whatever you do, don't hit my jet.



Emergency alert to New Mexico to pick up Civil Engineers and big ass 1MW generators.





“Keep ‘em flying”



And so begins the looong line of heavyweight airlift to move food/water/power/medics/materiel/life and whatever else anyone needs.



Not going to be able to get gas in Florida, so top up the tanks 35000 gallons. Stackin’ banks while dranin’ tanks! Fill ‘er up Friday!



Pilot hero shots.





Well you don’t see that every day. A contractor’s DC-3 that tests imaging sensors.



She’s gonna be a heavyweight takeoff. “180 at the end of the runway please, we’ll need full length.”



Full length, 585,000 lbs, max thrust, ***** fuel milage, hammer down big time!



Autothottles set. Hands off to do other things.



Watch out for that mountain.



Flooded Panama City FL.





Hurricane Michael swamped that big ass boat over.



Cleared to land by AFSOC combat controllers. Not a building was left with a roof on it.





Interesting bit of TACC shenanigans on this trip trying to get out of Tyndall.

“We don’t have a place for you to go next, but we will need you tomorrow. Go somewhere nearby. We are too busy to flight plan you at the moment.”

“Uhhh… What?!?”

Called Keesler, but they were mogged out. Copilot remembered that Stennis International in MS had a good FBO with snacks from her flying T1 days. VFR'd our way over, and spent the night with some classy service!



Fill ‘er up Friday. Stackin’ banks while dranin’ tanks. Did one more run of some equipment, then headed home.



Adrianspeeder

[adrianspeeder]

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!!!!

Regards

Thanks!

[two-bit]

Been following your "frequent flier miles" since you started. Always great to see your pics and the text to go along with them. Some of your stories remind me of things and i don't always comment.
Just wanted you to know that this old Jarhead appreciates what you are doing. I know how important it is.
Two-bit

[Fordkid68]

Thank you for your service!!! What an awesome post! Thank you for fighting for our great country! So that we can be free to work on our bumps.
Safe landings!

[basketcase0302]

Like Two Bit I too have gfollowed your posts since the beginning Adrian.
Never realized you flew in post Michael, (and man what a reality check ya'll get to see aftermath of hurrycanes)!

Tell your Cap'n I said WOMEN DRIVERS-NO SURVIVORS and see her reaction LOL!

[adrianspeeder]

Trip 281: Load up for a ball buster of a long trip to Paris, Iraq, and California. First stop ran into an ole Jersey friend.



Love a short first day with a 20 minute flight, and then put the jet to bed for wild Virginia night.



Rally up early next morning for a full load of fuel.



Stackin’ banks while drainin’ tanks!



“Hey Cap’n! Where are we?” “I have no idea.”



New copilot signed off on escape rope use. Q1.



Crusin’ in over the beaches of Normandy.



Weathered in. No drop. D-Day Delayed.



Second time seeing the Eiffel Tower. First time from the air.





“50”. Landing crew. Paris–Le Bourget Airport



I think we are parking over there.



Hero shot.



These boys work fast.



Better shot.



Both are technical achievements, but only one is cool.



Tag team haulin’.



“So, you want me to squawk 7500?” “Uhhh... Yeah.”



Frenchy controller let his buddy take off first.



Fluffy grounds crew.



Heading out of France, we didn’t get to stay.



Late night landing in Germany. These suck for a few reasons. Don’t have enough time to get in trouble downtown, don’t have anywhere on base to go, so it’s just drink in the room.



Words of wisdom from a wise loadsmasher.



Next thing that sucks after trying to sleep through the day, is an 2200 alert to take off the next night. Chilly smoky startup!



Headin’ into Iraq. This combat entry checklist calls for combat cake!



No problems in and out of Iraq, so we are forever chasing the sun for another evening in Germany.



German twilight.



Team Dover all over the world!



Flyin’ Crew Chief emergency supplies.



Made it to a Maineiac morning for a Bangor gas stop.



Stackin’ banks while drainin’ tanks!



Holding for this guy to get his checklists together. In the thickest Maineiac accent, “We need a minute.” Check your rearview mirror bud!



Southwest 737 makin’ money.



Are we there yet?



Can’t recall if I’ve seen the golden gate bridge before.



Pretty like a picture.



Spending the night in the land of Google.





Fill ‘er up Friday.



“Chief you got those fuels balanced perfect.” “Hell yeah brother!”



If you’re lost, they’ll come find you.



You want maximum rate time to climb? You got it!







My camera is squawking 7500!



On to the next one...

Adrianspeeder

[1972hiboy]

You guys were in my neck of the woods. You guys make a stop at Travis? Seeing all your pictures serious always reminds me of the movie " Air America" I can hear the seeds playing in the background. Stay safe

[adrianspeeder]

Quick trip to the Pacific with a new guy that we screwed with his luggage.











Adrianspeeder

[adrianspeeder]

You guys were in my neck of the woods. You guys make a stop at Travis? Seeing all your pictures serious always reminds me of the movie " Air America" I can hear the seeds playing in the background. Stay safe

No, that trip was Moffett.

Adrianspeeder

[DrakenJ35]

Thank you for all of these pictures, browsing through the thread is better than some of the real world trips I had in my life! Have you ever thought about writing a book about your experiences later on?

[adrianspeeder]

Welcome. Yes I have, and it will be very similar to this thread setup.

Adrianspeeder

[adrianspeeder]

Trip 243, Winter 2019, Bagram

131 – Didn’t know it at the time, but this would be my last trip to Afghanistan. First night stopped in New Hampshire, but when we tried to get snacks for the next day’s trip, the boss wanted Trader Joe’s. Where is all the junk food?!?



132 – Bit of snow fell, and that always drags out the launch sequence.



133/135 – Fill ‘er up Friday: Stackin’ banks while drainin’ tanks!






136/140 – Deice ops going smoothly until the extended reach deicer died while above the T tail so we couldn’t lower him manually.
“The mechanic is an hour away.”
“We ain’t got time for that, bring me that tug and we’ll pull the airplane away.”
“I don’t have a C-17 tow bar.”
“Can you tow those 767’s over there?”
“Yeah.”
“Bring me that tug and we’ll pull the airplane away.”











141 – Lets ride! Dude was still stuck up in the bucket as we were taking off.



142 – Good morning Turkey.



143 – Brought another first time’er dollar ride mechanic on this trip to show him how things are done. Preflight minion deploy!



144 – Last ride to Afghanistan.



145 – Loaded up with junk in the trunk no problems. Time for a nap.



146 – 4 AM Turkish pizza while hammered.



147 – Slept all day and ready to ride!



148 – Nighttime ocean crossing with cabin pressurization workin’ on point.



149/150 – Snowy touchdown at DAFB. One more done, with only a few trips to go.

[basketcase0302]

From this 3rd generation DD-214 Veteran once again TY for your service so that we may live as free Americans another day Adrian.
Know that "sleep while you can" thing well as I used to bunk beside a MK-38 torpedo on my nuke submarine.

Still hard to believe we'll pull all Americans out of Afghanistan, (most my desert war Veteran buddies also think it's a mistake as "insurgents" are ready and waiting for us to leave so they can ramp up to pre 911 days). I pray they're wrong...

Stay safe flying those "unfriendly skies"!