I salute you with all sincerity.

My older brother got put on alert to go to Iraq a couple of weeks ago.

 

Once again, thanks for your service! I owe ya a brewski if you're ever in the Detroit area.

Can you tell us about the in-flight emergency you experienced?

I love hearing stories from over there.... anyone pull any good pranks while you were there?

 

The IFE was for our slats not retracting. Slats are the hi-lift device on the forward edge of the wing. If the device has an airgap between it and the wing it's a slat. If no air gap, then it's a forward edge flap. We were 560000lbs climbing out and speeding up. When we retracted the slats, the inboards came in flush but the outboards stayed out about 1/2. Now we have an "unknown" condition that's never been flight tested. Since we were speeding up, we over sped the slats, so that's now problem number two. We ran the checklist and they wouldn't budge. We call up the Emerati ATC controller and let him know what the deal is. This guy basically thinks the plane is going to fall out of the sky in flames at any moment so he clears the airspace and gives us #1 priority to land. Problem is, the KC-10 has a max landing weight of 436000lbs. 95% of the time, the jet is never landed at anything over 400000lbs so we had to dump fuel. We asked 8 times to dump gas and Hajii just keeps telling us "You are #1 to land, good luck". He was acting like we moments from death at any time. Since he wouldn't do what we asked, we started dumping fuel and holding in place. That place just happened to be less than 3 NM from the Presidential Palace of Abu Dhabi. We could see it every time we made a turn in holding. When we finally got under our landing weight and made our approach, we landed un-eventfully. Turns out the base ATC held a KC-135, a C-40, a U-2 and a Global Hawk. They too thought we were about to explode into a fire ball at any time. Bunch of nimrods...

As for the Firearms Card, the cops tell me that I have to get a Handgun Purchaser's permit for each and every handgun. They cost $5 each take 8 weeks to get and are only good for 30 days once issued. Makes getting a handgun an event rivaling a root canal in complexity.

You would have to call Public Affairs to get on base. I'll get you their # when I report back to work next week.

KC-10 FE out...

 

Hey welcome back buddy...
I'm headed over in Aug...will be in Bahrain for a few months then off to saudi....


Go Navy.....Beat Army......Transport Marines...and wish we were in the air force..lol

 

Stay safe over there and thank you.

 

For all the aviations enthusiasts... I just added about 30 aircraft photos to my gallery & will be adding about 20 more tomorrow.

KC-10 FE out...

 

Great pics KC!

 

WOW...these bring back memories. Makes me wish I was still in. I was in Minot for three years on the BUFF, then in Europe for 3 years on the A-10.

Hmmm....thats a trip down memory lane..






BREW

 

I was wondering where the hell you'd been...

Yeah; As the first Gulf War drew to a close, I spent quality time in Riyadh, at the Saudi Arabian Airforce Base...

I spent two weeks there, taking down the telecommunications infrastructure. We ate like KINGS!
3-4-5 times a day, and no PT...

I GAINED 35 pounds over there...

Upon returning to the everyday life of the Army; I spent the next 6 years paying for that 4 weeks of slacking & eating, and for 6 months of no PT, just weight lifting and working.

Glad to hear (for your future that is) that you won't have to deal with what equated to carrying around a small suitcase, at every upcoming PT test...

 

Note to Environemtal Types... This ^^^^^ is how NOT to improve the air quality in your location...

KC-10 FE out...

 

Since, you were in the air and on base most of the time do you have much to say about what the people over there REALLY are saying. Just some curiosity on my part.

Glad your back and wish you all the best.

Shoot me an e-mail if you want to talk politics and BS.

 

Welcome back and Thank you!!!! Im still on the edge of joining the army or not. We will see. I have the up most respect for all serving in the us military. Once again THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! You truley are heros!

 

Welcome back! I would make a comment about taking that first long hot shower when you got back, but don't you AF guys take those with you?

 

We used water buffalos. Our showers were 12 man tents with 6 shower heads attached to the main tent polls. It was so tight in the showers you didn't know whos a$$ you were washing.

 

I don't know what its like over there now (I've been stationed in Alabama for 4 years now ) but when we go to the field its just a canteen cup until the last day. We usually get some sort of cold shower somewhere before we come in. It drives my wife nuts. She says it always takes 2 weeks before I smell the same