Shaun Loc: Tucson, AZ

After using my old avatar of an F-102 fighter landing with the drag chute deployed, I found a new picture that I like better. The F-102 was the first airplane I flew for the Arizona Air National Guard during my 20 year career there. The next airplane was an F-100 Super Sabre which the Guard converted to when we became the gunnery school for all National Guard fighter pilots in the United States. That lasted 8 years and then we upgraded to the A-7 Corsair II which was a highly advanced single engine, single seat attack aircraft that could carry more bombs than a B-17 bomber of WWII fame and had such great pilot aids as a heads up display (HUD), a moving map display which showed your actual position on a projected aerial map, a weapon delivery and navigation computer, terrain following and avoidance radar to list just a few.

The picture I am now using for my avatar is a flight of 3 A-7 aircraft that were on an air combat tactics mission and the base photo lab had rigged a rear facing camera in the lead aircraft which was flown by Capt. "Whip" Wilper. The student was on his left wing in this picture and I was on the right wing. My job was to break off from the formation once we had reached our training area and act as an "aggressor aircraft" and do simulated attacks using known enemy tactics so the student could learn how to defend against them. Just before I left the formation, we positioned the aircraft so the result would be what you see in the photo.

The decoration on the helmet visor cover is a version of the Arizona State Flag and all the instructors in the squadron had identical visor covers. We normally flew with the visor down in the daytime as during manuevering flight, we often were looking into the sun. I have numerous airplane photos but this is one of the few that has me in the picture so I decided to use it for my avatar.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

My Dad was a A&P flightline mechanic/technician at Edwards in the 60's and worked on many of the planes of that time - I still remember all the Sonic Booms!! I worked on and around flight line at Grumman's Final Assembly airfield on Long Island - and all the fun F-14's, A6 (a-e) EA-6B, E2C Navy planes at the time. Great memories and thanks for your service.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

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I was in from 1958 to 1962. I only went to A/1C but was proud every minute of my 4 years.
I was stationed at Eglin AFB FL. and got to see just about every model plane of that time.
Eglin was and probably still is the largest AFB we have, at least it was then. (875 Sq. miles of base.)
It was all research and development for the Air Force.

Before the end of my tour Eglin had a SAC Squadron, and I never heard so much noise.
I have a nice collection of photos that I brought home and look back at them often.


Charles

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

I was an autopilot tech in late 60's. Worked MAC(xport)planes, C-124 and up. Hawaii, Guam, Japan. 102 pilots deserve credit. I understood it was a bitch to fly. Sure looked easy from the ground. Bill

Powder Hound

Love the avatar and the helmet treatment!

My father flew for Arizona's ANG back in the day: he flew P-51s.

Cheers,

PH

MTG44 Loc: Corryton, Tennessee

Cool!

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Excellent photo and makes a great Avatar!! Thanks for the write-up and history of the aircraft used by the ANG. Nice to see us veterans posting on the HOG!!

nikonboy Loc: Apple Valley, MN and Pine Island, Florida

I like your selection of airplanes. Here is a photo I took in 1971 approaching Northern Luzon in the Philippines. These are Navy A-7E aircraft, virtually identical to the Air Force A-7D. I was in an identical A-7E with my trusty Konica C-35. Navy pilots always take pride in their formation flying and they did very well this day. By the way, the A-7E was a dream airplane, state-of-the-art at the time, and very easy to fly. On this day we had flown from the USS Enterprise enroute to Subic Bay Naval Air Station.

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

As a former grunt, I know little about the flight characteristics of any plane, but have always had an extreme interest in advanced weaponry including aircraft. I do know I was really glad on a couple of occasions when the air force showed up with napalm in a place where I was long ago and far away. I write simply to thank you and all my fellow veterans for your service. God bless America

Shaun Loc: Tucson, AZ

Really nice photo of A-7E formation flying. As soon as I saw it I was reminded of one that I took when we deployed to Hickham AFB in Hawaii with our A-7Ds and A-7Ks (the two seat version) Since we were from the Arizona Air National Guard, I thought that a picture of our birds over the Arizona Memorial would be appropriate. It took several discussions with Honolulu Tracon to get permission and I have attached my shot taken from above the formation of three A-7Ds and one A-7K over the Memorial. Number 4 in the slot position is the first of our aircraft to be painted in the new camoflage paint that the Tucson Guard developed.

(Download)

nikonboy Loc: Apple Valley, MN and Pine Island, Florida

Holy cow! That is a great camouflage scheme. Even knowing there are aircraft there it is almost impossible to see them.

nikonboy Loc: Apple Valley, MN and Pine Island, Florida

Here is a photo I shot flying over one of the Hawaiian Islands in 1971. I don't recall the specific island any more.

Shaun Loc: Tucson, AZ

Another great photo of an unattractive airplane. They didn't call the A-7 "The Sluf" for its beautiful lines but it sure was nice to fly. In my opinion, the HUD was the greatest gift to aviators and made an annual instrument check a piece of cake. No more flying under a hood and thinking, "one peek is worth a thousand cross-checks"!

nikonboy Loc: Apple Valley, MN and Pine Island, Florida

Yes, indeed. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As you know, the A-7 was a dream to fly and did what it was designed for extremely well. I thought you might enjoy this photo taken over the Colorado Rockies enroute from Buckley near Denver to Lemoore NAS, California.