Cleared for Take-Off

Keep this going?

2011-06-24T01:36:00.000-04:00

Hey guys...

Man I have been so busy here at the FRS (Fleet Replacement Squadron) that I haven't had time to take alot of pictures to be posted. I don't know how many hits this blog still gets or if anyone is still interested. Make a comment on this post telling me if you want me to keep it up... if I get a few people that are still reading this and want me to continue posting pictures of flight training and my upcoming tour to Atsugi, Japan... let me know. And if not, we had a great run, thanks for tuning in.

JR... out.

Sorry it has been a while...

2011-03-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

Hey guys,

Here is a quick update. I finished Advanced Training and got my wings this past Friday. I went to the Galapagos for 2 weeks before I winged so these past 3-4 weeks have been hectic to say the least. I have pictures from the last few weeks of training and some posts are coming, but I am just busy right now. Keep checking back, but I think I'll be able to get back on top of things in a week or so. Thanks for checking in, see you guys soon.

JR... out.

Mustache-uary 2011

2011-01-23T13:53:00.000-05:00

I declined to mention that since Christmas break, I have been growing a mustache. That’s right, a creepy, disgusting, wonderfully awesome and powerful mustache. The competition was fierce among the other participants in the squadron, and I’m sorry to say my upper lip was undeserving of an award. The cookout/get-together was a lot of fun, and LT Ahlen put some time into a funny video that hopefully won’t keep getting shut down by Sony and Fox. Damn digital copyrights. I made some pulled pork and a homemade BBQ sauce that got me quite a few compliments. I just wish that I hadn’t been drinking the night before when I was creating the “Mustache Juice” and wrote down what I put in there. Haha. Maybe I can figure it out before the Superbowl. Enjoy the pics, more to come soon…

JR... out.

Really?

2011-01-17T13:41:00.000-05:00

I didn’t know what to do with these pictures. I don’t think I’ll get enough MAFs (Maintenance Action Forms) to make it a post on its own, so I decided to just lump these pics together because they made me laugh. Enjoy.

JR... out.

Solo Tallahassee!

2011-01-14T13:41:00.000-05:00

RI’s complete! I made it! Check ride went well, and now I can move on to the rest of the syllabus. It is great to have this monkey off my back. So this is my last solo in the mighty TH-57C (at least at the controls). I chose to go to Tallahassee because it is about as far as I can get on one tank of gas. I’ve got a few friends there, my buddy Todd and my lady friend Jamilyn. We met up at Momo’s for one of their ridiculously large pizzas. In case you don’t recognize the bum sitting next to me in a flight suit… that is Zach Moorer. Zach and I did all of our CCXs (Cross Country flights) together and were partners in RI Sims. I requested that he be my ride-along, and I’m glad that Skeds hooked it up. The flight was fun, thankfully uneventful, and now on to the rest of the program. I am on pace to get out of here late Feb or early March. If I get my number one choice I’ll end up flying HSC in Guam. I really want to live overseas again, living in Italy for three years was awesome, now I want to try the other coast. Here are some pics of my solo.

JR... out.

Look at these lazy bums!

2011-01-08T13:35:00.000-05:00

That picture of KP still maes me crack up... (last pic, dude with the 'stache) When I first took these pictures, I thought about how they might look (um, bad?) to someone who doesn’t really understand the program here, or how our day progresses. This was a second or third bad weather day in a row. The majority of the room had been in squadron spaces prior to 6am, completed a weight and balance, checked weather, and briefed the flight (takes 30 min to 2 hours depending on the brief). Then the waiting game. Because this is a training command and our mission is the safe completion of an “X”, we don’t push forward with a flight if the weather looks rough. I think that for almost 3 days in a row the ready room looked like this. The Xbox was fired up b/c the BCS championship was days away, and we were running our own simulations. The CO used one of the days to give a rundown of things that the squadron is up to, and what we can expect over the next couple months. I thought it was really cool, reminded me of an old school Captain's Call and got the students involved. Only a couple more flights to go and then I am finished with RI’s, hopefully we get some good weather.

JR... out.

USS Independence

2011-01-04T13:28:00.000-05:00

Now this is a cool ship. I’m not even sure it should even be classified as a ship. 40 man crew, racks large enough to sit up in, and the wardroom do their own dishes? Doesn’t sound like a boat to me. Thanks again Will for showing me and CDR Scott around, I know his son really enjoyed it. I’m not going to try and write anything about the ship in here except that it was really cool, and here is a few pictures of the inside I took with my cell. Check out the link below if you want to know more, and if you have an opportunity to check it out from up close, I highly recommend it.

http://www.ussindependenceship.org/

JR... out

Christmas Break!

2011-01-03T13:24:00.000-05:00

This year I decided not to spend the holidays with my family. Due to some of the drama going on down south, I thought it might be better for me to take a little road trip, visit some friends, and try out some debauchery in another city besides Pensacola for a week or two. Besides a little stroll through Zoo lights in Gulf Breeze, very little of my Christmas was conventional. I’m glad I at least did see the lights, it is nice to know even Santa prefers helos over jets. Anyways… faced with a plethora of options, I started by packing a bag and heading to New Orleans. My buddy Ben lives out there and has a really cool loft apartment right downtown. After a few nights of $100 bar tabs, waking up wearing beads and neon necklaces, and a fuzzy memory of a 4-foot-something Asian girl pulling a knife on me… it was time to move on (true story!). The next closest city with some good friends was Jacksonville, FL. I didn’t stop except for gas until I got there. I was fortunate to spend some time with my buddy Jack, his wife Jackie (??? Awesome?), and my buddy Will. Will is on that new crazy LCS ship that utilizes a jet-drive like a huge waverunner, and joysticks instead of a normal helm. After a cool tour of the ship (which will get its own post) I looked into hanging out with my old buddy Mitch Duggan. Mitch was a Senior Chief when I met him, and we became friends going to school together on the weekend. He is retired now, and we went to the same hole in the wall that we would frequent for liquid lunches before returning to class. If you play golf in Jax, I’m sure you are familiar. Murray’s. It was good to see you buddy. After that, it was time to head back and get back in the groove to finish RI’s. It was a good break, and I came home with some good stories. No regrets.

JR... out.

Back in the Saddle (RI Flights)

2010-12-16T14:07:00.000-05:00

So now I’m back in the helo. Two blocks of RI flights to complete until I am an instrument rated pilot. RI’s are about as much fun as a prostate exam. Hopefully the next few weeks will go by quickly. I have completed the first block already without too much trouble. The next 5 flights are where you make your money though… they culminate with your instrument check ride. Only 5 more flights under the hood and then on to the fun stuff. After RI’s I get to do some ship landings, search and rescue, and low level flights. I’m excited. Shooting multiple approaches and being stressed out from a lack of sleep and studying for the briefs everyday gets old real quick. I’m just going to stop complaining and finish this thing up, I’ll post soon with the status of my check ride (should be in the next couple weeks). Wish me luck!

JR… out.

CCX Hot ‘Lanta

2010-12-11T13:21:00.010-05:00

One of the best parts of flight school is getting out on the “road” with an instructor for a Cross Country flight. Zach Moorer and I asked LT Osterhaus to take us on a CCX to Atlanta for the weekend. It just happened that Zach’s father has season tickets for USC, so they had tickets to the SEC Championship game that weekend. The flights were fun and not stressful at all. LT Osterhaus is a great instructor and made the flights fun, but we learned a lot. On the way to Atlanta one of our stops was Montgomery, Alabama. The pics above are from a small memorial to John Long, Jr… holder of the Guinness Book of World Record for the most flight hours as pilot-in-command. 64,000 something hours is ridunculous. Yes, ridunculous. In Atlanta we stayed at a hotel in mid-town and had a night out on the town Friday night. My mission was to get to a strip club. Mission Accomplished. Saturday night I spent at my buddy Brian’s house with his family and our friend Richard and his wife. By the way Brian… thank you (and your beautiful wife) for the great dinner! It was a good time; I hadn’t seen those guys in probably 5 years. The ride back to Pensacola was long and cold. Zach broke the back window in the helo, so I had to make a fort out of flight bags to stay warm for the last 2 hour leg of our trip home. I wish I had more pics of the trip, but I lost my camera the weekend before.

