Weapons School...Just Around The Corner

In a little over two weeks, I'll hit the road for the 2,225 mile long drive west to Nellis AFB in Las Vegas for my 6 months of Weapons School. All of the spin-up flights, time studying, and working on briefing guides has paid off and I feel ready for the task ahead. Of course, I'm anxious about the tough days to come, but I know God is in control and His plan is already laid out. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I konw the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."

The course will be tough, but not seeing Lana and Liam much during this time will be even more difficult. The course is so busy that I will have little time to spend with them, which is why they'll be spending most of their time in Munich, and visit me towards the end of my time out there.

I'm not sure if I mentioned this previously, but I know four of the 10 pilots in my class since we were stationed together during my tour at Aviano Air Base, Italy. This will help along the way as we work together as a class to make it through. I also don't anticipate updating the blog much during the course, so we'll see how that goes.

Until the next time...

Liam's 1 Year Old!

On May 25th, Liam turned 1...this past year flew by! God blessed us with such a great little boy who has a great personality and laughs all the time.

Lana and I are looking forward to another great year ahead!

New Back Patio

A few weeks ago, my parents and younger brother were in town for their Spring Break. It has almost become tradition to have my Dad and brothers help me with a project around the house when they're in town so I can get it done quicker...this time is was putting in a small stone patio in the back.

We started early on Saturday morning with a run to Lowes and the local landscaping store to pick up supplies and were soon on the ends of two shovels removing the sod and digging down to the depth we needed for the crushed stone. I underestimated the amount of stone we'd need, so it was back to the store for more supplies. By 6 pm, it was time to stop with the project 85% complete.

The following Monday while I was at work taking Devin on his F-16 flight, my Dad finished most of it and I gave the final touches after getting home from work. It turned out quite well and handles the water off the roof (no gutters in the south) much better than the grass did!

Large Formation Exercise

This past week we had a phase II exercise on base. A phase II is an exercise simulating we are in the middle of a war and the base is getting hit every now and then with chemical SCUD missiles and ground attacks. This means putting on chem masks and all...not too much fun. However, I flew 8 times in three days so that was good.

On Monday the exercise kicked off with a large formation exercise (LFE) and I was the mission commander (MSN CC). For those who've read the blog for awhile, I went through the MSN CC upgrade at TLP in Belgium back in '08 (click here for that post). This was also part of my WIC spin-up to dust of my MSN CC skills before July. The aircraft involved were:

4 x F-22s (Langley AFB)
4 x F-18s (Beaufort NAS)
2 x F-15Es (Seymour Johnson AFB)
28 x F-16s (Shaw AFB / McEntire ANGB)
3 x KC-135 tankers
1 x AWACS

The "war" took place off the east coast of North Carolina and went pretty well, considering it took the two days prior to plan it all. I was part of the air-to-ground strike package along with the F-18s and F-15Es, while the F-22s and some other F-16s provided air-to-air and SEAD coverage...F-16s also provided adversary support. In the months ahead at WIC there will be many LFEs of bigger scale, so this was a good warm up. Fly safe!

My Brother's F-16 Flight

My brother Devin got the chance of a lifetime to go for a flight in the F-16 on April 25th. He is in the Reserve Officer Trainin Corps (ROTC) at Cedarville University and came down to SC with my parents over Easter weekend. Originally I told him the changes were almost nill, but to my surprise it was relatively easy for him to get a flight as an ROTC cadet...he also wants to be a fighter pilot! With a few phone calls and paperwork signed by our Wing Commander, Devin was good to go!

Before the flight Devin saw the flight doc, had physiology and ejection seat training, and got fit up with his flight gear. April 25th couldn't have had better weather...it was as clear as the eye could see. The flight was a 3-ship with me leading, Devin in the backseat of my #2's jet, and another Lt getting a flight in #3's jet. I gave a briefing similar to those we normally give so that Devin could see the normal flow for a flight...there's a lot more than just showing up to fly.

By the time we finished the brief, my parents, Lana, and Liam were at the squadron so they could go out on the flight line to take pictures and watch the takeoff. I helped Devin get strapped in and then went to my jet. Soon we taxied and were ready for takeoff. The flight went as follows:

- Unrestricted takeoff to 10,000' ft (afterburnner takeoff, accelerating on the deck to 450 kts and pulling up in the vertical)
- Rejoin close for pictures
- 2 vs 1 dogfighting
- 2 vs 1 intercepts at 500' ft / 500 kts
- 3-ship loop
- Shoot the gun on the range

In there somewhere Devin got a little sick, but he didn't mind. He also got the chance to fly a little bit from the backseat. After landing he said, "Someday I'll be flying the F-35 and shooting down your F-16!" Simulated of course, but good on him...he's motivated and set his goals high. It was a great day and one we'll both remember in the year ahead!! Devin is in the backseat of the jet below.