[simpits-tech] Memory Lane....

[John P. Miguez]

Yes Chris, I do have a lot of wonderful memories and have done a few things
most people only dream of doing.  I am grateful.

I no longer work with Caterpillar.  I am the president of a two man
operation... LOL  ... that does engineering and marketing in the natural gas
industry.  In fact one of our clients is a gas compressor rental company
located in Dallas.  So my travel is mostly in the south and southwest.
Sometime I will go for a week and visit clients.  On those trips, I take my
trusty 2001 F150.  It's more comfortable than any airplane I have been on.
Well, maybe not the Lear jet....... LOL.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Woodul" <crewstation1@charter.net>
To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 4:41 PM
Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] Memory Lane....


> Hi John,
>
> That is impressive! The BUFF is a HUGE and difficult airplane to fly and
the
> RHINO ( with or with out cameras) is a fast and dangerous plane to fly
too!
> I would love to see in your head for the memories you have. I have B-52
> seats in my collection and I have an F-4E cockpit section ( see Justins
Web
> page)
> But those are only parts. You have real flight hours in those planes and I
> am impressed. I have seen a B-52 on a low level in New Mexico and I was
> impressed by this big plane down low.
> I do feel for your travels with Caterpilar, the bussiness travel grind can
> be a bitch. I think anyone who flies ( or wants to) has longed for flight
> since childhood. Its what makes the world go round ( along with one other
> unmentionable thing) to me.
> Enjoy your current flying!
>
> Chris
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John P. Miguez" <jmiguez@bellsouth.net>
> To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
> Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 4:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] Memory Lane....
>
>
> > 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
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
_________________________________________________________________
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>
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> > > > > ruses_3mf
> > > > > >
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