Not often ya find something on youtube that you were a part of.


Anyway, the jet I was crew chiefin' that day was 6166 as the first lander at the 1:12 mark in the video.

Other pictures of mine from the trip...













Still after 5 years now can't believe they pay me for this.

Adrianspeeder

 

Nice! Do you get much engine damage from the crap on those dirt runways?

The C17 can sure do a high angle of attack approach and landing.

- Jack

 

I actually did take over an hour for my intake and exhaust inspection afterwords when the pilots went to do their pilot things before we had a good time that night, and didn't even find a sand nick in a single blade.

Yup, max power takeoff and landings to get in and out fast and high as possible. Crank that volume for the landings when they slam that big girl down with full flaps, ground spoilers armed, and with the first weight on wheels signal input pops all 8 spoilers full deflection, pull the throttles to reverse idle, wait for all four thrust reverser lock lights to rip them handles to full power reverse, and bring a BIG can of whoopass anytime anywhere.

Adrianspeeder

 

Some of those guys didnt land very friendly... got drug around a bit. That is a huge plane

 

It is neat how close those 2 big *** planes fly for refueling. Between the C-17 and KC-135, that's a lot of metal in the air.

 

Neat is one way to put it. I was actually a lil concerned. Never had watched an AR from up top before. We are so fat when comin' up behind, the pilot has to power through the bow wave, then reel 'er back to not drive right through the tanker.

Size comparison of a C17 vs a KC-135...



Adrianspeeder

 

It is weird when you consider that the tail of the C-17 is in the slipstream of the KC-135. Has to have some effect in the controls. You can be glad you aren't doing this back in the 50's when the only refueler was a KC-97. The jets refueling were at about stall speed. That plus the larger prop wash.

 

It does for sure, but being a fly by wire jet, there is an app for that basically. Punch the AR mode button and just fly 'er on in. Still no room for error though.

Adrianspeeder

 

Adrian, are you aware of the C-17 making the landing in Peter O Knight airport in Tampa a few days ago?

 

Yeah we were makin' fun of that crew at work the other day. They will be peein' in a cup for sure. Looked up the distance of that runway as well. Plenty of room even loaded.

Adrianspeeder

 

Im up here at McGuire, noticed tail 4132 there in the video, stepped onto that A/C too many times, aerial porter here.