Approach articles from June 2000

Approach archives from June 2000

Bingo-That's Hard, Isn't It?
June 1, 2000... "Aircraft at a mile, wave off, foul deck," the landing signal officer said calmly--the beginning of a very exciting, demanding and lengthy flight. Along with Gunslinger 412, I had the great pleasure of diverting to a Greek airfield on the...

Don't Worry About That C-5 in Front--They Must Be Circling To Land.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2000... It was a normal preflight, just like the many others we'd done during our detachment to a foreign airfield. The planeside brief was complete, and we were copying down the ATIS information. Information "Alpha" was current, reporting the winds...

After Three Decades, I Get a Wish.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2000... Being associated with Approach was the farthest thing from my mind in 1968 when I entered the Navy. I barely knew what the name was. But, I've spent more than 30 years in naval aviation as an editor, historian, author, book reviewer, and naval...

Overpressure in "The Box".(Brief Article)
June 1, 2000... We had just settled into what would be four months of operating in the Persian Gulf. I was Dash 3 of a three-ship supporting a target-familiarization flight in what is known as "The Box." It was night, and I was looking forward to actually...

The Wrong End Zone.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2000... Fallon SFARP. Unit-level, air-to-ground training that signaled the start of our work-ups. Our first mission was an opposed, section low-level through the Nevada desert. The route would drop us off in the B-20 bombing range complex, where we...

Our Massive Prop-Overspeed Flight.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2000... The day started out quietly: a routine NATOPS check for the flight engineer (FE), an observer NATOPS check, then landing practice for the IP and me. After takeoff from the runway 6, we encountered an overcast layer around 1,400 feet,...

Concentrate on the ABCs.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2000... Our mission was simple: sunny, clear, daytime carrier qualifications in the southern California operating areas. The only thing complicating the scenario was the timing. It was early in our IDTC and our first period back to sea in several...

Bravo Zulu.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2000... BZs require an endorsement from the nominating squadron's CO and the appropriate CAG, wing commander or MAG commander. In the case of the helo dets, the CO of the ship will suffice. A squadron zapper and a 5-by-7-inch photo of the entire crew...

Do You Smell Smoke?
June 1, 2000... A COUPLE SECONDS ELAPSED BEFORE WE HEARD A SNAP. My EA-6B squadron was on its first leg of a Westpac cruise and had been operating in Japanese airspace for about three weeks. Just a few days before going on cruise, we had been rerouted to...

I Can't Stop This Thing, or Aim for the Guy in the Tractor!
June 1, 2000... It was shaping up to be another great day in the Persian Gulf. I was starting my second week of operational flying and was getting comfortable with flying around the ship--at least during the day. Because I was not flying with my normal crew, I...

When Feathered Friends Become Feathered Foes.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2000... "So, where do you want to go for this out-and-in?" What a great question to ask a naval aviator. As a T-34C flight instructor, the entire United States is my canvas and visual navigation is my brush. A typical day as a VNAV instructor and...

Pinned.
June 1, 2000... My last two hops in flight school. I would be wearing Wings of Gold the next day. If weather, maintenance, or the alignment of Jupiter prevented me from getting the "X", it didn't matter. When my mother flew in, I showed her around the ready...

Arms Too Short, Sir?(Brief Article)
June 1, 2000... As squadron flight surgeon in the `80s, I remember the day my XO failed his vision test during his annual flight physical. While I was away on leave, he called me in a panic concerned that he was "going blind." He said he'd been referred to the...

Sorry, Admiral, We've Got To Hold.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2000... We were returning to Offutt AFB, flying a typical February weather divert in support of the Airborne Command Post mission. This mission involves flying a 14-member Navy crew and an eight-person joint-service battle staff, including one flag...

AIR Wing.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2000... Milestones Command Date Hours Years VMA 223 01/12/00 40,000 9.9 VP-47 03/14/00 165,200 27.0 HMM-262 03/20/00 10,000 2.9 VF-14 03/23/00 18,700 5.0 HM-15...