JR… out.

RI Sims

2010-12-01T13:09:00.010-05:00

Here comes the hurt. RI’s are going to be painful. Long days of staring at the instrument panel, and even longer days due to the studying required in order to be prepared for the flights and the preceeding briefs. This is the hardest part of flight school. They say (instructors) that you will do more instrument flying here in Advanced than you will do in the fleet. I am glad. I can’t stand RI’s. They are the reason I picked helicopters in the first place. Having your face in the cockpit with no outside reference isn’t a lot of fun, who would want to fly like that? (Airline pilots). Something about being able to see where you are going, you know? Back in BI sims you flew with an instructor in the left seat (co-pilot). Here in RI’s they pick a student for you to fly with, and you take turns “playing” pilot and co-pilot. I was fortunate enough to get a partner of my choosing, so my buddy Zach Moorer and I got to fly together. We are both strong personalities, so sometimes we would clash in the cockpit. Nothing outlandish, but sometimes funny… and we always left it in the trainer. We had a beer bet going on who would crash the most autos (autorotative landing). He is like an idiot savant when it comes to landing those things… and I’m a sore loser. In RI sims you fly multiple approaches and practice making radio calls to the instructor who is orchestrating the simulator environment from his console in the back. RI sims were actually fun. Enjoy the pics, more to come.

JR… out.

The Dreaded INAV Test

2010-11-10T14:15:00.010-05:00

OMG. (Oh, my, God… for people over 40) This test pulls more attention than any test I’ve taken in the flight program so far. People make it out to be a student killer. Maybe it gets its rep because it gets more failures than any other test in Advanced? My opinion: None of the tests in Advanced are that hard... except the INAV. Here is the info… open book test. Seems simple enough right? Um, did you see the books? I wish I would have taken a picture of them right before the test (by the way, anyone reading this with a pic of all their books tabbed up… send it). Our books are tabbed to the point of ridiculousness. The majority of the test focuses on finding obscure information in the mountain of pubs that we received especially for this test. The purpose of this test is to train you to flight plan and use all the available publications that the Navy makes accessible to you. A smaller (but in no way insignificant) portion of the test is the “Jet Log” and DD-175. The Jet Log is a calculation of distance, time, and fuel burn for every portion of your route of flight. The only thing that makes it difficult is in order to "standardize” it for testing purposes, there are a bunch a rules you must follow… and basically memorize. It sucks. Anyhow, the test is done, the pain has passed, and I’ll take my 92% all day long.

JR… out.

BI Flights

2010-10-20T12:14:00.000-04:00

Sit in a chair and stare at me for 2 hours. Welcome to BI's.

Finally done with Sims! Which means now I get to stare at an instrument panel in a real helicopter? Please and thank you. All kidding aside, I am really excited to get back in the aircraft. The simulator truly feels like a game, and the instructors teach you how to “beat” it. “Set this nose attitude, set this power, turn this angle, ok… now take your hand off the controls! See it flies itself!” Yeah, ok. Not so much in a real helicopter. You have thermals you have to deal with, the shuddering of a real helicopter, and the AFCS (Automatic Flight Control System) isn’t so automatic. BI flights are the beginning of very long days for students. Not only do you have to fly a flight for yourself, but because you wear a “hood,” another student sits in the back so that he/she can clear (look out a window) the right side of the aircraft. I don’t have a lot of pictures for these flights, mainly because there isn’t much to them. It is the same maneuvers over and over, the same ones that you learned in the simulator. The difference is that you are “eased” into the RI portion of the syllabus which includes flying approaches and departures. That is all for now, see you soon.

JR… out!

Basic Instruments 101

2010-10-10T09:55:00.008-04:00

Ah… Basic Instruments. Not called Basic because they are any less sophisticated than any other instruments, but basic because we are learning to fly using only instruments (no outside references) at a “basic level.” Basically (no puns) the student shows up at the appropriate time, and sits in a cubicle waiting for a civilian instructor to come and start the brief off. Most of the civilian instructors have been around for a long time. I mean FOREVER. A couple might have even had a hand in inventing the helicopter. Anyways, the brief normally isn’t too hard or painful… which makes sense. This is “basic” instruments. On to the simulator you go (after the instructor gets another cup of coffee and a pee break) and you strap into that metal box. It is actually a really cool simulator, and makes me wish I had millions to spend on a large video game that doesn’t take quarters. The instructor sits in the copilot seat for these sims (the left seat) and gives you some instruction on how to complete the maneuvers. Most of the maneuvers involve changing an altitude, airspeed, heading, or a combination of the three. The degree of how accurate you execute the maneuver is how you are graded. (Think flying in the clouds, no visual horizon, only flying using the instruments in front of you.) BI sims get repetitive, and some of the instructors are… let’s just say not everyone’s favorite. But mastering a few of the maneuvers here is supposed to increase your instrument scan, and make you a better pilot. Enjoy the pics, more to come!

JR… out.

Confused by my Tactics?

2010-09-25T13:01:00.002-04:00

Tactics! Some say it is the most fun that you will have in Helo Advanced. Personally, I enjoyed the aerobatics and form flights of Primary, but the Tactics flights were definitely the coolest flights in the Helo to date.

"This block is to introduce you to all the cool things helicopters can do, don't worry... you won't be really good at it." -LT Ahlen

I guess that kind of sums it up. In this block of training you fly High-Speed Approaches, Confined Area Landings, and External Ops. They take the doors (the rear doors) off the helo and 2 of the 3 flights you fly with a crewman in the back. I got to catch a ride to one of our outlying sites and sit in the back with the doors off. That is probably one of the more enjoyable experiences in my Naval Career so far. (I wish I was allowed to have taken pictures of that) I am kind of jealous of the guys that get to do it all of the time. This block of training starts with the student and the instructor taking the bird out to an outlying field to practice flying into the field at 100 knots, 50 feet, then almost taking out all power and pulling aft stick to slow down to almost a walking speed and land. It was pretty awesome. (a normal approach has the helo at 50 knots at the field boundary at 150 feet) The Confined Area Landings are completed on the next flight, and are basically a steep approach into a wooded area that has a landing site. The crewman in the back directs you and clears the rear of the aircraft. The last day is external load training... kind of benign, but it was still enjoyable and good training. I was able to shoot a little video of our instructor (LT Gomez) demoing the maneuver before I got a shot at it, and in one of the videos a couple sections (group of 2) came in to split the field and land. Enjoy the video and pics... I'll have more up soon!

JR... out.

Super Fams Sucka!

2010-09-20T17:46:00.009-04:00

Super Fams! Well, not as super as their name... but they are more checks in the box, and more flights towards getting my wings. Super Fams are more familiarization flights that you complete after your solo (yes, I have already solo'd and made it back in one piece). They are for increased proficiency before you move on to your "Tactics" flights. My solo went well (you actually fly with another student to an outlying field and then back) and now I am in Super Fams. Because this block of flights isn't exactly high priority, the pics I have are of me and my buddies sitting around cracking jokes hoping to get picked up on the pick-up board. There is a large student ready room with a flat screen that loops ESPN all day, so we get a little bit of studying done, but mostly catch up on all the games that we don't really have time to watch. Anyhow, enjoy the pics... Tactics is bound to have some better stories/pictures.

JR... out.

Megan's Wedding

2010-09-19T15:29:00.037-04:00

A buddy of mine from API (you might have to go into the archives on the right there) decided to tie the knot in Pensacola. She contacted a few of us that were still around from API and requested for us to attend her wedding and perform a sword arch for her and her husband to be (J.C.). The wedding was at Old Christ Church in downtown Pensacola. It was a classy ceremony, and then everyone met up at the O' Club at NAS Pensacola for the reception. Megan had the foresight to place us at the table closest to the bar (kudos!) and plant (I think the only) "single" girl at the wedding at our table. We drank in true Navy and Marine Corp fashion, and got the party started early into the evening. Congrats Megan and J.C.!

JR... out.

Today we salute you...

2010-09-15T22:29:00.005-04:00

Tyler Flagg, a buddy of mine from API and Primary Training, wrote this Bud Light commercial for me. He is currently in Enid finishing up his training in the T-44. Thanks Tyler, and we miss you down here bro.

