so there we were, sitting on the ramp.. it was warm, but a nice scattered cloud cover laid over the field, shielding us from the fury of the sun. weather's been crummy lately.. well, since when has it ever been great in summer? the plane captain climb up beside me, assisting me in plugging the g-suit and O2 hoses in, and especially, helped me hook up the top left shoulder koch fitting, which has always been a bitch. my instructor hopped on in the front soon after, the plane captain assisting him after he was done with me.. i reached aft and right, flipping open the map case to pull out my kneeboard and charts.. there wasn't much to bring aboard really, at least not as much as i had to bring onboard the T-39 and T-6.. i strapped on my kneeboard and soon after, the ICS crackled to life.

'ICS check, test fire lights'

i flipped on the O2 switch and latched the right bayonet fitting of my mask.

'Loud and clear, 4 fire lights, running down the wings..'

i took a couple of deep breaths as i ran the fuel gauge down, ensuring that we have our wings full of gas..

we did our standard checks and started the right engine. the plane captain was standing on the starboard side, fore of the aircraft, 2 fingers in the air, shaking back and forth vigourously.. the hand signal for running up/starting engines.

'thumbs up from the plane captain.'

i hear 2 clicks over the radio - roger that..

i flipped on the UHF to obtain ATIS and soon after, once our 2nd engine's been started up, our clearance. i glanced over at aircraft 811, my dash 2 gave the thumbs up..

'Razor.'

'2'

'Razors, our clearance is as follows, cleared for the NPA 550 as filed, 1 DME right 150 maintain 3000, expect 1-0 in 10, departure button 6, squawk 7332. no questions, button 3'

'2'

we checked into ground for taxi clearance. the wind was coming in from the south so i kept on the right of the taxi way while -2's diagonally behind, on the left. we taxied to the hold short line and switched to tower, while checking each other's aircrafts out, making sure both are in the appropriate configuration for takeoff. thumbs up all round.

'Tower, Rocket 213, flight of 2, takeoff IFR..'

'Rocket 213, winds 180 at 8, cleared for takeoff runway 7 right, switch to departure'

'Rocket 213 cleared for takeoff 7 right, switching.. Razors button 6.'

'2'

the winds are almost at 10, the wind sock's just about straight horizontal.. my instructor gave -2 the '8' hand sign.. looks like we will be doing an 8 sec interval go vice a section go.. we taxied onto the runway and started running up the engine..

'warning and caution lights out, engine instruments looks good, good PT 5, i'm ready..'

'here we go'

the aircraft lept forward, charging down the runway..

'40.. trim and flaps holding.. 75.. 100'

the aircraft bloomed upward.. we cleaned the aircraft up.. i placed my left hand over the cowling, leaned forward and looked over my right shoulder.. -2 just got airborne.. shortly after,

'2's airborne'

'Razor'

'2'

here we go..

chiyu

got back from key west today.. supposed to come back on sunday but the weather was crappy over homeplate so we flew 1 leg into MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.. Key West is paradise.. loved it there.. especially the tittie bars.. gotta be the best in America.. went snorkelling in its crystal clear waters.. regretted not bringing my scuba gear.. sigh.. didn't take much pics in Key West though.. kept forgetting to bring my camera out.. here's a stupid vid on the return leg..


bad weather on the way back to homeplate..


the combat edge..


was low on LOX on our return leg.. so we flew without our masks on..

chiyu

hey there lasses and lads.. its off to key west tml.. yes, that's the very south of the florida peninsula.. for my FAM 1/2.. and 3 on the way back.. wonder what there is to do at key west.. think most of the stuffs are on another island from where NAS Key West is.. anyways.. there isn't much we can do in the aircraft, having only 1 UHF radio, a dodgy tacan, no gps and over half a century of history behind each aircraft.. after this weekend (and if i do well enough to pass these flights), i'll have 9 flights left! 3 WEPs and 6 BFMs.. just realised, after this weekend, i'm 1/4 through the T-2 flights! yay.. things to do (start doing).. (1) sell my car(s)! (2)start packing and sending back stuffs that i don't use/have the time to use anymore, eg, PS-2, wii, weird clothes, books.. i'm reluctant to send my scuba gear back now as i still have intentions to dive pensacola a few more times.. time to go do flight planning stuffs..

chiyu

hola~ it is the 7th of July.. this means i am 54 days from my winging ceremony.. probably means i'll be getting my 'soft wings' a week or so prior to that.. 57 days from leaving the United States of America.. so far, i am loving my stay here, with the US Navy playing my host, with USAF/USMC bretherns as companions as well.. its kinda 2 sided.. i'd love to get done with flight school and earn my wings (and move on to more training back home).. on the other hand, i love this place.. well.. not just pensacola, but the entire country.. it's so different here.. so diverse.. unlimited things to do.. i thoroughly enjoy the freedom i have here.. something which i'll never have again once i leave. a couple of random pics..


the T-2 Buckeye. learning to fly this airborne relic now.



a section of the winflir after an event. hah.

chiyu