Name on side of a/c!! Finally!

[mudkow60]

Ok ok.. I am a tool...

But I just got my name painted on the side of "my" bird today (UH-3H). It is my first time, so I am happy.

Thought I would post something positive...

 

[bobs98tlr]

You should be proud.....thats a bada$$ deal....congrats to you.

 

[mudkow60]

Thanks.

It was the bird I got to fly back from Halifax. Makes me question my decision to leave the Navy in December.

 

[AlbieF15]

Its not that big of a deal, really...

Its not like you'll remember your jet years down the road...

like 78-546 (AK, 1994-1996) or

84-019 (Spangdahalem, 1997-1998) or

78-568 (Tyndall 1999-2002)...

You need to get to know your crew chief...buy him beers and/or steaks, and take a personal interest in both him/her and your steed. A good crew chief doesn't buy his Dining Inn ticket or his Christmas Party ticket if your CC allows you to take care of those things. Squadron T-shirts and patches are also usually appreciated...

Take an interest in your jet. If you can fly it regularly, you WILL get to know some of its habits and can sometimes recognize problems before they get big (part of the reason for the whole program in F15 squadrons...) I flew 84-019 as Mission Commander several times during OSW and had some of my flight members and best friends flying with me on those missions and I still remember how proud I was to have my bros, my jet, and my squadron out there at the tip of the spear for a few hours.

Again--way to go. You can be CEO of a corporation, or a big league ball player, or a Hollywood celebrity. However, as a soldier with your name on a piece of war fighting equipment you have earned something that nobody can buy, but rather has to be earned. You have a right to be proud...

 

[LR25]

H-3, dont see many of them anymore.

Grew up around NAS JAX and Cecil, now all you see are Seahawks.

Side note, I saw a Seasprite about a year or so ago, must have been foreign.

 

[dtfl]

Albie,
although a fighter guy ( ;-) ) is right! I still remember the tails I flew. I was in AFSOC so we only had a few..9 gunships until 6576 crashed in 94 - then 8. Sometimes I'd cring when Id fly 6572 because it was bent all to hell after Desert Storm (evading a radar missile configured on a fjordable chassis) and it took all sorts of wacky trim combos to get it to fly and shoot straight.

Then the Shadows.....all had quirks...and again...we had 8 - then lost one on 13 Feb 2002.

That is great that you got that.

Dont forget to get a pic!

 

[Ollie]

Hey Mudkow, you posted about your recent trip from Halifax, but no pics... What's up with that?

 

[SIG600]

Did they put your name on the bird... or "Spanky?"

 

[mudkow60]

How the HE11 do you know that info? And no, it does not say that!

 

[SIG600]

A little bird told me...

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Did they put your name on the bird... or "Spanky?"

What's a guy gotta do to get a callsign like that?

 

[Hobit]

Mudkow,

Congrats.

Reminds me of my first too.

80-00258 or 80258 to ATC. It was the fastest 64 in our unit and always made the takeoff, minimal gripes. The real owner (Crew Chief) was Lopez-Torres. He is a great guy and last I heard, he was fast trackin up the 'E' side. It now flys for the ARNG. But I digress....

Great memories. Take my advice, get a pic with you and your CC in front of it NOW!!! You will want it framed and on the wall when you move on to greener pastures and the bad parts of your experience fade from memory. That photo will be far more important than any diploma.

Good Luck, keep the Nr up!!!
Hobbit

PS if you're a dork, than just about everyone else here is too.

 

[Kaman]

Hello,
Had my name on a couple of different helicopters over the years. The really cool thing was when I was in the LAMPS Mk. I community in the early 80's (SH-2F). The aircraft assigned to your detachment was basically your's for the duration of the det. (typically a year or so, including work-ups).

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

 

[MooseTrax]

Fun is taking the jet with your name on it to the NAS Oceana airshow!