Ben
You are my hero....fly airplanes for a living and love GCA. AND you live in west Texas where my wife is from so she really would love you.
I am taking my 3 year old son, Wade, to the Joint Forces airshow tomorrow here in D.C. at Andrews Air Force base to see the Blue Angeles.
A few questions:
1) Any aspirations of being an astronaut?
2) Why did you choose the Air Force Academy over Navy or Army or a big engineering/ROTC school like Texas A&M, Purdue, etc?
3) Do we sell the same airframes and engines to the rest of the world that we keep for ourselves here in the U.S. (not trying to start a debate, just wondering)?
4) Ever even remote close to crashing OR even being scared shitless flying?
5) What couple of courses would you most like to play?
6) Ever "floated down the river" on the Frio River outside of San Antonio, if not, then you you should.
7) Do you play a 60 degree wedge?
Did you see the football game flyby at Ga Tech this year? Was that too low?
9) What is your favorite bar be que? Texas? Eastern NC? Kansas City? etc...
10) How amazing was it that Cap Sully figured out how to save 100+ folks lives after losing power on ascent out of LGA?
You are the man!
Chip
Chip,
You guys are going to LOVE the Joint Forces show. I have to admit that the Blue Angels might be a smidge better than the Thunderbirds. Also, try and see if you can get in the cockpit of the C-17 that'll be there. And the T-6 that'll be there too. Those are my offices.
1) None whatsoever. There are many requirements that I just have no interest in accomplishing.
2) I chose USAFA based on two things 1) It was an Ivy league education at zero cost. But all service academies were. So...2) Around half of the graduates any given year at USAFA go to pilot training. Only about 100 from Navy and none from West Point fly.
3) There are many countries with F-16's. The C-17 is now in the UK, Australia, Canada, and Qatar. But I'd be lying if I said--at least n the sale of fighters--that there aren't a few differences in avionics and armament.
4) Oh heck yeah. I teach students everyday. You'd be surprised at how the concept of self-preservation isn't very natural for humans while in the air. Teaching the situational awareness aspect of flying is by far the hardest thing. Also, there's been a few times over Iraq and Afghanistan where I had a moment of pause. But I'm still here!
5) The National and Cypress are my holy grails by my two favorite classic archies. Other infatuations include Eastward Ho! and Yeaman's Hall.
6) I have floated the Comal and Guadalupe in New Braunfels and Gruene, TX. There is not much more fun than a day on the river.
7) No. I have a Vokey 58 (bent to 57) that I use for bunker shots mostly. I just feel more comfortable keeping my shots low or on the ground if I can. Call me a hack, but I have the strength and the shaft angle to hit the ball high, I just prefer keeping my shots low.
It's not too low until you're picking leaves out of your landing gear
9) I like brisket when done right with some onions and pickles and a little bit of sauce. But NOTHING compares to whole hog, chopped all together with some vinegar based goodness poured on it. Some of my favorite places include Sprayberry's in Newnan, GA (Lewis Grizzard's favorite) and Lexington BBQ #1 in Lexington, NC.
10) Sully is a hell of a pilot. I tell my students--everyday--that you are only one faulty wire or one flock of birds away from being a hero. That's the standard we have to train to. But that decision, and more importantly his execution of that decision were textbook. People call it a miracle. It wasn't. It was simply him doing his job. I hope that's the way all pilots look at it.
Enjoy the airshow Chip! And please go talk to the C-17 crew. Chances are they know me.