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 #109880  by adrianspeeder
 
Trip 133, Summer 2016, Djibouti

256 - Went home for a minute long enough to do laundry, then step to another jet for a trip into Africa.

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257 - Heading west on day two going to an airfield. African sunsets are pretty, but that is about it in that continent.

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258 – Pilot hero shot.

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259/260 – Chasing the Sun.

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261 - Flight deck was full of pilots this trip with an upgrade check ride from an evaluator, so no seat behind the copilot for me. Back in second class seating kicking feet up.

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262 - Water, land, sun and shadow had an odd mix of a show.

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263 - Fun fluffy puppy passenger pickup.

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264 - Here we have an example of the best and brightest the Air Force has trained, and on the right; is a pilot. Heh heh heh.

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265/270 - Favorite spot in Spain to stop to sleep.

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271/274 - What? We must stay a second day because of scheduling at the next airfield? Darn.

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275 - I really don’t remember this at all. Oh well, great trip all around.

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Last edited by adrianspeeder on Sat Feb 19, 2022 3:26 pm, edited 2 times in total.
 #109884  by adrianspeeder
 
Trip 134, Summer 2016, Bahrain

276 - “Can you leave for another flight? It’s with a reserve crew, and their crew chief had other commitments.” Turns out the copilot did as well, so call up a favorite copilot from the Japan trip to ride along reservist and active duty rainbow mix style.

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277 - Back to the desert. Again.

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278 - Something big hit there.

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279 - Non OCD desert farming.

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280 - Random abandoned airport with not a thing around.

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281 - Aww dick. “Chief!” “Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.” Actually, it’s not that big of a deal out in the system. I have a pin kit that isn’t that hard to disable the thrust reverser and its opposite paired motor on the other wing. Then the engine that has the problem I put 14 bolts in all three thrust reverser cowlings to physically keep the doors from moving. Only penalty is a longer stopping distance having to rely on only two engines and more brakes to stop after landing.

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282 - Beachfront Gulf property.

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283/284 - Fancy with money in the bank.

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285 - Picture in picture!

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286 - Aperture Priority, f/4.0, 28mm, ISO 100, 2sec

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287 – Ready to load on a hot sticky night.

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288 – Fueled and waiting on cargo.

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289/290 - Stunning sunrise.

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291 - Full service window licker.

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292 - Windows cleaned, gas in the tank, let’s go fly!

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293 - So even though I still have a flip phone, I’m moving into this era with an Ipad Pro. Laptop had died, and I replaced it with an Imac at home, but still would like to have something out on the road with me, so let’s see if I can learn a touch screen. How do you make this thing work?

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294 - Decent picture taker too.

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295 - Headin’ home, and I wonder what the next trip will be?

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Last edited by adrianspeeder on Mon Feb 21, 2022 12:47 am, edited 2 times in total.
 #109933  by adrianspeeder
 
Had a day off today to knock out the next few trips worth of photos from last summer, but also worked on some new material as well. Switching gears for a minute for a current observation.

The Bagram Bowl. Few other places in the world test men, or machine, on both sides of the trigger, with one of the most challenging approaches and departures for heavyweight airlift. Millions of years of terrain with thousands of years of fighting stack into that one possible shot being a golden BB. Everyone staring closely at the view looking for a smoke trail of a rocket with the motors at max fighting for every foot to get as far above as fast as we can. Sharp eyes looking out mix awe inspiring views with threats to livelihood, but our greatest risk is also own doing. The greatest safety of a crew driven airplane is when the sum of the parts equals greater than the whole. “Hey man, will you double check that …” “Where are we on completing this …” “Can you remind me for …” “How can I help you do …” “What do you think about …” And the possible scenarios list on to get one more load in and out and over the mountain. Ya know, this place wouldn’t be bad for a ski resort, but gotta stop 4000 years of fighting first. ‘Till next flight, - Adrianspeeder

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 #109937  by adrianspeeder
 
Trip 135, Summer 2016, Djibouti

296 - Well big surprise after a day off to mow the lawn, and pack the laundry up, lets head back to Africa.

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297 - Copilots pushing buttons! So many to choose from, so we watch closely.

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298 - It’s like herding cats.

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299 - 2 out of these 3 are broke.

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300 - C-17’s sexy sister the MD-11.

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301 - Training in progress.

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302 – Paid to watch the world go by.

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311 - “Good safety RACM. Punch it!”

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312 - Launch the fleet!

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313 - After almost 10 years of wearing the same Casio watch, I was swimming in the Mediterranean at our crew rest stop in Italy, and noticed it filled with water. “Hey copilot, when was the last shuttle from the beach back to the hotel?” “No idea chief.” “Screw it, let’s keep drinkin’.” Ended up having the bartender drive us back at last call, but I still need a time piece on the airplane for all my paperwork. Preferably one that shows two times at once for local and Zulu. Only thing an Italian watch shop the next morning down the road from the hotel that fit the bill was a throwback to 1993. “Hey, I won’t have to divide fuel quantity numbers in my head anymore back at the refuel panel. Win!”

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314 - I was asked on another page how we can do 24-hour duty days, and this right here is where it happens. Top bunk is for the augmented loadmaster, bottom bunk is for the augmented pilot, and I’m left with the floor of the crew rest area behind the flight deck at the top of the stairs down to the cargo compartment. Not too bad of a spot with a small air mattress, but just don’t step on me!

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315 - One more homebound ocean crossing sunset. Where are we going next? Aperture Priority, f/3.5, 28mm, ISO 1600, 1/15.

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Last edited by adrianspeeder on Mon Feb 21, 2022 9:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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