Thanks for giving us the pilots perspective on overseas deployments and I appreciate the shoutout to the maintainers. As a former maintainer that was involved in numerous across the pond deployments I can tell you that it takes a lot of time and effort to prepare F-16's for those long overwater flights. I and my fellow crew dogs would anxiously await the news the next day of how the jets landed at their overseas destination. It always gave us a sense of pride and accomplishment to hear they all landed safely
As the son of a fighter pilot who was both a Squadron Commander and an Ops Group commander the maintainers were always treated like God in our house. If the maintainers, weapons guys, crew chief and so on don't do their job my old man wouldn't have made it home. They're respected to the extent that my father's A10 squadron he took to Desert Storm/Desert Shield is having their reunion this month and the maintainers and their families were all invited. So in closing, thanks for what you guys do and keeping the pilots able to do what they do.
@@HalfUnder That sounds like a fun reunion! :) I myself am considering joining the Air Force as a pilot, but I would not mind being a maintainer since I know how important it is and I like fixing my paintball guns up. :)
Back in 1979, I was flying C-130 aircrew (comm operator) and we were assigned to escort (provide radio support) for some A-10's being reassigned to S.Korea. We picked them up at Travis, then on to Hawaii for a weekend, Wake Island, Okinawa, and finally Suwon AB. On the way back we went thru Japan for a couple of days, Midway (to refuel only), and back to Hawaii. Somehow, our altimeter got out of whack between Midway and Hickam and we wound up spending another weekend in Hawaii. Life could be a real pain, sometimes .....
Hasard, I’m a former F-16, KC-135, and C130 Crewchief. I watch these videos and reminisce of days gone by. I caught the shout out you gave the maintainers. From a fellow Airmen and maintainer 👍 ‘salute’ 🇺🇸
Just posted a longer version of this in reply to another comment but as the son of a former squadron and ops group commander, thanks for what you guys do/did. My father always loved and trusted all of his maintainers and they were treated like family. Every flight hour he ever had he came back safely from in no small part due to the maintenance guys. So for every snot nosed kid who never told you, thanks for making sure our fathers had a jet that brought them home safe.
I was (enlisted) C-130 aircrew on "B" and "E" models back in 70's and 80's. Thanks for everything you and your fellow maintainers did to keep us flying. You guys were the best!
Wow. 400 knots. 11 hours Doha to Spain. Refuel about once an hour. Manual flight across the Atlantic. That just sounds crazy Thanks for the video. I had always presumed you guys would cross in ridiculously fast times and didn't have to refuel as much. Flying economy in an airliner doesn't sound as bad now!
@@Inspirequote4me Same, yeah the F-16 can do it but I'm guessing not as safe and they are not F-22's with supercruse ether and afterburners destroy your range and those cargo pods did not help.
@@aaronhealey2409 The targeting pod by itself is just a camera, so no threat there. Likely the Master Arm switch was off as well, and they prob didn't fly with any bombs. So the pyramids are safe and sound 🤗
Retired B52G gunner, KC135A and KC10A boom operator. I've done a few trips pulling you guys across the ponds, and I'll say you F16 guys were by far my favorite...always down to earth and friendly folks. BTW, the KC10 slows down to refuel you guys. Also...was always fun to see the KC135A with water injection walk away from you guys after takeoff...for 120 seconds we were rocking. LOL NKAWTG...Nobody! I've got some great stories I'll have to write down one of these days. :)
I’ve done pond crossings in RF-4s, EF-111s, EA-6Bs, and F-15Es. Always something happens along the way. Flew a non stop from Dahran to the Azores then the Azores to Cannon.
Hassard great video. As a retired KC135 pilot, the F16s were the best in the CAF for overwater deployments. We never had any issues with your 2-4-6 ships. I’ve dragged a lot of aircraft across the Atlantic and Pacific and your guys were uniformly the best. Nice work.
