UPT Week 30 (April 5-9)

Monday April 5, 2010 (Day 134)
Filled out my "dream sheet" for what I desire to track - fighter/bomber, cargo/aerial tankers, helicopter, T-44 (with the U.S. Navy). We shall see...

Today was the most influentially, mixed-up, mind blowing, life altering, head shaking day that I ever experienced in my entire life. More than all the stress of applying for the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2003, more intense than getting pumped up for Field Training in 2006; more intense than all that!

Today I chose not to fly continue my goal of flying jet fighters (and thus becoming the next American Fighter Pilot). Either given T-38 fighter jet trainer or not, I do not possess the constitution to do whats needed, to do whats necessary, to achieve that goal. (In other words, I don't want that lifestyle)! I chose....T-44s & to train with Corpus Christi, Texas.

This morning was a train-wreck. Finally came to terms with something that was not what I envisioned for, oohhhh lets say the last 13 years! I asked myself if I honestly had what it take to even make it through the rest of pilot training. UPDATE: I elect to stick with it, and will continue on with pilot training.

Then I saw a sign! After walking back from lunch on the flight line, I saw a plane that I never saw here before, land on the runway. Looking at it closer as it taxied in front of me, it was a T-44 from Corpus Christi!!!!!!!! It just happened to visit this base at this time and land exactly at the time that I was standing out front. Wow. Im calling it a sign!!!!!!!!

On the way home, I was driving back into town while listening the song "Beautiful Day" by the hit band "U2". In front of me I saw a 2-ship formation of T-6s gracefully fly over the highway in close proximity, and I just sat there and said, WOW.......(it was beautiful).....what a beautiful day.

Tuesday April 6, 2010 ( Day 135)
No fly

Wednesday April 7, 2010 (Day 136)
Flew my first Low Level (L4101) mission, SR-281 to the south of the base. It was just ok. You fly 500 feet above the ground, and every single target point is either a river that is no longer a river (dried up), or a Y-intersection of roads (in which there are many of). So its more like a game of "find the random ground reference that all look the same." Thats about it. To the far south it was cool - there was a huge field that was covered with yellow flowers, and from the air it looked like a big Wizard of Oz scene. That was neat.

Thursday April 8, 2010 (Day 137)
No fly

Friday April 9, 2010 (Day 138)
Double Turn! Flew a low level in the morning (the 2nd of 2 low levels in T-6s) L4102. Flew SR-283 up to the North and it was a lot prettier scenery than was the south. Flew over the big Lake Amistad, then flew over canyons/rivers that I never knew existed in SW Texas. It was neat. Then upon landing, I only had 20 minutes to eat/drink and then briefed up a formation mission (F4103). That went well, getting better in many areas, as well as getting more comfortable flying 10 feet away from another plane!!!

Not quite as low as we fly low levels....