was an amazing experience!
It is opportunities like this that truly let military families know that the military takes just as much of an interest in them as they do in the service members themselves.
It is opportunities like this that truly let military families know that the military takes just as much of an interest in them as they do in the service members themselves.
Taxi day is where any spouse who would like to participate can taxi around the runway with an instructor pilot in the T-34, which Nolan is currently flying.
I wore one of Nolan's flightsuits, which was an experience in itself... I felt rather "dumpy," but soon forgot about that once we headed for the aircraft.
In the ready room, we had a short brief of the basics for being in the aircraft. Much of the information Nolan had shared with me previously as he has taken me out to the "practice bird," and to the simulators.
After the brief, they asked for volunteers.
Out of my usual character, I volunteered to be one of the first 5!
We heard that the spouses were going to be getting in planes that were already running, so Nolan said it would be fun to get to go through the whole start-up of the plane, so when they asked for volunteers, I shot my hand right up! I'm SO glad I did!
We heard that the spouses were going to be getting in planes that were already running, so Nolan said it would be fun to get to go through the whole start-up of the plane, so when they asked for volunteers, I shot my hand right up! I'm SO glad I did!
Lt. Johnson and myself
He was the instrutor pilot who "taught" me how to taxi!
Once we got out to the plane, we had been told that they parachutes had to be removed, so a guy came out to the plane and removed them, which basically meant that the back of the seat inside the cockpit was nothing but metal.
Once the intructor pilot climbed in and realized he would be taxi-ing wives around for the next four hours in a "low riding" leaning back position, he made a request to have his parachute put back.
Photo opportunity while we waited for the guy with the parachutes to bring back the instructor pilot's parachute....
Ready to taxi! :-) Feeling like I am in a War World II plane...
Notice the back of the seat, without a parachute.
View of instrument panel and view from aft (back) cock
pit.
The rudders and brakes that I used (for the most part) to control where we were going...We also used "beta" to increase the speed.
(where my feet are is the rudders and if you pressed on the top pieces above my toes, you would brake)
About ready to go, canopies still open..
Lt. Johnson going through the "pre-flight" check list at lightening speed! It was really cool to hear this on the radio that we used to communicate with each other.During the taxi...
Before we left, the lineman and instructor piloted saluted, giving the go ahead and the silly lineman made the sign of the cross to bless me! haha
Once we got the go-ahead from the tower (through the radio headset in the helmet I was wearing) the instructor pilot (IP) taxied the plane out of its parking spot and down the row past many other T-34s... it was almost surreal, as the engined "growled" and we bumped along down the tarmac.
Once we got the go-ahead from the tower (through the radio headset in the helmet I was wearing) the instructor pilot (IP) taxied the plane out of its parking spot and down the row past many other T-34s... it was almost surreal, as the engined "growled" and we bumped along down the tarmac.
After a brief taxi, to an open area, the IP showed me the yellow line I was going to try to stay on while I used the rudders and brakes to steer to the left or to the right. I did okay at first, but then would start a pattern of over sterring on way or the other, trying to over-correct.
We then made a wide right turn, to head back to a different area... still following a yellow line... well doing my best to. When it was my turn to try, the IP would say "you have controls" and I replied with "I have controls" and when I would give them back it would be vis a vis.
We then made a wide right turn, to head back to a different area... still following a yellow line... well doing my best to. When it was my turn to try, the IP would say "you have controls" and I replied with "I have controls" and when I would give them back it would be vis a vis.
We taxi-ed to the "hill," and that was where I did a circle to the left... it was rather scary because I missed the part about needing to press the right break (to slow the plane) while pushing in the left rudder to turn left, so we went rather fast and I kinda freaked out and gave controls back... It was at that point the IP nicely mentioned the whole break thing (he may have previously, I just didn't get that memo) So then he had me try a right turn and that went MUCH better, so much he even let me do one more before we taxied in... :-)
Of course, following the yellow line in, I did better at staying on the line when I was going slower... we would taxi at two paces, one of how fast a man walks, and the other was how fast a man jogs... While trying to taxing at the jogging speed on our way in, I was going from side to side and there was a guy on a large mower mowing the grass, who the IP said he thought the guy thoguht I was messing with him since I kept turning the plane toward him and then back.
Of course, following the yellow line in, I did better at staying on the line when I was going slower... we would taxi at two paces, one of how fast a man walks, and the other was how fast a man jogs... While trying to taxing at the jogging speed on our way in, I was going from side to side and there was a guy on a large mower mowing the grass, who the IP said he thought the guy thoguht I was messing with him since I kept turning the plane toward him and then back.
Although the fan, for the A/C was on, it quickly became quite warm in the cockpit with the canopies closed. I should also mention that the stress level was quite high for me, just trying to perform well if you will, so that contibuted to my sweating profusely too!
Successful Taxi around the tarmac!
Believe it or not, I think I have to say that this experience tops Warrior Day from TBS!
It was just too cool to see what Nolan goes through when he heads to work for 4 or so hours to complete a 2 hour flight and why he's so sweaty when he gets home! ;-) And all I did was TAXI - as the IP pointed out - not once did I look at the instrument panel (see picture above) or continually check inside and outside of the cockpit while flying!!!
I am even more in awe of Nolan and what he is doing, he is simply amazing! :-)
It was just too cool to see what Nolan goes through when he heads to work for 4 or so hours to complete a 2 hour flight and why he's so sweaty when he gets home! ;-) And all I did was TAXI - as the IP pointed out - not once did I look at the instrument panel (see picture above) or continually check inside and outside of the cockpit while flying!!!
I am even more in awe of Nolan and what he is doing, he is simply amazing! :-)
2 comments:
What a great experience! I always enjoy getting those opportunities, and it truly does help me not only appreciate, but really understand what Will does...I can actually nod my head and really mean it when he talks about some (not ALL) flying stuff.
Plus, I love that with our husbands both flying, it's more likely we'll live close one day! Yay!
That's so awesome Paige! They didn't have that for us in Corpus so it was really neat hearing you explain everything. It sounds like you had a lot of fun!
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