Today we salute you 'Mr. Tannest Man in flight school'...

Anyone can live in Milton, study every night and make it through pilot training...but it takes a real man to push the limits of crew days in order to make squids and kids night every week...

You schedule your flights around your GTL time, and keep your visor up at 8,000 feet, because why not?...now you're just 8,000 feet closer to the sun...

Group Study sessions and Practice Sims? Who needs em...you can always just figure that shit out in the plane...

So crack open an ice cold bud light...because your golden brown tan says "Sure, I'll fly a plane...but I came here to party"

JR... out.

Fams!

2010-08-23T18:18:00.000-04:00

It has been a few weeks since my last post. I have been really busy, but decided to sit down to write a few lines in here. I finished up ground school, and have moved into the FAM flight stage. Similar to Primary Training over at North Whiting Field... the purpose of these flights are to get you ready to solo and introduce you to flying helicopters. I flew my first graded event today, and I did pretty well. I'm happy with how the flight went, normally I am very critical of myself. Obviously I still have a long way to go. I have about 6 more flights to go until my FAM partner and I take out the bird by ourselves. My FAM partner is an Italian student, Luca Giannini. I guess that is all for now, I will try to get more pics up soon.

JR... out.

HT-8 Ballers

2010-07-12T19:12:00.005-04:00

Last week I had my first week of training in my new squadron, HT-8. The "Eight Ballers" is one of three helicopter training squadrons at NAS Whiting field. The others being HT-28 and HT-18. I am currently in Aero class (aerodynamics) learning that helicopters probably shouldn't fly. Seriously, the amount of moving parts and craziness that goes into making one of these things move is amazing. I can't wait to get in the air. One more week of class, one week of CPT's (a static trainer that you practice emergency procedures in) and then I should be getting close to flying the real thing. More pics to come once I actually start doing something worth posting about. This was a quote we read in class, it made me laugh...

“Like all novices we began with the helicopter but soon saw it had no future and dropped it. The helicopter does, with great labor, only what the balloon does without labor, and is no more fitted than the balloon for rapid horizontal flight. If its engine stops, it must fall with deathly violence, for it can neither float like a balloon nor glide like an airplane. The helicopter is much easier to design than an airplane, but it is worthless when done.”

-Wilbur Wright

Awesome.

JR... out.

Helo's here I come!

2010-06-13T15:25:00.001-04:00

Selection was Thursday, and I got my first choice of helos. I am stoked. Here is a pic of the other selectees. Everyone got their first choice except one, but she was on the fence just like I was so it wasn't a hit to get her 2nd choice. Congrats Kai! Time to celebrate. Stay tuned, now it is time for pictures of advanced training at South Field flying helicopters!

JR... out.

Primary Complete Sucka!

2010-06-13T15:16:00.000-04:00

All done! Well... with this phase. I finished with a 53.4 NSS. I know that doesn't mean much to anyone not in flight school but lets say the average at the squadron bounces around 47. 50 is the cut for Jets, and the grades are on a curve with the past 200 students with an 80 being the top of the curve. I am happy how I finished. I am ready for selection and have decided that I am going to put helos as my first choice. I don't want to say I was talked into it by LT Rack and LT Kiffer, I actually had been on the fence for a few weeks now. They helped fill me in on things about the helo community of which I wasn't aware. I had always wanted P-3s, but the closer I got to selection, the more I felt like I would fit into the helo community better. P-3's fly instruments alot (basically what I did for the last month of Primary flight school) and I hate instruments. They aren't fun. Helo's fly VFR (visual flight rules) pretty much most of the time and I really enjoy being able to see the ground and see where I am going. Most helo pilots are really cool and not douchey as well. I used to have all the jokes for helos and the guys that picked them. "You know a helo is 5 million parts flying in loose formation right?" Blah, blah, blah. In the end, I am excited about my choice, we'll see how it pans out.

JR... out.

CCX Gainesville

2010-06-13T15:03:00.001-04:00

The stars aligned for me last weekend and I was able to do a CCX (Cross Country) to Gainesville, FL. Normally students pick a destination a little farter away, but we felt that with the weather closing in from the West, it might be a good idea to stay close to home. Besides, I have seen Key West quite a few times. It worked out great because the A/C in our plane was being a little punk and it was hot as hell outside. 3 short legs and we were drinking beer at University Air in G-ville. Gainesville was awesome, and we had a great time. Stumbled into a frat house party, took a bunch of pictures we don't remember, and I woke up with a bashed leg that looks like I got hit with a bat. I toughed out the last few flights home and we returned on Sunday. I should have went to medical but I had 3 flights left in Primary and there was no way I was going to let them med down me for my leg and have to wait another week or two to finish. Last couple flights were actually pretty painful, but I played it off and got them done. Thanks Craig (DeGarmo) for taking me and they boys around and showing us a good time. Looking forward to doing it again. The most random and awesome thing happened in Tallahassee. I grew up with the Monson boys, Joe and Todd from the Keys. On Sunday I am parking the plane and who is my lineman? Todd Monson. Instead of giving him the normal "thumb up" sign, I threw him the bird. He cocked his head to the side a little and then I raised my visor. It was great to see you man, even if it was only for a gas-and-go. I can't believe I get paid to do this.

JR... out.

Dear RI's

2010-06-04T09:28:00.000-04:00

I am glad to be finished with you. At least the Sim part. You were a miserable mistress.

Sim complete! At least Primary Sim complete... Off to the plane now. 9 more flights and then I get to select what I am going to fly in the fleet. Still don't know what I want yet. Still leaning P-3's, but helo's are an option as well. I have a cross country this weekend to Gainesville and then will only have 3 flights remaining in the syllabus. I hope I finish up next week. Gotta go and prepare for my flight, see you guys around.

JR... out.

My Vacation needs a Vacation

2010-06-01T23:23:00.000-04:00

Ginnie Springs. Really? Friggin INSANE. I saw more nudity in 2 nights than I did the whole time at Mardi Gras. And I went two years in a row. I am back but soooo tired. I feel like I need a few days just to rest my body, liver, and sore feet. This post could go on for days about how much fun and crap we all saw this weekend. Oscar Taylor and his wife Casey was with me and brought the kids. It was a good experience for them, but maybe a little too crazy of a weekend. The camping part was ridiculous, and so much fun. Here are a few pics, I left all the nasty ones out. They are in my private reserve of pictures to show at my funeral. Ok guys, it is late and I have 2 flights tomorrow.

JR... out.

RI Training Aids

2010-06-01T23:09:00.001-04:00

RI's have kinda been kicking my butt. They aren't alot of fun, and besides that, I don't think I am really good at them. Besides that, flight school just keeps trucking along... and I am one more week closer to completion. Of this phase. Lol. I am still thinking P-3's, but am torn because I really feel like I would enjoy flying helos more. The actual flying part... helos are so damn cool. Well, I thought I grew out of smiley faces and notes on my paperwork... but Mr. Kapple (one of the sim instructors) does things a little different. It is a little goofy, but it makes the debriefs light. And he is a real cool instructor. And so I present to you, a couple of RI print outs from a few of my flights with Mr. Kapple. Enjoy. Hopefully I get my cross-country to Gainesville this weekend and I take a lot of pictures. See you guys soon.

JR... out.

50th Anniversary Party at Flounders

2010-05-14T19:33:00.000-04:00

Oscar, The Skipper, Me, and LT Jenkins

Me and CDR Murphy

Me and Oscar

Andres (Spaniard), Me, The Skipper

Me and Casey Taylor

This past weekend (Friday), the VT-2 Squadron had its 50th Anniversary party. It was a blast. It kicked off at 3pm and went until... well, I have a hard time remembering leaving. I don't remember paying my tab, but I do remember riding in a cab to a Waffle House, and ordering the whole menu. Most of the students and instructors that were there were drinking their fair share as well. It was great. Oscar brought his Rat-Rod out to the party and showed it off to a few instructors. He just finished building it a few weeks earlier. Here a are few pics from the party, and a pic of Oscar's ride (not taken at the party).

JR... out.

