[simpits-tech] Memory Lane....

[John P. Miguez]

I was lucky Chris.  when I was six years old, circa 1953, my dad's friend
took us up in his airplane.  I think it was a Taylorcraft.  I sat in my
dad's lap.  I remember seeing the cars and they looked like the dottle bugs
(rollie polies sp?) I use to play with at home in the yard.  From that time
on I wanted to fly.

When I was 16 I joined the CAP where I got to fly, like Justin.  I won a
scholarship that paid for me to solo.  I then pumped gas and washed
airplanes for flying time.

I went to college and took up mechanical engineering and joined ROTC.  Upon
graduation I went to pilot training at Craig AFB in Selma, AL.  I wanted to
fly the F4.  However, I was not high enough to get the 3 F4s.  But, I got a
F-111B in SAC.  Unfortunately, between the time I selected the F-11 and the
time I was to report to training the Air Force decided to not allow any one
to fly the aircraft right out of flight school.  They had too many accidents
related to pilot error.  So I was give a B-52 instead.  :(

I later got into the RF-4 and loved every minute of it.  After I got out of
the Air force I went to work for Caterpillar.  Because of travel I had to
quit flying.

Just started up again a couple years ago.  I fly to business meetings.

John
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Woodul" <crewstation1@charter.net>
To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 3:13 PM
Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] Memory Lane....


> Thanks John
>
> Sounds like you have done quite a bit of impresive stuff too, I was just
an
> occupant on most of those. I would rather have been driving ( with
ratings )
> all of those things myself, but I wont complain. I do feel lucky to have
my
> job, and to have done the things I have done. I also like being able to
> listen to the ideas of the people on this forum. There are some real
> genius's on here, and I love to see the creativity and just plain drive
> behind everyone. For a long time ( before the internet) I thought I was
the
> only wierdo....now I know better. I also like getting to know so many
people
> who are so damn literate at programing ( I am just a hardware guy)
> John, I also hope that I still am into this in my fifties and beyond. I
hope
> that the toys via computers we all get to anticipate will just get better
> and better.
> I have seen graphics come a long way for the Home and PC users. Used to be
> only the expensive high end sims looked good with their graphics.
> We aint seen nothing yet!
>
> Chris
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John P. Miguez" <jmiguez@bellsouth.net>
> To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
> Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 3:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] Memory Lane....
>
>
> > That's impressive Chris.  sounds like you have found you place in the
> world.
> > congratulations.
> >
> > John
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Chris Woodul" <crewstation1@charter.net>
> > To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
> > Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 2:15 PM
> > Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] Memory Lane....
> >
> >
> > > Hey Brian,
> > >
> > > A Bell 47 is a classic...Where do you live? Just curious about the
> canals.
> > > And just for the you suck part.. I have flown in the following:
> > >
> > > Lufthansa 747-200 from DFW to FRANKFURT in 1984 in the cockpit chock
to
> > > chock
> > > Lufthansa A310 from FRANKFURT to ATHENS Greece 1984 in the cockpit
chock
> > to
> > > chock
> > > Lufthansa 747-200 FRA to DFW in cockpit chock to chock
> > > Iberia 747-200 from JFK to MADRID Spain in 1985 ( sat in co-pilots
seat
> > for
> > > almost 3 hours over Atlantic)
> > > Iberia 747-200 from MADRID to JFK 1985
> > > Lufthansa 747-400 FRANKFURT to JOHANISBURG SOUTH AFRICA (over 12 hour
> > > flight) in cockpit center jumpseat chock to chock 1990
> > > Lufthansa 747-400 JOHANISBURG SA to FRANKFURT 1990
> > > American Airlines 747 SP daily taxi from International Terminal 2E (
now
> > > terminal A) to AA main maintance hanger ( did this almost every day
> before
> > > work in 1989-90 with my MTC friends at AA when I worked there in
> Passenger
> > > service) This was a blast cause the plane was empty and flew in every
> day
> > > from Tokyo ( Narita Airport) and was still full of un- eaten first
class
> > > food still hot in the oven. The hanger was 3 miles away and we often
had
> > to
> > > take the long way around the airport to avoid ramp traffic.
> > > American Airlines 767-300 nite time taxi maintaince check at DFW
> airport.
> > I
> > > actually was allowed to taxi the plane from the co-pilots seat ( the
> 767
> > > has a nose wheel tiller on both sides of the cockpit) I learned about
> how
> > > NOT to brake a large jet ( I made it bounce way up and down by using
too
> > > much brakes)
> > > American Airlines 727 simulator countless hours ( all thru 1990s)
> > > American Airlines MD-80 ( same as above)
> > > American Airlines MD-11 ( same as above)
> > > American Airlines A300-600 ( same as above)
> > > American Airlines 777 ( recenltly)
> > > Thompson Training and Simulation *( now Thales) in Gatwick England
> Airbus
> > > A330 Simulator - 2000
> > > North American T-28 Trojan - at airshow flew thru down town Tulsa
> Oklahoma
> > > 1996
> > > Polish Iskra Training Jet --------two flights in 1996
> > > Bell Jet Ranger - flew around Hawaian Island of Kaui 1996
> > > Brittish Folland GNAT supersonic Jet Trainer - Chino California ( ex
Red
> > > Arrows Jet) flew at 450 KTS at low level thru mountains around Chino
> > > California ( puked my pizza and root beer up) have the video tape!
year
> > 2000
> > > Multiple F-16 Simulators ( Thales MLU, L3 Block 40 UTD, F-16 Block 50
> > > Lockheed Martin- 1997 thru this year
> > > EF-111A Raven AMP simulator at Cannon AFB the week before the sim was
> > > decommisioned 1998
> > > A-10 UTD simulator- multiple times since 1998
> > > C-130 simulator ( same as above)
> > > F/A-18 A/ C/ E simulators ( multiple places and models since 1998)
> > > actually since its now my line of work the full up sims I have been
> privy
> > to
> > > have flown, is almost countless.
> > >
> > > I have been a pilot of small aircraft since 1987 ( was in a plane
crash
> on
> > > my second lesson!!!!!!!!) and I fly my fathers 2 airplanes almost
every
> > > weekend depending on weather.
> > > And last but not least.. I spend countless hours dreaming in my own
> > personal
> > > cockpits.
> > >
> > > I was lucky enough to have grown up in an Aviation household, as my
> father
> > > was a US NAVY fighter pilot and also a Captain for Delta Airlines (
> which
> > is
> > > how I scored all the flights in those foriegn airlines cockpits, I was
> an
> > > exchange kid with other airlines families thru ALPA, and it let me get
> to
> > > live in some cool places for the summer as well as fly in the cockpits
> > with
> > > my friends fathers on my trips to and from those stays)
> > > Since I work in the Flight Simulation world as my carrer, I constantly
> use
> > > my position to get into and fly different simulators either for fun (
> > cuase
> > > I beg) or because its condusive to my job. Either way, dont think for
a
> > > second that I dont know how to wrangle my way into some cool
stuff...and
> > > always will.
> > >
> > > I expect a full report from you on the TEXAN II when you go off to fly
> it
> > > Brain! That is a really cool plane, and it will be much more safe and
> > > comfortable than a TWEET!
> > >
> > > Chris Woodul
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Brian Sikkema" <hangr18@hotmail.com>
> > > To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
> > > Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 1:41 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] Memory Lane....
> > >
> > >
> > > > In light of these revelations, I'd like to read a short statement
I've
> > > > prepared:
> > > >
> > > > *clears throat*
> > > >
> > > > You SUCK!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > LOL, that would be so much fun, I think I'd have to wear a diaper to
> the
> > > > flight just in case. I love to give my dad grief about his obsession

