Willow Grove, PA (USA)

Despite the many time zones I'd been through during the last week, I still woke up early because I hoped to see Eric and Andy again before leaving Pennsylvania.  I ended up missing the latter but had fun chatting with Eric. He'd hurt his ankle during the last week - fortunately, I showed up just in time to help him upstairs to his office. I would have stayed longer, but everyone else was counting on me picking them up at the hotel and driving them over to the flight line for our trip home. After taking care of that task, I checked out of the NAS JRB Willow Grove Navy Lodge, returned my rental car (Enterprise) and got onboard the aircraft.  Almost immediately, I found out I was welcome to catch a little more flight time on the way home - cool!  I sat in back for takeoff but went up front and got a couple more hours at the controls.  That should tide me over for awhile, hopefully!  While in the air, we didn't see anything on the ground again - this isn't a good time of year for that, I guess...  We arrived in Fort Worth at around 1330L. Immediately, I found I had messages and tasking - as a result, I couldn't leave work until 1500. The kids were home when I got there, though, and I was able to have nice afternoon with them.  Great trip!

Whidbey Island, WA (USA)

Tried to sleep in this morning (in my room in the Navy Gateway Inn at Whidbey Island) but was wide awake by 0900 (I guess that's noon on the east coast so maybe I did well). When I looked out the window, I saw nearly four inches of snow! It was a pretty, clear day, though. Temperatures were close to freezing, so we headed over to the aircraft as soon as we could. It was a good thing, too, since the NAS Whidbey Island ground crews took nearly four hours to de-ice and fuel us. During that time, Kevin drove the runway with a van (funny to watch!) and I had a chance to pick up some food (Subway). Ran into an old friend, Brett, and he took me over to his office to visit some other people I knew. During the delay, I had plenty of time to chat and take care of pre-flight business. After the aircraft was finally ready, we departed Washington State - it was actually a little earlier than planned!  However, with the time change, I knew we'd have a very late day... Didn't experience anything exciting on the way home - the weather improved after we crossed through ice storms over the Upper Mid-West. We actually flew through Canadian airspace briefly, but couldn't see anything on the ground until Western Pennsylvania. Easy arrival, since weather had drastically improved near Philadelphia by the time of our arrival. After saying goodbye to the aircraft and my crew, I got lots of paperwork done before heading back to the NAS JRB Willow Grove Navy Lodge.  I was able to quickly do laundry and pack - we leave tomorrow!

Whidbey Island, WA (USA)

Had another nice sleep in my room at the NAS JRB Willow Grove Navy Lodge.  Woke up excited for some flying!  We weren't scheduled to leave until very late this afternoon, but I asked everyone to arrive early (1200) so we could get going. Unfortunately, the aircraft didn't cooperate and we didn't end up leaving until around 1530, around an hour later than our schedule had predicted.  I hate starting late... Once airborne, our enroute weather was OK at altitude but we never saw anything on the ground until we'd reached New Mexico. By then, it was nearly dark. We arrived in San Diego with good weather and a pretty shoreline view (including the well-lit Hotel Del Coronado). After landing, our fuel turn wasn't very quick.  On top of the normal delays with ground support, my co-pilot (Kevin) forgot his cell phone at Operations and we only learned that when they called on the radio (d'oohhh!). After that, however, we had a nice flight up to Fallon. Bonus - that air station does a pretty good job of taking care of us when we visit, so it was the quickest stop all day. After getting in the air again, we head more good weather on the way up to Seattle - we saw Portland and the Columbia River outlined by lights.  Sadly, these great conditions severely degraded as we descended towards Whidbey Island.  In fact, the last four minutes were very busy due to snow and freezing rain.  It kind of ticked me off that they gave me an approach to a runway without "rabbit lights" - that just made it harder!  Fortunately, the runway was only damp. After we parked, the snow started coming down pretty heavily.  As a result (?), it took another hour to reach the Navy Gateway Inn - even worse, though, they had no record of our stay when we arrived (even with reservations)! Another hour later, we finally got rooms. Since it usually takes me awhile to wind down from a flight, I didn't actually fall asleep until very late.  Fortunately, I eventually did - whew...