VT-2 50th Anniversary

2010-05-09T09:33:00.003-04:00

Training Squadron TWO (VT-2), the Navy's oldest primary training squadron, was born from Basic Training Group TWO and commissioned on May 1, 1960, at NAS Whiting Field. VT-2's mission is to provide primary and intermediate stage flight training to selected student aviators of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and several allied nations.

The syllabus completed by VT-2 "Doerbirds" consists of approximately 85 hours of instructional flight time in the T-34C "Turbo Mentor" aircraft and 21 hours in the 2B37 motion-based flight simulator. During this time each student becomes thoroughly trained in the contact, basic instruments, precision aerobatics, radio instruments, formation, and day and night navigation.

The "Contact" syllabus consists of flights in which the student learns to conduct a proper pre-flight inspection of the aircraft, take-off and land, recover from stalls and spins, deal with emergencies, and generally maneuver the aircraft skillfully and confidently. Upon completion of his/her first solo flight, the student aviator progresses to precision aerobatics, or PA. The aircraft is flown through maneuvers outside the normal range of flight, including loops, wingovers, and barrel rolls. During formation training the student works on improving his/her skills while flying in a two plane formation. Navigation training includes both day and night visual navigation instructions. The student also undergoes training in the basic and radio instruments. Here the student learns to maneuver the aircraft under actual or simulated instrument conditions, having to rely solely on cockpit instrumentation. Electronic flight simulators are integrated into the instrument flight training syllabus to assist the student in developing the required knowledge and skills.

The student aviator, upon completion of all these stages of training, is selected to undergo further training in the propeller, helicopter, jet or E-2/C-2 pipeline. The helicopter students report to South Whiting Field for training in the TH-57. The propeller selectees report to Corpus Christi, Texas for training in the T-44 and students who select the jet pipeline receive intermediate training in either Mississippi or Texas flying the T-45. Those who select the E-2/C-2 pipeline will finish their training in the T-45, located in Florida and Texas.

This complex training evolution requires the coordinated efforts of approximately 67 Naval Officer Instructor Pilots and 9 civilian personnel to produce approximately 210 "completers" each year. Logging nearly 2,000 flight hours each month, Training Squadron TWO has flown in excess of 1,800,000 flight hours and trained more than 19,000 students since commissioning 50 year ago.

This blurb I borrowed from the VT-2 website, the ceremony we had on Friday was classy and over relatively quickly. It was a good ceremony. After we paid homage to Doerbirds of the past and present we met down at Flounders for the afterparty-party. It was great. Pics to come later today from those shenanigans.

JR... out.

I make RI's look good...

2010-04-23T21:49:00.002-04:00

Lol. Yeah right. Well, officially RI's has started. Today was my first day of class. I look a lot happier in that picture than I should for sitting in a classroom with 25 other guys (and 1 girl) on a Friday morning. It is boring stuff... very dry material, and good lord... do you think they give you enough books? RI's is the block of training that you learn how to fly the plane with instruments only. Towards the end of RI's I'll get a shot at taking a Cross Country flight. Most guys head to Key West, but I think I'm gonna try and see what is going on during the weekend that it is gonna land on and pick something ridiculous. Well I'm getting ahead of myself... in the first block of RI's if you fly during the day they put a "bag" over your head (a little tarp that reminds me of the sun shade on a baby buggy). Hopefully I will get some flights at night so that I don't have to wear the bag. It sucks being under the hood. I actually heard a rumor today that our completion date is in 35 days. That would be fawesome, yes fawesome (thanks Rohona). I hope so... I am ready to move on to something else. Still shooting for P-3's, and if that doesn't go through then Helo's and then California here I come. That is all, more pics to come soon.

JR... out.

Forms Complete! (Magnum flight of 2)

2010-04-12T11:54:00.002-04:00

I don't know what got into the scheduling office... but I like it. Tim and I (my form partner) have been flying our asses off the past couple weeks. It has been great. We nailed our solo this morning and have the rest of the day off, Magnum flight of 2 for the win. I'm gonna head over and do some online courses to get a little ahead, and then this whole week should be pretty skate. Tim and I are about to start the last phase of Primary training, and if everything goes well, we will be finished in 6 weeks or so. Here are a few pics of before and after the flight. See you guys soon.

JR... out.

Formation Flight

2010-04-06T18:51:00.007-04:00

On to the next one! Formation flights! Last week my form partner and I (Tim Phillips) got out our first form flight. In formation flights, you fly the airplanes in a formation (duh) and sometimes the correct position is pretty damn close. The correct position for the "Parade" position for instance is 4 feet wing-tip to wing-tip, 10 feet of step down, and 20 feet nose to tail. Until you get used to it, it feels extremely unnatural to be that close to another airplane. Hell, I just finished my 2nd and 3rd flight of forms and it still doesn't really feel natural. Our flight's call sign is "Magnum." We got to pick whatever we wanted, and for some reason Magnum made Tim and I laugh so we went with it. Most of the instructors get a kick out of it. It is better than "Eagle" or something else nerdy. We let the Air Force guys pick crap like that. So we had an "Out and in" today. That basically means that for the first flight we flew to Bay Minette, Alabama and landed at the strip there (1R8). We got served up by the cute FBO girls that work there (food is free... I tried to trick Tim into giving me 5 bucks saying I already paid for his but LT Bintz ratted me out, I got Bintzed), and then flew back to NAS Whiting. Of course on the way there and on the way back we went through the routine of our form flight. It consists of giving each other hand signals (you are flying close enough to see and acknowledge them) and then complying with the signals. Cross-under (just like it sounds, crossing from one side to the other- boxing the corners), break-up and rendezvous (break up is self explanatory- the rendezvous part is the lead plane setting a 20 degree angle of bank and the wing position setting a 30 degree and slowly burning holes in the sky until you rejoin up in formation), and a lead change (both pilots get a chance to fly lead, and then wingman). I'm trucking along in flight school now after not doing much for quite a few weeks... and am starting to have a lot of fun. The weather has been beautiful and every instructor we have been flying with has been really cool. I think that is all for now. Check out the pics (they aren't me and my partner, but you get a look at the parade and turn-away position). And I'll slip one in there of the Bay Minette girls. Check back soon for more!

JR... out.

Rohona Rhys Unleashed

2010-03-31T18:32:00.002-04:00

Rohona,

Thanks for emailing me these links. They have kept me busy during the days that I've been sitting on my ass and not flying (when I'm not at the beach). ;) Good stuff, and really funny. Enjoy guys, most all of this is SFW.

1. http://www.27bslash6.com/ [This dude posts his response to people's queries and concerns in the most ridiculous fashion, usually with biting sarcasm. (scroll down to "next time I will spend the money on drugs instead")]

2. http://www.menarebetterthanwomen.com/ [I feel like the name says it all!]

3. http://www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com/ [strangest collection of random people in a family setting]

4. http://www.jacksonpollock.org/ [once you enter this land of amazing, every mouse movement lets you become the artist and every time you click, the color changes]

5. http://www.theonion.com/ [serious stuff with a witty spin]

6. http://www.sorryimissedyourparty.com/ [I never want to end up on this site]

7. http://www.postsecret.com/ [community art project that is refreshing and shocking]

8. http://www.artofmanliness.com/ [what else is there to say :)]

If you enjoy this type of sarcasm and wit, visit Rohona Rhys Unleashed. Take care guys, pics and posts of Formation flying coming soon. Johann is flying into Miami from the Galapagos Islands in a few weeks and heading up here, the plan is Jazz Fest in New Orleans. Stay tuned.

Thanks Rohona.

JR... out.

Aerobatics Complete!

2010-03-24T17:20:00.002-04:00

BARREL ROLL

AILERON ROLL

1/2 CUBAN EIGHT

IMMELMAN

LOOP

SPLIT-S

WING OVER

Today I just finished my last Aerobatic Solo. Normally there are two more flights of aerobatics, but due to the amount of planes we have working and how slow all of the student's progress have been, they eliminated them. I thought I would put up some pics of diagrams so that you can see what the manuevers look like. In the plane they are alot of fun, personally my favorite is the barrel roll. Today's weather was pretty bunk so I didn't even get to do any aerobatics. It blew. I did get to cruise the coastline across the bay from Mobile and just enjoy the fact that I got to fly today... something that most of the peeple around here don't get to say. The video is old, and actually a repost, but if you hadn't seen it there is alot of aerobatic and spin manuevers in it to the tune of "Black Betty." See you all soon.