> > with
> > > > hoopalopters, but they are definitely cool. My first time flying,
> ever,
> > in
> > > > anything, was in a Bell 47, and I'll never forget it...
> > > >
> > > > When I first got to school this year, just before classes started, I
> was
> > > > setting up my room and I heard a helicopter, nice and close. I ran
out
> > and
> > > > there was a Coast Guard Dauphin crawling along about 30 feet above
the
> > > > canal, just over a coast guard boat. They got to the middle of the
> > canal,
> > > > and then practiced hauling people up in the basket. Very cool to
> watch,
> > I
> > > > managed to get some decent pics, too. Fun stuff.
> > > >
> > > > Brian
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----Original Message Follows----
> > > > From: "Chris Woodul" <crewstation1@charter.net>
> > > > Reply-To: simpits-tech@simpits.org
> > > > To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
> > > > Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] Memory Lane....
> > > > Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 13:19:10 -0600
> > > >
> > > > While in Jacksonville Florida at the SAFE show where I took my
F-111F
> > > > Cockpit ( sim) and some of my seat collection, I met some pilots
from
> > the
> > > > local sheriffs department. They wanted to sit in my Cockpit so I
said,
> > > "sure
> > > > if you will let me go flying in your Helicopter" and the guy thought
I
> > was
> > > > serious ( I would have let him sit in the cockpit anyway) well long
> > story
> > > > short they invited me and my freind Mike to come to the roofttop of
> the
> > > > downtown police station where they would come fly in and pick us up.
I
> > had
> > > > the funnest nite of my life getting 3 hours in the front left seat
on
> > the
> > > > first trip, and then  flying in the back for 3 hours in a second
> > > helicopter
> > > > while Mike sat up front for his "turn". I went on at least four
police
> > > > chases, got to operate the NITESUN spotlight while circling a
> > neighborhood
> > > > for over an hour looking for some punk with an AK-47 who was hiding,
> as
> > > well
> > > > as the pilot letting me fly the thing most of the non-tactical time.
I
> > > even
> > > > got to fly along the beach at nite at 100 feet with the spotlight
> > shining
> > > on
> > > > the waves. On mikes flight we flew with the NVG goggles and did the
> > > hunting
> > > > that way. I am a fixed wing pilot, but I realy enjoyed getting to
fly
> in
> > > > those helicopters that nite for over six hours total. ITs even more
> fun
> > > when
> > > > you get to chase bad guys, that made it feel like some sort of
combat.
> > The
> > > > coolest thing was them letting us fly lot, and that they let me fly
up
> > the
> > > > river there and hover outside of the waterfront hotel area and then
> take
> > > > pictures. I took almost 100 pictures that nite! I am going back
there
> in
> > a
> > > > month or so to do it again, I cant wait!
> > > >
> > > > Chris W
> > > >
> > > > _________________________________________________________________
> > > > MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 3 months FREE*.
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
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> > >
> >
>
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> > > ruses_3mf
> > > >
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