Doylestown, PA (USA)

Woke up very early (at NAS JRB Willow Grove) and headed over to work. Found out they wanted me to fly for the next two days (I love coming here!). The end result, though, was that I had to hurry to get some significant preflight planning done today! No one else arrived for a couple of hours but it gave me a chance to get a lot of stuff done with the folks we came to visit. By 0930, when everyone else was at the office, I had nearly finished the hardest of the work and had time to take a break for the several meetings that are always required with our group. Around 1100, I got back to work. By 1230, the "lunch train" was leaving and I went out with all the guys to Moe's - a place I used to frequent in Atlanta but rarely visit anywhere else. It brought back old memories (it was always a fun environment and the food was always good). Found out Dave and Jeff had wanted the car (oops, I had the keys but not the car!). They ended up working out a ride and I got the car when I went back in to work. Took it down the street to the car rental place to resolve some paperwork and then stopped by to see my old friends - Eric, Andy and Jason. Jason was the only one around, but it was a good visit. Ended up stopping by to see a few other people I hadn't met before - good idea all around. Back at work again around 1400 - powered through until 1630. Had to rush back to hotel to change, since our hosts had a party planned (in our honor). It turned out to a be a great time - lots of good conversation, food and drinks. Stayed until well past 2000 - when another old friend, Chris ("Chippy") walked in the door. I hadn't seen him in a long time and he wanted to catch up - so we went out to dinner (took Rob along, too). Ended up at the Skyline Bar - a good hangout. I ended up having spaghetti (everyone else tried another Cheesesteak). Headed back to the Navy Lodge at around 2200 and went back to work (to check email and tie up loose ends from the day). Finished with everything before midnight and then went straight to bed.  Flying tomorrow!

Willow Grove, PA (USA)

[Inspection Trip and CONUS Mission].  Had a rare chance to fly with one of my old buddies, Scott.  We left late this afternoon from Fort Worth - when we took off, we flew right over downtown Dallas and I could see Dealey Plaza and the School Book Depository. Our mission itinerary took us through the DC area (pretty at night) and then on to Willow Grove. It was windy all across the Northeast (this made landings fun!) and cold when we arrived (2030L). After getting paperwork finished, I picked up my rental car (from Enterprise) that the squadron had arranged for me.  Next, I headed to the Navy Lodge, checked into my room and then hurried out for a late dinner with Dave and Jeff. Wanted to try Lee's Hoagies but it was already closed - we ended up at Tonelli's Pizza & Pub (down the street from there). I had never been to this restaurant before but they claim to have the "finest cheesesteaks in the Universe" - that seemed like a bold statement! I had a classic cheesesteak and, after reflection, have decided that I can't dispute their claim - the food was delicious! Got back to my room as midnight approached and spent the rest of my waking hours unpacking. Went to bed at around midnight.  I'm looking forward to some more flight time!

Dallas, TX (USA)

We spent the afternoon in Dallas today - visiting the site of the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy. I had seen lots of documentaries of the event, including camera angles of the Zapruder film and the sixth floor of the Texas Book Depository, but until today I never truly appreciated the tragedy. When you visit the Sixth Floor Museum (located in the old Book Depository) and stand within feet of Lee Harvey Oswald's shooting position - and look down on Dealey Plaza - you really feel like you were there. The area around the Plaza has not changed very much - the streets are still quiet and there was very little traffic. We spent nearly two hours in the museum, which has lots of models, artifacts and photos/videos of the Assassination. It was good - and the kids even liked it. Afterwards, we walked around Dealey Plaza, including the "Grassy Knoll" and on some X marks in the street that represented the spots where Kennedy received a bullet wound. Standing on the street and in places where the eyewitnesses saw the shooting was surreal - Oswald had a great view and it really didn't look as far from his position to Kennedy's car as I thought it would. I've shot an M16 from about the same distance (albeit a stationary target) - I'm sure a Marine could do it. We later walked over to nearby Founder's Square - site of the founding of Dallas. There was a log cabin that represented the home of the first settler (John Neely Bryan, 1841). Across the street was a cenotaph (empty tomb) commemorating the life of John F. Kennedy. Next door was a nice red Romanesque-Revival building (the Old Red Courthouse) - might be a good place to visit another time. Went home soon after - it was a good day!