JR... out.

Spring Break was EPIC

2010-03-23T10:16:00.003-04:00

Well... Operation Spring Break 2010 (my 29th birthday) went down with a success. It was a freakin hot mess- of greatness. All 10 or so of us were drinking awesome-sauce all weekend. And we managed to stay standing. Friday and Saturday night were classic, and the beach on Saturday- well, let's just say I felt like we were the kings of Panama City. People wanted to just stand next to our tent because that's where the party was. You weren't allowed to play beer pong unless you were wearing a bikini or part of the group, and that kept the numbers normally in our favor. Tyler Flagg made some giant ta'tas in the sand to block the wind from the beer pong table that we had dug out, it was clutch. Beer shoes, dizzy bat, and a beer funnel. This post can go on for days. More pics on my FB, but we had an amazing time- and it felt good to party with such a large group of good people. It was probably my best birthday ever.

JR... out.

McGuire's 5K

2010-03-17T10:33:00.004-04:00

This 5K was ridiculous. If I hadn't went out the night before and gotten bombed then maybe I would have finished it... just kidding. It was just more fun hanging out at the Dooley house and yelling at the other 10,000 people who were running the race. I got a good mile in to get to Tyler and Jon's place, worked up a good sweat, then proceeded to drink beers whenever people would yell "honk". The party at McGuire's afterwards was sick... something like 800 gallons of Irish Wake's (their signature drink), beer, food, and live music. It was awesome. Topped off with some beach time (of course), this was a great day.

JR... out.

Sim Bay

2010-03-16T12:08:00.003-04:00

I'm not in RI's yet (instrument phase), but when I am I will be spending a lot of time in here. My Mom came to visit a few weeks ago and I took her around base, we stopped in the Sim Bay because it is pretty cool to see and I had never took any pictures of it. The large ones that are on pedestals actually move while you are in them. It isn't really like a ride or anything, but I guess it gives you some kind of sensation of movement. The little ones on the ground are mainly for teaching nuggets the emergency procedures and running through how a PEL (precautionary emergency landing) should look like instrument-wise. I've been cancelled again for the day... maybe I'll get out tomorrow.

JR... out.

Busted

2010-03-15T20:58:00.005-04:00

Flight school has been going pretty slow... there are the normal plane waits, there is weather, maybe you or your instructor get sick, or maybe the plane breaks during your run-up or pre-flight checks. Recently cracks were found on some of the planes during maintenance. That turned into checking all the planes for cracks, which in turn ended up downing almost all of the planes for close to a week. It was found that many of the planes had this same "stress crack" issue. A team was flown down this past weekend to start repairing the planes. Currently each squadron has about 6 working birds or so at their disposal every day. Not exactly working out considering that there are 200 students in VT-2. I walked into the hangar today to get a look for myself and talked to a couple mechanics. Supposedly it is an 8 hour job just to get the airplane apart to remove the bracket with the cracks on it. I'm probably going to be here forever. They are starting to eliminate flights from the program (streamline it) to get people out of here faster. So far they have taken out the last 2 aerobatic flights and cruise forms (another 2 flights). I'm guessing at the rate I am moving now, I might finish flight school at the end of July, but we'll see. Thats all for now. Hopefully I'll have more pics up soon, but here is a pic of some of the planes in the hangar.

JR... out.

Cancelled again?

2010-03-01T20:37:00.004-05:00

My buddy Hans said it best today. "Every day is like Groundhog Day." We wake up, we brief, we wait for a plane, we get cancelled, we go home. Repeat. It is just silly sometimes, here are a couple pics I just took for fun. Line shack, the flight line, and my boy Nate (baldy).

JR... out.

Tie-Cutting Ceremony

2010-03-01T20:13:00.009-05:00

LT Rack gave me a "Retired" Sticker for being one of the older Pilots in training.

LT Rack cutting the tie.

Me reading off the list of songs LT Rack liked to sing in the plane, i.e. Elton John- Tiny Dancer, James Taylor- Sweet Baby James, Poison- Every Rose Has its Thorn.

Oscar, the Skipper (Cdr. McGuire), and I all chummed up.

Me and my boy Oscar.

One of the cool traditions of becoming a Naval Aviator is the "Tie-Cutting". After you solo, your On-Wing (the instructor pilot assigned as your mentor and primary instructor) gets to cut your tie off with a big knife. LT Rack is the large bald man cutting my tie- and the coolest on-wing ever. The story behind the ceremony is that back when aviators wore scarfs, the instructor in the back would reach forward and yank on it to get the student's attention. So by "Cutting the tie" the instructor pilot doesn't have anything to grab on to in order to get the student's attention to yell at... well at least he has to try a lot harder. It was a great ceremony, and I even had my roommate and the Taylor's come out to support me. On to Aerobatics! More pics to come!!

JR... out.

Solo

2010-02-18T19:28:00.004-05:00

I got to solo today! It was pretty awesome. Personally I think it is a little eerie sitting in the cockpit by yourself, but it was fun regardless. I made it back in one piece, and the plane is still fly-able... that is a win in my book. Hopefully it is all downhill from here... I have kinda had enough of Milton, FL and am ready to move on to bigger and better things. Come to think of it, I am kind of tired of Florida period. Hopefully I get P-3s, and if I do I'll get a couple months in Corpus Christi, and then back to Jacksonville to train at VP-30. The Taylor family is hoping I get stuck with Helo's because I told them that if I did I'd go to San Diego. I am hoping to end up in Hawaii, but we'll see. That's all for now... I've got 2 night flights this weekend, we'll see how those go.

JR... out.

Rules for Mardi Gras

2010-02-15T12:40:00.002-05:00

Rule #1: Go with a lot of people, and make sure one of them is a celebrity look alike (preferably a B movie actor than cannot be confirmed, such as Jake Busey).

Rule #2: Do things that make no sense whatsoever all weekend... i.e. pissing ON porta-potties, talking to ONLY fat girls, blaring Spice Girl's music while cruising the strip, and asking to get arrested.

Rule #3: Bring 5 hour Energy Drinks.

Rule #4: If you go to sleep alone, but you wake up next to someone, it is not your fault if they get groped.

Rule #5: If Tyler Flagg goes with you, make him bring at least 1 shirt you can't see his nipples through.

Rule #6: Good BBQ is awesome. Good BBQ + a hangover, not so much.

Rule #7: If you encounter grown-ass men who intentionally dress as though they are the fucking Jonas brothers, tell them to their face they are douche-bags. We did.

Rule #8: Any of the food from vendors on the side of the street will taste awesome... but you will pay for it later.

Rule #9: If you bring a girl with you that you haven't "sealed the deal" with, she isn't your girl, and you probably shouldn't have brought her.

Rule #10: Take pictures. Lots of them. Don't let anyone see them until after the weekend is over, and make sure to take any gay or partially nude ones and use them as blackmail for as long as you can.

Mardi Gras Pictures

2010-02-15T12:06:00.004-05:00

Mardi Gras 2010

2010-01-27T14:03:00.006-05:00

Mardi Gras is coming up so fast this year. It happens to fall on President's Day weekend, which means we will be able to catch 3 days of ridiculousness. I am excited. Last year I had fun, but I only went with Jimmel and one buddy. We gotta crew going this year, and got a free place to crash courtesy of Ben. Look for pics in a couple weeks, it is gonna be awesome. Oh, and if anyone is heading out that way, definitely give me a shout and lets meet up! Later guys.

JR... out.

To be, or not to be... happy.