Shaw AFB! I got my initial training in Conway, SC, which is next door. I used to fly into your restricted area to get intercepted. It was _awesome_ to see you guys up close. I guess ATC knew that, because we never got into trouble for that. In those times, the (iirc) 357th (A-10s) was at Myrtle Beach, and their controllers used to call us the Conway Bombers (there was a flight school in 51J, so lots of activity). Our instructors were ex B-52 pilots with _lots_ of amazing stories. One thing I can't remember was the "cigar rule". It had something to do with VORs, holding your cigar up to the dial, and moving it to another dial. This was from the time when flying involved a leather jacker, shawl and cigar. My Google Fu is lacking. :(
What a fascinating account! Thank you for the detailed upload. Truly an interesting watch. I had no idea your refuelling schedule was so intense nor that you were manually flying so much. My hats off to you for your service and quite literally your bravery doing this day after day !!!
Yea me too (Ex Nav and Pilot). It would seem to me that a broken windshield wiper would be a salable commodity to a bunch of poor fighter jocks looking at a 30 ft sea state (I'm looking at you Hasard).
Totally get where he's coming from. No one wants to get stuck in the Deid, but it's the blackhole base for most. She keeps sucking you back in. And not in the ways you'd like
Good ole Shaw.. was stationed there in the late ‘80’s. 363rd TFW was there. I really enjoyed that base and Sumter was a nice little town. Great memories. Thank you for your service!
Flew back to MCAS Kaneohe Bay in an Air Force C-5 when the first Gulf War ended. We made a stop at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. We were only supposed to stay there about 12 hours but ended up staying there almost a week because the plane crew downed it due to needing a new tire lol. Thank you plane crew. God Bless you. Clark was a great place for a bunch of Marines to hang out for a few days. I also remember seeing the plane crew unloading their golf bags, and I was told that Clark had a beautiful golf course.
New subscriber here. Really appreciate these videos. I've been an aerospace buff all my life and have wondered about many of the questions you answer in your videos - like what it feels like to go super, firing the gun, crossing the ocean, etc. It's great to finally get answers, and in a well-presented way. Thank you!
Flew tanker drags over both ponds in the Prowler (EA-6B) in the early 00s. Amazing how the tanker always seems to break in the nicest of spots--Azores for the translant and Hawaii/Guam for the transpac. 😅
Cool video. I appreciate the experience and maturity of Hasard and his fellow pilots obvious from listening to him speak. I'm glad there are guys like him. All the best, Rob
In the Navy we called them Blivets. On our A-4s they went centerline and inboard station on each wing was a 300 gallon drop tank. With the 2 drop tanks it held 8000 pounds of fuel. Autopilot? What's that? This was in the 70s and 80s. The blivets were the same size as a 300 gallon droptank. Back then it was illeagal to have Coors on the east coast so those blivets carried a lot of beer from the west coast, a lot of beer. Occasionally other spirits but usually they carried golf clubs and luggage. Thankfully you all made it across the pond safe and sound. I have been thinking about a speed restriction with the blivet on. Don't go supersonic in a dive is what I remember but it was a long time ago. Be safe.
I have a friend you flew in RCAF First I must tell you, this was way way back in years . They did a tour of southern USA with the pods holding their luggage. At that time whiskey and certain liquors where out of sight in price and at officers mess in USA they where selling it next to nothing so they all purchase many many bottles wrap well for cold climate and return to Canada. They told me that was the cheapest liquor they ever purchased. Thankfully the pilots made it home safe and protecting our rights.
Used to do citrus and seafood exchanges between the USMC Reserve A-4 squadrons in Cecil and South Weymouth around the holidays in the early 80's. Doubt anyone would take a billet across the pond vice a third working tank. Our guys in Iwakuni didn't even want a billet for the obligatory weekend trip to Cubi Pt. Just stuck helmet bags in the aft hell hole.
Hazard, got to say, it’s a sad state of affairs when you have to wait for a wiper blade and that there isn’t another tanker available to take its place. Crazy times we are living in. Thanks for your Service Sir!
Hazard. Have you ever looked at the internal fuel and performance on the F-16XL and wondered if that would have been better for later Block Vipers for the roles they’re mainly used for? The XL basically doubled the combat radius and would have cut the need for AR significantly. Payload was insane. BVR metrics were superior. T/W was less though with the early 1980s motors.
The XL is what should have become of the F-16 anyway, General Dynamics hatched the bets wrong by even entering her in competition with the F-15E. She would have been a great 4.5th gen platform by now.
@@FirstDagger Lockheed had nothing to do with the F-16 back then. It was General Dynamics. The XL was a creation of Harry Hillaker and team after tons of wind tunnel models testing various wing shapes and profiles. F-16XL would have made a great bomb truck and D-SEAD fighter, with better combat radius than an A-7D.
