HI Ben, since you are stationed in Texas, and mentioned San Antonio golf, I wonder if you have played the TPC Norman-Garcia course the tour is at this week. I just caught a little of the replay, and thought it looked pretty interesting with the very contoured and raised greens platforms with shaved shoulders and fancy bunker detail work. I t seems to me that the design theme is similar to the one that the tour has stopped at in FL that Norman did ( I forget the name of that course...)
Seeing the photo of the C-17 over the new bridge in Charleston made me laugh when remembering how you called that squadron "the Chucktown Haulers". I don't think you mentioned if you ever took the short ride from the Charleston airbase over to Yeaman's Hall when you were there. If so, did you like it?
I don't know a thing about aviation, but sure wish I was younger and could do it over again to learn. But, I am puzzled by your going from flying a behemoth where you must be about 3-4 stories above the runway, to training guys in that little spitfire where you must feel like you could stick your heel out to bring it to a stop: what could possibly be similar?
And by the way... did you have to go through that downed pilot capture evasive training where you eat the bugs and worms and such? If so, which critter is most tasty?
RJ,
1) Haven't played the AT&T Oaks or Canyons courses yet. I have flown over them on approach to Randolph AFB a dozen or so times. What first strikes you is the bunkering and width (or lack thereof) of the Norman/Garcia course. If it's firm or even a little windy, that course is a beast for the tour guys. I think Wyatt said the first round scoring average was like, 73.5? The entire facility is gigantic. We're talking water park, concert venues, two big golf courses, etc.
2) Funny you mention Chucktown. It's pretty much at the top of the list when I go back to the C-17 after this assignment, unless I get the U-2. I'm a southern boy, and I haven't lived in the south (Texas doesn't count) since I was in high school 10 years ago. Another reason is of course, the golf. Yeaman's, CC of Charleston, Kiawah, Bulls Bay, Chechessee an hour away, Palmetto two hours away. Talk about different styles of courses to study! Yeaman's tops that list, head and shoulders in my opinion. Based mostly on what has been written here and my love of simple, pure golf.
3) Let's compare it this way. Jack Nicklaus vs. Mike Nuzzo They both design golf courses right? It has to be the same right? In the C-17 I flew a $230 million jet with 4-6 crewmembers. We flew worldwide in support of our nation's interests. We had a support structure called Tanker/Airlift Command and Control (TACC) based in Illinois that was nothing more than a satellite contact away at any time, day or night, in air or on the ground, for any concerns we had. In the T-6, it's a $6 million plane with me either solo or with a student. My command and control structure is me, and a dude on the end of the radio back at the base. On most missions (unless we're cross country) I get no further than 50 miles from Laughlin AFB.
This doesn't even begin to desribe the differences in speed, maneuverability, mission, and "style" of flight. BUT! Flying is flying. If you know what to do, it translates pretty well no matter what you're in. Bonanza, C-17, F-15, doesn't matter. All it takes is some training, and the natural abilities take over.
4) I have been through that training. Survival and Evasion isn't the worst part (by the way, field onions and squirrel aren't bad if boiled with creek water). It's the Resistance portion. The POW training very realistic. Most of it's classified. But lets just say that I was very, very happy to be "rescued" at the end of those three days in captivity.