2010-01-20T11:58:00.005-05:00

After almost 8 years together, Jimmel told me she doesn't want to continue our relationship anymore. It wasn't a complete shock, we had been having fights over trust issues almost every weekend we saw each other for the past few months. Of course we have been working through our most recent issues for almost a year, but she would say that she hasn't been happy for a long time. That makes me sad. I keep thinking about things I could have done differently in our relationship that maybe wouldn't have made it end this way. But the more I think about it, the more I think that Jimmel just isn't happy period. If I would have done things different I think she still would have felt incomplete, and not happy, and it would have only posponed this journey another year or two. I don't think that leaving me is going to make her (in the long run) any happier. But I hope it does. I hope she does find out what in her life can make her happy, and obviously if it really was me and our relationship that was making her miserable, then I am ashamed. But I can't be with someone who doesn't want to be with me, and would I really want to? So I am giving her what she wants, no fighting, no trying to talk her out of it, just going to walk away. Maybe one day she will look back at our relationship and determine that as rough as it had been going, she wishes she would have chosen differently. I will probably never know. Well, I've had enough thinking about this today. Later guys.

JR... out.

Hurry up and wait...

2010-01-14T22:17:00.002-05:00

Well,

I haven't had a flight since Monday. I guess I was supposed to have a "Safe for Solo" clas prior to starting the block of training that I am in, but it nver got scheduled. So this week has been long and slow... I can't wait to get back in the cockpit. Hopefully I can get the class knocked out on Wed, and be back flying on Thurs. I had such a good flight on Monday with the CO of the squadron. It feels like the more you fly, the more confident you are. When you sit around for a few days, you start to feel like crap. I found out what my NSS is today (the score that basically you have in flight school) and I was pleasantly surprised. I definately don't feel that I have been doing that well, but my score is well above the average (at least for now). As long as I get through his thing I will be happy, and I feel alot better about my progress now after hear that I am doing well. For a long time I felt that I was a below average pilot, probably because there is so much crap to know, you never feel like you know enough. I think that is enough for now, stay tuned for news of my soon to come solo. Can you believe they are gonna give me the keys? There was a time I would have never thought I would be here, but I am so fortunate and grateful that I am.

JR... out.

Silly Video

2010-01-11T12:35:00.006-05:00

I haven't been posting much lately, but I remembered this silly video the showed us when we checked in. Kinda goofy, but you get to see some planes in action. Check it out.

JR... out.

Primary

2010-01-11T12:15:00.005-05:00

Well guys,

Sorry it has been awhile. Everything is going ok on my end so far. I am currently in the Contacts 4200 block of training. I know that probably doesn't mean much to anyone reading, but I can safely say that with good weather, I have a good chance of getting my first solo out in the next couple weeks. That is a big part of the training here- to show that you can operate a plane safely by yourself. I feel like my flying skills are coming along, and actually started to have fun in the plane a couple weeks ago. (Flying right now is alot of work, and to be honest, not a lot of fun until recently). My on-wing (LT Rackauskas) is probably the coolest guy in the squadron. I feel so lucky to have him, and he is a very encouraging pilot. He likes to sing in the cockpit, and when I feel like something I do brings us a little closer to God, even for a second, he laughs it off. Hopefully I will get some more pictures up soon. Jimmel and I had a good Christmas and New Years. Christmas was spent in Jacksonville and for New Years we went to Aqua Eve in Tampa. I will put some pics up once we get them online. Thank you everyone for your support, and keep checking in on me, more to come!

Some flight line pics.

JR... out.

Flyboys

2009-11-17T09:23:00.003-05:00

Flight school is moving along slowly. I have gotten to fly a few times, but my flights have been very spread out due to scheduling issues, weather, and other things. I don't feel like I am doing great, I actually feel a little overwelmed. Supposedly this is normal until you reach your solo. I miss my wife everyday, and only get to see her on the weekends. I love to see her, but sometimes feel like I am cheating. On my flight school girlfriend that is. 5 hours to drive to Jacksonville to see her. But it is worth it. Hopefully all of this stuff will pay divideds in the end, if we can make it there. Here are a few pics I haven't posted yet.

JR... out.

2009-10-06T22:26:00.001-04:00

I was so psyched to do this evolution in training. Growing up on the ocean, SCUBA diving my whole life, snorkling, spearfishing, jumping off of ridiculously high land objects into water- I thought this was going to be a breeze. Let me tell you: There is nothing natural about being strapped into a chair, turned upside down, underwater, and then climbing out a predesignated opening while getting kicked in the face by other classmates. Just my opinion. I had trouble getting the belt off the first time, and from that point on had a hard time relaxing. The video that is on this post I am in. The last person to surface (left side) was me. I got stuck behind a classmate and had to wait for him to find the exit and swim through before me. It was all good, I’m just glad I don’t have to requal for a few years…

JR… out.

New Threads

2009-10-06T22:13:00.002-04:00

One of the perks of passing all of the academics of API is that you are authorized to start wearing your flight suit. The amount of Top Gun quotes and antics escalates to a whole new level of corny after you are issued and start wearing you flight suit, bomber jacket, and aviators. Here are some pics at gear issue of me and the guys getting our new threads.

JR… out.

2009-10-06T21:56:00.004-04:00

One of the more fun aspects of API was the opportunity to swim almost every day. There was certain objectives that had to be met everyday, but the pool instructors did a great job of making it fun. The build up swims were designed to get you ready to swim a mile in a flight suit. You have plenty of time to do it, and everyone in our class passed the first time. We got to play water polo a few times, and that was a good time as well. The pool is probably one of the more fun parts of API.

JR…out.

School, School, and more School

2009-10-06T21:40:00.006-04:00

I wish I could say that the information you learn in API was interesting. Hell… I’d even settle for useful or career enhancing. But (at least for me), it was none of these. API was a screening process. It was a test of wills. Some people may be used to studying every day, for a set amount of time. Not me. It was a struggle everyday to find the motivation to open the books you just put down a couple hours before. The classes were long, the material dry, and if it wasn’t for a few choice instructors and several class clowns, I think API would have been beyond miserable. The syllabus was basically 2 different classes during the week for a total of 6 academic hurdles (over a 4 week period). Aero 1, Weather, Aero 2, Engines, Navigation, and FR & R. Aero 1 and Aero 2 were hard science classes about “Aerodynamics.” You were instructed on power, thrust, fuel, control surfaces, and pretty much everything that could give you a base knowledge about how airplanes operate. The information learned in this part of the syllabus is a good building block, but the tests felt like they were designed to trick you… not test your comprehension or application of the information taught. Weather was straight forward… you learned about weather and how it applies to aviation and the dangers associated with different types of weather. Learning about the different types of engines used in aircraft was interesting, and out of all the classes I probably enjoyed that one the most. Navigation and Flight Rules and Regulations were the last 2 graded tests of API. Navigation had a reputation for being difficult, but I found that it was a more time consuming and nit-picky test than complicated. FR & R was basically the “Rules of the Road”, for the air. Hmm. It wasn’t that bad except it was shoved down our face in like 2 days- and then regurgitated on a 50 question test. I am glad the classwork of API is over, and glad to have moved on to Primary flight training. I feel like the things I have been learning lately are more real-life, critical to learning to fly items. More on Primary later.

JR… out.

API

2009-08-06T19:12:00.004-04:00

Aviation Preflight Indoctrination. I started this beast a week or so ago, and it is consuming pretty much all of my time. My class has a good mix of Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy and Marines. We even have a group of Flight Docs going through with us as well. 36 or 37 strong, we are probably one of the larger classes. In class, we have been learning alot of physics and airplane characteristics over the past week. Most of the people who are rockstars in the class have degrees in physics or aerospace, or some other hard science degree. I have a BS in Workforce Education, and it isn't really pulling its weight here. All that really means is that I have to study more. I came to a realization the other day... I have always though of myself as an above-average student. Not the smartest guy in the class, and definately not the guy struggling to get by. I'd say most of the time I was just above average without putting in any extra study time or effort. What I realized here is this: everyone here (at least) is that same above average guy. There isn't many below average students here in flight school. Maybe here I am the below average student... I find myself studying harder and longer than any exam, midterm, or test that I have ever taken. The past week or so hasn't been very fun, and if you ask any of the instructors around here I'm pretty sure they would say it isn't meant to be. Thankfully, the swimming part of API is coming pretty easy to me, and the mile swim shouldn't be a problem at all. I will post more pics soon once we get into the "fun" stuff. See you guys soon.

JR... out.

Had to do it...

2009-07-13T20:06:00.004-04:00

Marc, the "Ramp Dancer", was my flight instructor for the past month or so. He made the mistake of showing me this video, knowing damn well I would probably post it. Should have kept this one in the closet buddy. ;)

JR... out.