Very interesting. Thanks for your service. My brother-in-law served with the Army National Guard out of Bangor, Maine. Served in Afghanistan at Bagram flying fixed wing twin engine. His son, Daniel, flew Blackhawk in FOB Shank.
When my brother was deployed back to UK from Cyprus, they stuffed all the contraband into bomb casings marked up live munitions. The Customs wouldn't go within a mile of those and certainly wouldn't interfere with.The plan B was if they really wanted to look inside everyone would clear the area leaving them to look themselves.
Nice to hear that Spain is still the place to be. We, as part of the ESTA team, did the tour in 98, Operation Southern Watch. We stopped at Moron on the way over. The deployment was...boring... On the way back we had some issues. Somebody forgot to purge the 370's and they ended up blowing vapourized fuel all over the interior of the C-141 when we were at altitude. The loadmaster freaked and ran to the flight deck. The next thing we knew we were doing a nose dive. Cabin air was dumped and it got cold reeeeeal quick. IFE into Rota, loadmasters had to work all night lifting the floor boards to clean all of the fuel. We got to have our first beer after 3 months in Rota. We then carried on to Lajes in the Azores and "unfortunately" the tanker broke as well as one of our 16's. A week in the Azores was a nice change of pace and would recommend anyone to go if they have a chance. I know, it was a different experience for the later guys but still, it was an experience.
I was part of the flight crew on a trip from Pope AFB, NC to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and back, aboard a C-130 Hercules. It was a grueling 22-hour journey each way, with only brief stops for refueling-essentially a deadhead flight. It was the longest trip of my life.
@@spitfire_flyer5659 your exactly RIGHT!! Thats one of the oldest in the book. Cmon people!! Moron, Spain. That windshield broke before it even took off.
About the windshield wiper Former KC-135 navigator here (yes, I'm old). About 35 years ago was part of a tanker task force deployment to Guam. We stopped off at in Oahu and lo and behold the other tanker we were flying with broke a part that they had no spares for at Hickam. Apparently the part never broke, except theirs did. We wound up staying a block off off the beach downtown Waikiki (no room at the base, some General had a bunch of rooms for his flunkies) for about a week. As we were from Loring (now closed, as far north and as far east as you can go in the US) and it was winter, we didn't mind the delay. Not to rub it in but while you were in the cramped cockpit in a poopie-suit, the tanker crew got to go to the head at will and then heat up their meals when they were hungry. Why do you show a KC-10 at about 6:44? Great video, brought back a lot of memories. Thanks! NKAWTG!
I’m an old … really old AF brat, wanted to sat thank you for your service. My dad was a 1st generation KC-135 AC, the 135 was is favorite air craft to fly.
It's easy to underestimate logistics. We used to tear down our CH46E and stuff 3 of them into a C5 for long transport. Then rebuild them upon landing. So much fun. 😒
-135 Boom from 1995 to 2001. Plenty of fighter drags through the years. Lots of fun. I don’t remember wipers being on the go/no-go checklist. I remember them being fairly worthless, except maybe on the ground? (Booms spend most of the time in the cockpit). I will tell you though, we lost a generator on number three while at Hickam AFB on the way back from Kadena one year. That was a rough week in Hawaii.
Great video, I was a maintainer at McEntire Joint Air National Guard Station for 24 years but did an AGR tour at Shaw for 4.5 years in the 20th Security Forces as Bravo 1 ream leader
If you could “break” in Rota, wouldn’t you? I was a maintainer and got to make that trip looking down from the boom pod. It’s amazing how beautiful the world is from that vantage point.
Thanks for sharing! Your channel has been very informative. I’m applying to AFROTC for next fall in hopes of earning a pilot slot and these videos definitely motivate me to want to do well. Keep em comin!
I myself am considering joining the Air Force through ROTC to become either a pilot or an aircraft maintainer. How'd it end up going for you? What would you recommend? Tips?
