While I may be avionics by trade full time, I can do a little bit of flyin' crew chief jobs on the side. Some of my more favorite shots I've taken while haulin' *** around the world.



Trip 001 Spring 2011 Afghanistan



001/002 - Kickin' back for a day in ole Ramstein on 2011-04-08 on my first ride as an FCC.























003 - Haulin' a big ole forklift unit on 2011-04-08 on my first ride as an FCC.























005 - Cruzin' at FL 320.















006 - Cruzin' at FL 320 as night falls.















007 - Mother Russialand!















008 - No flight suit yet...















009 - 1000 below FL 270.















010 - Who's flyin' this bird? Oh right, all four Flight Control Computers hummin'.







011 – Hero shot.















012 – HUD















013 - Cruzin' smooth.















014/15 - Afghanistan has quite a few high hostile snowy very cold mountains.















016/17 - Yeeeehaw, ring 'er out a little bit of angle and dangle.























018/19/20/21 - Afghanistan has quite a few high hostile snowy very cold mountains.







































022/23/24 - See anything down there? Just reach out and touch 'em.































025 – How we roll.

 

Awesome pictures. Great view from up front!
Sure like that beer shot too.

 

Always enjoy your pics. Keep up the good work

 

Great photos, even greater work!

 

Awesome photos!

 

026 - Doin' it fer 'Murica.















027 - The gates of hell ain't far from Kandahar.















028 - A dollar ride story that I will forever remember. We had left Kandahar, gone to our next FOB, and as we were engine starting to leave, the call comes in to head back to Kandahar for a no-notice medivac. A soldier was not an hour or so before hit by a sniper above his armor, in his throat, through his spine, and out the back. Well, myself and the loadmasters had the cargo reconfiged, onboard medivac equipment setup, and ready for the pickup in under 30mins. It didn't look good with all the breathing equipment, and was given a 50/50 on surviving the flight. Amazingly while coming out of anesthesia, the soldier was able to lift his arms and wiggle toes. I packed it full of fuel while the AC got the waiver for weight, and flight plan to push those motors to the redline, and we went as fast as she would go into Germany. The absolutely smoothest landing fell into place where you couldn't tell approach from touchdown and full stop, and he was sped away still holding on.















029 - This better be the smoothest landing ya can swing in...















030 - They told us all his chances were greatly increased being still alive on the ground back in Germany. We all made it happen, and all had a drink for him. Whoever that soldier is, hope you are still doing well. Never knew his name, or how his story turned out, but I like to think our piece of the puzzle all came together and made a mission happen.

On to a happier part of being in Germany...









Trip 002 Summer 2011, Illinois



031/32 – My first solo FCC ride to Moline Illinois.











033 - Back when flaps and slats had to be run through after every engine start.







034 - Flap fault, EFCS reset, ops chk good.







035/36 – Twilight cruse to the next stop.











037 - Climbin' hard out of Virginia.







038 - Sunset over Delaware.

 

The developer that did that also bought the QE2 and converted it into either condos or a hotel there as well.

They hit the wall with a real estate bubble as well, it is not going so hot anymore.
Gives a place for the rulers of the 'Stans to park their oil money ( that should be going to the people ).
The daughter of one of them owns 2 or 3 places there, her younger brother ( ~ 10 ) has 2 I think.

 

Ewwwww!

Thanks to you for doing the job you do!

Thanks for the pics. Enjoyed them.

 

the snow covered mountains kind of looked like a sea with white tipped waves! very cool and that glass shot reminds me i need a drink!

PS thanks for your service!

 

That's not beer.

 

That looks like a massive dock/port for boats, but i could be wrong

 

Cool pics.

FWIW, here is a little more info on that Palm from Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Islands

 

Trip 003 Winter 2012 Afghanistan



039 - Heading to Kentucky at FL400.







040 - Kickin' back in Kentucky.







041 - Not much to do in Kentucky.







042 – Sunset cruse.







043 – Fly me to the Moon.







044 - Ahh yes, the great rooms of "southwest asia". It all comes back to me now from the first deployment.







045 - Spent 4 months workin' this ramp before. Glad to only have to stay the night.







046 - Ways you know your country has too much freakin' money.







047/48/49/50 - More time over Afghanistan lookin' for any rocks being tossed our way.



















051 – Splash of gas, and load out next stop to Germany.







052 - Nothin' quite like a sunset in Afghanistan.







053 - See this one time, we were camping out in the lobby of this hotel coming home from Manas, and Tim knocks over the fake plant messin' it up. Still hadn't been fixed.

 

You, sir, have NO taste in beer - just like most Americans.

 

great pics. Thank you for your service sir! I have a couple of buddies in Egypt right now..