IFS Complete

2009-07-13T18:19:00.008-04:00

Well guys, I just cleared the first hurdle. "Initial Flight Screening" was a pain in the ass for the first week or so, and then you start having fun. My last flight was a Cross Country solo (no, I didn't actually fly across the country), and it went great. Marc... thanks for all of your help, you are a great instructor and you gave me the confidence I needed to finish up the way I did. You were the best instructor to go up with, and I was lucky to have you. I am looking forward to having a week or so off so that I can relax before I start the next phase (API). All of my buddies in API right now say they study a minimum of 3 hours a night and 8-10 hours over the weekend. Not too excited about that... ;) I've got some pictures and a You Tube video here to check out. Hopefully you will get a laugh out of the video, I had a laugh making it.

JR... out.

Solo baby!

2009-07-06T11:17:00.008-04:00

It has been some time since my last post, and because I have some downtime today I thought it would be nice if I posted a little something. My flights were cancelled today due to weather so I get a day of rest and studying. I am almost finished with IFS! There is only a few more flights to go and then I will be on the waiting list for the next phase of flight school. I heard the wait isn't too long right now, but you kinda "hear" alot of garbage around here. IFS has been great. My primary instructor Marc Pompei is really cool, and a good teacher. I finally got my landings down about 1 flight before my stage check and solo. For a while I was so frustrated with my landings. I was told they weren't that bad, but I am really critical of myself... I guess I thought I would hop right in the cockpit and be Iceman. Anyhow... things are going great out here so far. Here are a couple vids and pictures of IFS. The videos will get better, I am about to invest in a miniature HD camera and will be taking many more videos/pictures.

JR... out.

Initial Flight Screening

2009-06-25T19:30:00.007-04:00

IFS. Initial Flight Screening. I was lucky enough to get selected for Bay Minette, Alabama for my training. Bay Minnete is a small town about an hour and a half drive one way from my apartment. If it wasn't for the long haul, it would be a cool place to train... but the drive makes it almost unbearable (we fly or ground school 6 days a week). The IFS program is supposed to screen pilots and navigators for the military so that if they find out you are not cut out for an aviation career, then Navy doesn't waste a bunch of money on you. Basically it is a week of 7 hour a day classes and on that weekend you start flying the Cessna 172 (like in the pics above). You are required to take the FAA exam sometime early the next week, and must pass with an 80% or better. Most people who don't have flight experience at all (like myself) study between 2-5 hours a day. I take my FAA exam tomorrow- I am a little nervous, but overall just want to get it over with so I can concentrate on learning how to land the damn airplane. I have flight 5 (actually my 4th flight, flights 1/2 are combined) tomorrow as well and I am hoping to get that landing thing down a little better. Might be a good idea. I should solo early next week, and be done with IFS sometime early the week after that. I will take some more pics ofthe 172's and of me flying once I get a little more comfortable. Well, enough playing on the internet... back to studying.

JR... out.

Flight school is go!

2009-06-12T17:36:00.003-04:00

It is time. I officially start the first phase of flight school next week. We received our books and indoc briefs over the past few days and actually start ground school on Monday. I am pretty excited. The Navy is doing a "multi-tasking" survey/test that is supposedly going to become a part of the screening process for pilots and navigators. The pics in this post are of my class playing these "tests" (more like a bad Atari game with a joystick and throttle) while listening to a lady recite random numbers and letters in your ears. The object is to play the game (test) and push a trigger on one hand or the other depending on what the lady recites. Kinda frustrating, but it was fun. Check often... more to come soon!

JR... out.

St. Augustine Day-Trip

2009-05-28T13:05:00.007-04:00

St. Augustine is becoming one of my favorite places to go on the weekend. Jimmel and I have frequented St. Augustine a few times in the past month, and keep having a great time. Cruising the shops on George Street, stopping by a pub to listen to live music (played by a woman with sideburns that would make Elvis jealous), and ending up at the beach with a few drinks on ice and a sun that is on its way out just makes for a good day. We even stopped by the Conch house one trip and saw the charters come in and show off their catches for the day. The icing on the cake was a small band that asked for suggestions as to how to sing Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville", and ended up playing my request for a reggae version. It was hilarious.

JR... out.

Renting Lake Woodbourne

2009-05-28T12:52:00.005-04:00

After a few long conversations and considerations, Jimmel and I have decided to rent our home in Jacksonville. Jimmel is so close to completing her degree in broadcast journalism that the better move is for her to get an apartment in Jacksonville and finish her degree as quick as possible. As for me... I have gotten about as many freebies as the Navy is gonna give me (all of the TAD and Leave they have granted me), and it is time for me to start flight school. I class up for the first installment on June 10th. I have my apartment in P-Cola and Jimmel and I are planning on alternating taking the drive to visit one another. After making that drive like 6-7 times already... I am starting to get used to it. I am really excited to get started in flight school, but even more excited about the recent renewed commitment between my wife and I. Here are some pictures of us working in the yard...

JR... out.

Mothers Day from Mr. T

2009-05-10T22:53:00.003-04:00

This is a ridiculously funny video that I saw a couple years ago. Great post for Mothers Day. Happy Mother's Day Mom, Erin, Ann, Evvie, and all friends. Enjoy!

Make sure you shut off ODEO music player (top right)!!

Arts and crafts

2009-05-08T19:27:00.002-04:00

Been wanting to mark up the walls in the apartment, and because I was so bored today I worked on this all morning. I am glad with how it came out, not sure what the next one will be.

JR... out.

Accurate at 50 Yards

2009-05-07T15:57:00.005-04:00

This morning I dragged myself out of bed to meet with Father David out in the woods at the Pensacola Rifle and Pistol Club. When I showed up he had a pistol loaded up for me and a target ready. He really went out of his way to hook me up, David is a real cool guy. Anyhow, I got to shoot a .22 revolver pistol in a practice NRA conventional pistol competition. It consisted of firing slow, timed, and rapid fire at 50 and 25 yards. Alot of fun, and yes... I am deadly. Lol, not really- but I did do pretty well for my first time (I was told)... it must be those sick Duck Hunt skills. It was nice to get out and do something different... and it was a great stress reliever. Thanks alot David, I had a great time.

JR... out.

Mother's Day

2009-05-06T14:15:00.004-04:00

Happy early Mother's Day! I am planning on getting out of dodge for the weekend so I am trying to get all my blog posts in now. ;)

Believe it or not, I personally don't think that I had the best relationship with my Mother or Sisters until recent. About 6 months ago I had a change in my life that made me realize how much family is important. Not only for me, but for everyone. They were there when I needed them, and are still there. Mom, most of all, is so supportive of me and everything that happens in my life. And at the same time, she gives me that gut check when I need one. Thanks for everything Mom, I love you so much. Happy (early) Mother's Day.

Erin- Happy Mother's Day, take care of that beautiful niece of mine.
Ann- Happy Mother's Day, I hope you have a beautiful weekend, thanks for everything.

Love,

JR

Gave myself Hi-5

2009-05-05T21:36:00.003-04:00

I gave myself a Hi-5 today... been working on the apartment all weekend and it is starting to come together. Figured if I am going to be here a year or so (probably won't finish before July 2010), then I wanted to be comfortable. The walls are a little crazy, but if you know me at all- you know I dig blue. I'm trying to get my hands on a few more surfboards to put up, but am happy with everything so far.

I met the coolest pastor ever over the weekend. I spoke with him today about some of our life experiences and it turns out he was the equivalent of a Navy Seal for the Australian Navy! He had some sick stories. Anyhow, he invited me out to shoot pistols and drink beer with him on Thursday morning... (my type of pastor), pics to follow soon!

JR... out.

Me and Judah

2009-05-04T16:48:00.001-04:00

Thanks for letting me crash the other weekend Judah, hopefully I will see you guys again soon.

Out.

2009-05-04T16:25:00.001-04:00

Pensacola beach last weekend. Got a little too drunk to surf, I'll just have to settle for working on my tan.

It has potential...

