The past couple of weeks my squadron has been back in Las Vegas at Nellis AFB for Weapons School support (pics above were taken from the tanker on our flight out). Weapons School is the Air Force's version of Top Gun...a cheesy comparison, but most have seen the movie. Weapons School is a six month "graduate" level course for pilots and other career fields such as Intelligence...if selected, the top in each field attend. It's a course I hope to be selected for in the next year or so. We departed Shaw AFB on 11 Sep after our squadron Director of Operations read an article about the attacks which took place back in 2001...a good reminder for all of us. We flew the 4.3 hours to Nellis on the wing of a KC-10 tanker aircraft (3 refuelings) with our route of flight taking us directly over the Grand Canyon...a very real picture of what the Biblical flood did many years ago!
During different phases of Weapons School, the fighter aircraft (F-15C, F-15E, F-16, F-22, A-10) require "red air" support. Red air is the term used to describe the opposition forces, whereas "blue air" represent the good forces. So, our job this trip to Nellis was to provide red air support...simulating varying Russian aircraft like the Mig-29, Su-27 and Su-30. It's not the most tactical flying, as there are certain maneuvers we're requested to fly in order to drive different training objectives, but the days are a little shorter than usual.
This trip was particularly nice because Lana and Liam were able to come along. Some good friends of ours from Italy, the Chandlers, live in Las Vegas now so Lana and Liam had a place to stay other than the small hotel room on base. This was Lana's first time to Vegas and has enjoyed the different climate and desert...although she's already missing the greenness of the Carolinas. We took both a day and night trip down to the Vegas strip to see all the lights and buildings. We also spent a Saturday touring the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and the small old mining town of Nelson...a town who's mines produced 5 million dollars worth of Gold over a 40 year period starting in the late 1800s.
The day after flying the red eye (2330 departure) back to SC, we departed on a two week trip to Scotland and Germany...a much needed get away and a chance to introduce Liam to Lana's side of the family!More Pictures:
1 comment:
Thank you Lance and Lana for the sacrifices you (and the rest of your fellow airmen and soldier families) are making so that the rest of us civies can enjoy freedom. It is our prayer that the freedoms you earn for us are not wasted, but are used for our Savior's greatest glory. Looking forward to your next post. May you continue to sense His care and love all around you and your family! Joel and Norma Fritch
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