Flying Planes!

[Ral]

I am. The experience has been awesome, though of course there is good and bad along with that. Flying single seat fighter jets is hands down the best way to spend your 20's and it has been an awesome experience. Working 12-15 hr days attending to 3-5 jobs that don't involve flying, not as cool. And that brings me to the people........the most motivated, hard working folks you will ever find. Whether that is the 20 year old kid turning wrenches out on the flight line, or the other pilots in my ready room. I heard a retirement speech by a recently deceased Hornet guy who (speaking of his first tour squadronmattes) said "I was an only child growing up, but when I left my nugget tour, I realized that I had 12 brothers". I couldn't agree more, it's about the people, and the fact that you get to live out your childhood dreams of flying jets a few times a week is just icing on the cake. Do you have specific questions? More than happy to answer, as I'm sure hoveringuy would be as well (who has much more experience than I do in Naval Air in general).

Garrett, I'm about to deploy in June, I'll let you know when I get back next year. I'm on the periphery of Naval Aviation flying the aircraft I do (the C-2 Greyhound- best kept secret in the Navy), but I've loved every second of it. And, having worked with junior airmen, I concur that they are the best, hardest working people you will ever meet and your life is poorer for not knowing them.

Keep in mind, Naval Aviation is somewhat more varied than most people think. Each community (type of jet/mission) develops its own culture that you grow into, and learn to love. And they're all different.

FLY, when did you get to Va Beach, and what squadron are you in? And was the Hornet pilot Neptunus Lex, by any chance?

[FLYNAVY]

Yeah, I was speaking of Lex there.......sad story for sure. I got to Oceana in January, basically right after deployment. I'll give you a hint.....we are in CAG-8 and we're the only charlie squadron :)

[Ral]

Nice. Not going anywhere for a while then? I'll be out at oceana tomorrow FCLP'ing.

And I read just about every word the good Captain wrote. Never met the guy and I still consider him a mentor. (neptunuslex.com, for the uninitiated.)

Garrett, sorry to hijack your thread.