Just subscribed ... great content. Nearly 40 years at GDFW/LM Aero ... in 38 Countries building your Birds. It was such a brilliant career and know that our only "Customer" was the Aircrew ... always. Watching the refuels always makes me think of my good friend Tom Tacino that designed/manufactured your refuel receptacle ... one of my first subcontractors. Also know that we tried our best to help with your ferry flights by offering USAF the 600 gallon wing tanks that the IAF/UAE bought ... also in charge of their SOF/QUAL while in charge of their manufacture at IMI Haifa ... would have reduced the refuel frequency at a much lower cost that retrofitting the CFTs from IAI. Glad to have you on our F-35 Program and look forward to seeing more of your posts. Check 6
Thanks for covering this. It's a subject I've ways been curious about but hard to find any info on because most people don't find it interesting since it's not combat related.
@@HasardLee as I understand it, there are lights on the bottom of the tanker too? (Closest I'll ever come myself is VTOL VR, and even then. I cheered when I finally connected to the tanker without colliding. hah)
@@DFX2KXYes. There are director lights on the bottom that are controlled by the boom operator. FYI: tanking in VR is MUCH harder than real life, imo lol
I really like your videos, you are a really great story teller! Idk what it is about fighter pilots and astronauts, but the ones you hear speaking and telling their stories like this have really impressive communication skills, which I'm sure is a requirement of the job. (There could be a little confirmation bias to that lol)
No love for Gucci man…it’s ok, we’re just the “Other tanker”! Great story, Redeployment Coronets are my favorites and most rewarding to do. Spain is a good sight after months of seeing Tan.
Very interesting stuff on this channel! So for your ride across the ocean your travel pod really didn't slow you down, the speed limiting factor was the tanker. Right?
The F-16 doesn't have a proper autopilot like a commercial jet, but there is a rudimentary one, yes? It's down by your left knee and will hold altitude/attitude and will follow a heading bug or steer point. It's still manual flying in the sense that you have to hand fly the autopilot so to speak. This is just my experience in DCS World "flying" the F-16C. Usually they model the jets pretty accurately and faithfully. But that's just a computer sim. Knowing there's a damn near zero chance of rescue in a sea state 7-8 is just a ballsy call to make. Mad respect
Hi Mr. Lee. Can you make a video on scramble, what it is, reaction time and which country's air force has the best scramble time on the ground to airborne.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for giving us the pilots perspective on overseas deployments and I appreciate the shoutout to the maintainers. As a former maintainer that was involved in numerous across the pond deployments I can tell you that it takes a lot of time and effort to prepare F-16's for those long overwater flights. I and my fellow crew dogs would anxiously await the news the next day of how the jets landed at their overseas destination. It always gave us a sense of pride and accomplishment to hear they all landed safely
Cant do it without you!
Maintainers are a vita part of the cog. Just as important as the pilot.
As the son of a fighter pilot who was both a Squadron Commander and an Ops Group commander the maintainers were always treated like God in our house. If the maintainers, weapons guys, crew chief and so on don't do their job my old man wouldn't have made it home. They're respected to the extent that my father's A10 squadron he took to Desert Storm/Desert Shield is having their reunion this month and the maintainers and their families were all invited. So in closing, thanks for what you guys do and keeping the pilots able to do what they do.
@@HalfUnder That sounds like a fun reunion! :) I myself am considering joining the Air Force as a pilot, but I would not mind being a maintainer since I know how important it is and I like fixing my paintball guns up. :)
These are the ones that take time to stop unless something slows it down? Right?
"You guys want a vacation in rome?"
"Hell yeah we do."
"Alright. Tear that windshield wiper off."
ATC: horrible weather in Rome guys, please divert to Nowhere, Alaska
The Brits have this beat, I met a RAF C130 crew that was stranded at Wheeler AFB because they needed a part
Back in 1979, I was flying C-130 aircrew (comm operator) and we were assigned to escort (provide radio support) for some A-10's being reassigned to S.Korea. We picked them up at Travis, then on to Hawaii for a weekend, Wake Island, Okinawa, and finally Suwon AB. On the way back we went thru Japan for a couple of days, Midway (to refuel only), and back to Hawaii. Somehow, our altimeter got out of whack between Midway and Hickam and we wound up spending another weekend in Hawaii. Life could be a real pain, sometimes .....
