I might be the only guy ever to....reminiscing...

Warbirds

I have a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

NASA owns a handful of F-18 Hornets for weather research, mission support and what not. Part of that deal was NASA and the US Navy would overlap for 2 weeks a year in training.

So I got to spend 2 weeks at Johnson Space Center around 1998 or 1999. During that time, I got to go for a flight in the Super Guppy. I very specifically remember the crew wanting us to throw a football while in flight.

Fast forward a few years and I am stationed in Pensacola Fl. As luck would have it, I am a survival instructor but my roommate is in the Blue Angels.

a bunch of those guys were going fail P.T. so I whipped their fat arses into shape, and got them all through the P.T. Test.

Things fall into place and I get to ride on Fat Albert for a JATO shot in the Blue Angels home show.

Also- went to TOP GUN 3 times as a mechanic. When we send pilots we have to send our own planes and support crew.

So am I the only enlisted guy to ever play football in the Super Guppy & take a JATO shot in Fat Albert, and go to Top Gun 3 times, I think so.

gjshaw

Congratulations on being so lucky.

hillbille

gonna have a lot of stories for the grandkids........

Rocky Raab

There's nothing like being in the military to create "You did WHAT?" stories.

Bubba Jr.

Dave, you're livin the dream. Enjoy!!!

Joe

mohawk600

NICE......the best I ever got was a ride in a Blackhawk over the desert in Ft. Irwin, CA............but I thought that was pretty cool.

bullshot

Too bad you didn't make something of yourself .