I almost forgot about this pic. This is another one from API. This was most of our class on the day we graduated from API. They have a bar upstairs in the API building where the instructors provided us with a drink or two after graduation. It was a good deal and a good way to finish out the program with my class. 

Well Hurricane Ike psyched everyone down here in Corpus out. I hope anyone reading this from the Houston/Galveston area is alright because it looked pretty intense. Down here, we barely saw some rain. Oh well. 

We started the week by finishing our systems class and taking the systems test. That was pretty simple, especially since we had a good instructor. He flew Huey's in Vietnam with the Army, made it to Senior Chief as an E-2 mech in the Navy, and then flew the T-34 as an LDO instructor. Needless to say, he was dripping with experience, and he knew the T-34 like the back of his hand. On top of that, he enjoyed b.s'n with our class, which helped to keep things relaxed. The systems boards and panels used for instruction were the same ones which were originally installed at Whiting and Corpus in 1982. That means I just finished being taught with the same boards my Dad learned with. I got a kick out of that, but they obviously worked well since our class all passed the test. As each day goes we get more and more one time check in the blocks we need before our first flight. Even with all the gouge, heads-up, and instruction, I am pretty sure I am going to be eternally behind on the first flight. However, that seems to be the name of the game...keep your head above water for the first couple flights of a training block and then it straightens itself out...if you work at it. 

Anyways, that is what is happening down in Corpus. I can't wait to get going with the first FAM flights. I am ready to start having a reason to wear my flight suit every day. Hope things are going well with whoever is reading this. Take care.

Finally, I have internet again. It has been a long process getting set up down here in Corpus. After staying the BOQ for 10 days, we finally had an apartment. It is very nice, but neither of us had any furniture. Luckily, my mom mobilized the family network, and I obtained a full apartment's worth of furnishings from my fam in Dallas. After that, it was more battles with AT&T for internet and tv. What a joke...they are such a pain down here. 

Training wise, things have been moving very very quickly. We checked in with our squadron on Monday, VT-28 Rangers. They are supposed to be the better and chiller of the two primary squadrons down here. We started ground school on Tuesday. It is like API on crack. I already feel behind, and we just started. However, it seems that Hurricane Ike is gonna give my class a bit of a respite. We are waiting to be evac'd...maybe. I am hopin we are since that gives me a free trip home with my buddies comin too. Anyways, that is a quick summary of whts happenin down south. Flying starts in like 2 weeks, I can't wait. 

The pics above are from various events during API. A buddy of mine put them up, they are of no one in particular...just some of us in the pool and parasailing and such. 

My Bust! I have been absent from this for quite some time. It has been a busy past week or so. 

As I signed off the previous post, I was preparing to go parasailing in 'bama. Well, sure enough, the weather held out for us, and we were able to get that in. It was a blast! We got strapped into the harness and hooked to a rope about 200 yards long or so. Then, the PRs gave the thumbs up and the truck towing the rope gunned it. Simultaneously, we would start running. After about three steps I was airborne. Once we were a few hundred feet in the air, the truck would slow down. We would start descending in order to practice our PLF (parachute landing fall). If you do it correctly, it doesn't hurt really at all. We did this whole process twice. The first time we stayed attached to the truck, and it pulled us very slowly as we came down, simulating landing into the wind. This is the softest type of landing you can have. The second time, the truck releases the rope. This ensures we descend essentially straight down, which is the hardest landing possible (under a correctly deployed chute that is). All in all...I can't believe I was getting paid to do this. Especially since most folks have to pay lots of cash to do similar things at beaches and resorts. Oh yeah...I learned something too...I guess...

That Wednesday night, our entire class went out to a local bar that night to celebrate being done with API. Basically, it was a good excuse to go out and enjoy everyone's company one last time. I had a really great class for API. The next day, we had a small graduation deal. It was nothing spectacular at all...it took place in one of the classrooms. Just like that, API was done. That six weeks went by super fast. 

Friday, I got up early to pick up my orders, and then I jumped over to the airport to pickup my little bro. He was kind enough to come out and drive back home with me. Unfortunately, he was sick about half the way, but he never complained about it...what a trooper. 

We got home just in time to catch the last part of the party the consulting group my dad is a part of was throwing. I got to meet some very interesting people that night and later in the weekend. The rest of the weekend was spent seeing folks and getting ready to head to Corpus Christi on Sunday. 

I finally made it NAS Corpus Christi on Sunday night at about 9 o'clock (2100 for you military types)...7 hours in one state.  I was able to get a room at the BOQ and hit the rack, since the next morning was gonna be an early one. Four other guys from my API class and I got up early and checked in on Monday to Training Wing Four. By checking in early, we were hoping to get VT-28 which is supposed to be the best primary squadron in the wing. There were five spots left for the class which started 08 SEP, and there were five of us. So, luckily, we all got in the same class in the better of the two squadrons. I hope my luck does not run out before pipeline selection after primary. 

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday have been the busiest of all. We have all been running around base trying to check in at each base office, arranging our apartment rentals, and trying to figure out how to get our move money. What a pain it has been, but...it'll be worth it once we start ground school and the first phase of primary. We picked up our books, and the stories of the "firehose" of information were no lie...it is gonna be a steep learning curve. But, they are still paying me to go fly...thats pretty sweet! I am heading home this weekend to arrange my home of record move, so I will sign off for now. Hope everyone is doing well...enjoy the holiday weekend. 

Oh yeah, college football season is starting again...finally!!!

The last few days here have been awesome. Last Thursday we learned about the life rafts, and practiced getting in and out of them. Friday, we did the helo dunker. That turned out to be a lot of fun. Everyone was pretty nervous before our first rude, but we all stayed calm and had no problem. That was the key...just relaxing and going through the steps. Yesterday, Monday, we practiced getting out of our parachute harness if going down over the water. Today, though, was by far the best day. We spent all morning doing PLF's (parachute landing falls) and the virtual reality parachute steering sim. That was pretty cool. Then, we jumped on a boat, and they dropped us in the bay for help ops. API actually has not conducted helo ops for a few months because the helo squadrons have been transitioning o a new platform. I got to be the first in the water and first to be hoisted. It was very cool. The helo got nice and low, and the lifted us just out of the water. Then they put us right back in. However, I do not have a big need to do it again, that meaning I would have just bailed out of my aircraft. 

Anyways, tomorrow is parasailing out in Alabama. That should be a great time. Then, it is off to Corpus for primary on Friday. 

I meant to post this last Wednesday...Aug 13

We have finally gotten into the practical stuff. We finished academics with flight rules & regulations test. The subject is very straight forward, so they feel the need to try and trick you on the test (like change the numbers around in OPNAV 3710...good job guys...you got us). That was frustrating, but no one failed. So, we had a class party that night at our class leader's house who brews his own beer. On Monday, we started the land survival stuff. They used to take us out to Eglin for a couple of days in the woods. However, now it is just a day of power point stuff...bummer. They said we would get the rest at SERE school. Tuesday was more power points over physiology. Finally, Wednesday, we got into the decompression chamber to figure out how hypoxia got to us. That was a lot of fun playin the P-cola patty cake. We also did the "spin and puke." Luckily, I did not hear of anyone in our class demonstrating the second part of that.