2009-04-27T20:49:00.004-04:00

I got into my apartment last week and after a few nights without power, I am starting to finally get stuff together. Still no furniture, and I'm sleeping on an air mattress but that is temporary. I've got some painters coming in this week to give this place a facelift and then will do what I can to get it furnished cheap. I think I am purposefully going to try and find the ugliest furniture ever. I saw a plaid couch set for $65 on Craigslist and might pick that up next week. Yard sales are all over the place around this neighborhood on the weekends so you can bet thats where I will be bright and early Sat and Sun. Here are some pics of the apartment. I live off Cervantes right behind McGuires Pub. 10 mins to the beach, and 20 mins to the base. I'll post more pics once I've gotten the place cleaned up.

Out.

Pensacola Bound

2009-04-20T16:39:00.004-04:00

Hey guys,

Well... I am finally off to P-Cola. I secured my apartment over the weekend and am just about to hit the road. I am pretty much done with all of the social networking sites (MySpace/Facebook) for a while so this blog is gonna be my link to the world, and my vent. Does anyone even read this thing? Lol. Well, I am looking forward to hitting the books and the surf and getting though flight school. If you are close to P-Cola and want to visit, or maybe meet in Destin or PC, I am down. Congrats to Nick Matics and Phil Morrison for finishing up OCS and getting their commission. I look forward to drinking beers you guys in Florida real soon. I guess that's all for now.

JR... out.

Poem I read today...

2009-03-13T09:31:00.006-04:00

Got this poem from a friend on Facebook. I wanted to make sure I didn't lose it, and thought it would be a nice poem to share here anyways. I hope you enjoy it.

The sailor stood and faced his God which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you sailor, how shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?"

The sailor squared his shoulders and said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who stand the watch can't always be a saint.

I had to work most Sundays and at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent, because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny that wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime when the bills just got too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help, though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place among the people here,
They never wanted me around except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much, but if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne where the saints had often trod
As the sailor waited quietly, for the judgment of his God.

Step forward now, you sailor, you've borne your burdens well,
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets. you've done your time in Hell."

Author Unkown

Sweet Home Jacksonville?

2009-03-09T18:40:00.009-04:00

I am finally home. For more than just a few days. After OCS, I drove back to Jacksonville from Rhode Island... it is a 20 hour drive so I split it up into 2 and a half days. I visited friends in Jersey, D.C., and North Carolina. Once I got home I had 4 days to rest and then drove to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. :) I had never been before and sprung for a 4 night hotel room as a graduation present to myself. I was joined by Jimmel and my buddy Reggie from OCS. Let me tell you... 4 days in New Orleans was almost too much. My wallet is still suffering and I think I might need a new liver. It was a good time. Check out my Facebook if you want to see some pictures from our time there. After New Orleans I drove back to Jacksonville (9 hours) and stayed for 4 more days. Then I was off to Pensacola (5.5 hours). Pensacola for 4 days, and now I am back in Jax. Ridiculous? I think so. Anyhow, here are a few pictures of my commissioning and a picture of Jimmel and I at the beach. (Sorry guys no speedo this time, maybe later) I am definately in much better shape than when I left. Keep checking back, I should start my "Initial Flight Screening" in a couple months and will have pictures of the aircraft I am flying and maybe some videos from the air. See you guys soon.

On liberty in OCS

Hotel room pimpin'

Commissioned!

Almost Spring Break ready!

The Skinny on OCS...

2009-03-09T18:22:00.002-04:00

Well... it has been almost a month since my commissioning (the 13th of February) and I am currently enjoying wearing the uniform of a Naval Officer. OCS was a tougher journey than I thought it would be. I guess I thought that it would be similar to bootcamp (alot of yelling, alot of running, and push-ups), but it wasn't. Of course there was yelling (by the Drill Instructors), a lot of running (which I am not very good at), and a ridiculous amount of push-ups (thank you Gunny Coyer for the infamous "8 counts, ready... begin"). But I guess I wasn't ready for the mental stress that came along with the program and added to the physical stress that my out of shape body was going through. I'm not going to make this a multiple paragraph crying section, but I will offer this advice for anyone interested in an OCS program (especially the Navy's)... get your mind right. It is hard, long, and just plain miserable. I am glad it is over, and ready to move on to bigger and better things. Here are some pics of the "fun" times. :)

The SUYA pit (Sand Up Your A$$)

Just for fun

Always sweaty...

Get the idea? Lol.

OCS Almost Over!

2009-01-25T17:25:00.003-05:00

Well readers, it has been a little while.I don't have alot of time tonight (or in general) but I wanted to post a quickie. Lost 25lbs so far and over 3 inches off my waist. I am in some 33" jeans now. Still hitting up the gym, and looking forward to the spring in Pensacola. I will write more, and post more pictures soon. Later guys.

Off to Newport, RI

2008-10-23T15:31:00.005-04:00

Today is Thursday the 23rd. 2 days before I make the drive up to Newport to start my training. It is a long haul so I'm gonna split up the drive and visit some friends on the way. I have been feeling pretty nervous lately but I guess that is normal? The last time I went through any training that could even be compared to this was over 9 years ago. It also doesn't comfort me to know that I am one of the older candidates in my OCS class... the majority of the group is in their mid to lower twenties (I am 27). I know, I know... I'm not that old right? Well my body tells me different (my Mom says it is from too much partying and the booze), still... I have to stretch ALOT. Anyhow, I'm ready to do this. Ready to get it on. I will have very little communication for the next couple months, but I expect to get on a computer closer to Christmas and over holiday break (Christmas is the only time of year leave is authorized at this command). Here is a cool website that has some slideshows and an in-depth write-up on what happens at OCS for those of you interested.

http://www.projo.com/extra/2008/ocs/

It is also in my "Blog Links" on the right side of the page, the title is Pushed to the Limit.

Well... I guess this is goodbye for now. I look forward to posting some more pics after OCS. Maybe a few with me in a speedo? I think I will. Just so we can have before and afters (I am guessing I will lose around 20 pounds)... here is the before (this is for you Mom/George).

You've Got the Controls

2008-10-17T23:16:00.003-04:00

About 2 weeks ago I got a real treat. The Air Ops Officer and Asst. Officer pulled some strings and got me in touch with CDR Robin "Hood" Higgs out of the S-3 Weapons School* at NAS Jacksonville. They have a training plane (the T-34C) that is the same exact plane that the students going through flight school fly. Personally I think theirs looks a little cooler. CDR Higgs took me up for a couple hours and let me take the controls the majority of the flight. It was my first real taste of Naval Aviation. I had a blast. At one time in the flight CDR asked me "What do you want to do now?" I replied, "Why don't you take the controls and do something fun, you won't scare me." I was fully aware that the T-43C is fully acrobatic... He proceeded to walk me through the procedure of an Aileron Roll. And then did one. Wow! It was nuts. So fun... kind of like being in a roller coaster. We had hardly leveled out when he came across the comms and said, "You ready to try it?" I was a little hesitant, but there was no way I could pass on that invitation. He started to talk me through it... "Nose up, more... more... little more. OK, hold it... now when you are ready push the stick hard to the left." I did. Wicked. I had a smile on my face for two days after that flight and knew instantly that my goal over the next couple years is to get my own set of wings. Thanks CDR Higgs, I will never forget that flight.

*S-3 Weapons School is a training command for S-3 pilots. It could be described as "Top Gun" for the S-3 platform.

Cleared for Take-Off Launch!

2008-10-17T22:50:00.004-04:00

Hey guys!

Well I decided to put my computer skills to use (Mom, you should be happy) and make this blog for friends, family, and whomever else wishes to visit. I named it "Cleared for Take-Off" for two reasons... one should be obvious. The other is that I feel like I am at a turning point in my life. I don't think that I ever really believed that I would finish my degree. I didn't plan on staying in the Navy very long either. I didn't really have any direction and was on a path that wouldn't have went far. That all changed when thankfully I met a beautiful woman who inspired me and believes in me and our future. Thank you Jimmel. Back on topic... you can read my intro above and check out my profile to learn more about me. I really hope everyone enjoys reading my posts and checking out the many pictures to come. I will do my best not to bore you! Thanks for visiting, visit often, and leave me comments so that you can tell me how I can improve the site. Jax crew: please keep it PG-13, my Mother might be stopping in...