That's how it's done. LOL
@@billirvin9057 Oh man, such hardship lol Thanks for your service anyway o7
Hasard, I’m a former F-16, KC-135, and C130 Crewchief. I watch these videos and reminisce of days gone by. I caught the shout out you gave the maintainers. From a fellow Airmen and maintainer 👍 ‘salute’ 🇺🇸
Thanks for everything you’ve done-salute 🇺🇸
Just posted a longer version of this in reply to another comment but as the son of a former squadron and ops group commander, thanks for what you guys do/did. My father always loved and trusted all of his maintainers and they were treated like family. Every flight hour he ever had he came back safely from in no small part due to the maintenance guys. So for every snot nosed kid who never told you, thanks for making sure our fathers had a jet that brought them home safe.
I was (enlisted) C-130 aircrew on "B" and "E" models back in 70's and 80's. Thanks for everything you and your fellow maintainers did to keep us flying. You guys were the best!
Wow. 400 knots. 11 hours Doha to Spain. Refuel about once an hour. Manual flight across the Atlantic. That just sounds crazy Thanks for the video. I had always presumed you guys would cross in ridiculously fast times and didn't have to refuel as much. Flying economy in an airliner doesn't sound as bad now!
Ha me too…. Burst my bubble… thought they would race each other and pit stop in Greenland!
@@Inspirequote4me Same, yeah the F-16 can do it but I'm guessing not as safe and they are not F-22's with supercruse ether and afterburners destroy your range and those cargo pods did not help.
Didn't know about the carrypods before...that's cool...and so is sight seeing with targeting pods...great vid.
I'm not sure pointing an F-16's weapons at the pyramids is a great idea, but hey- what do I know xD
@@aaronhealey2409 what "weapons" were they pointing at the pyramids?
@@aaronhealey2409 ; Targeting Pod, not weapons. Apparently you really don't know much.
@@aaronhealey2409 The targeting pod by itself is just a camera, so no threat there. Likely the Master Arm switch was off as well, and they prob didn't fly with any bombs. So the pyramids are safe and sound 🤗
Chill guys pretty sure hes just joking
Retired B52G gunner, KC135A and KC10A boom operator. I've done a few trips pulling you guys across the ponds, and I'll say you F16 guys were by far my favorite...always down to earth and friendly folks. BTW, the KC10 slows down to refuel you guys. Also...was always fun to see the KC135A with water injection walk away from you guys after takeoff...for 120 seconds we were rocking. LOL NKAWTG...Nobody! I've got some great stories I'll have to write down one of these days. :)
I’ve done pond crossings in RF-4s, EF-111s, EA-6Bs, and F-15Es. Always something happens along the way. Flew a non stop from Dahran to the Azores then the Azores to Cannon.
Hassard great video. As a retired KC135 pilot, the F16s were the best in the CAF for overwater deployments. We never had any issues with your 2-4-6 ships. I’ve dragged a lot of aircraft across the Atlantic and Pacific and your guys were uniformly the best. Nice work.
That’s great to hear. Thanks for your service and for the gas!
Thank you for giving your maintainers some love.
You have so many incredible stories and memories from being a pilot. Amazing. Thank you for your service 🇺🇸
Mad props to my air force crews for knowing when stuff needs to break 🙏🏻🇺🇸✌🏻
Thank you for your service. God Bless you, your family, all you served with and God Bless America. 🇺🇸
Shaw AFB! I got my initial training in Conway, SC, which is next door. I used to fly into your restricted area to get intercepted. It was _awesome_ to see you guys up close. I guess ATC knew that, because we never got into trouble for that. In those times, the (iirc) 357th (A-10s) was at Myrtle Beach, and their controllers used to call us the Conway Bombers (there was a flight school in 51J, so lots of activity). Our instructors were ex B-52 pilots with _lots_ of amazing stories. One thing I can't remember was the "cigar rule". It had something to do with VORs, holding your cigar up to the dial, and moving it to another dial. This was from the time when flying involved a leather jacker, shawl and cigar. My Google Fu is lacking. :(
What a fascinating account! Thank you for the detailed upload. Truly an interesting watch. I had no idea your refuelling schedule was so intense nor that you were manually flying so much. My hats off to you for your service and quite literally your bravery doing this day after day !!!
“Looking at you tanker guys”
As a tanker guy I felt that.
Yea me too (Ex Nav and Pilot). It would seem to me that a broken windshield wiper would be a salable commodity to a bunch of poor fighter jocks looking at a 30 ft sea state (I'm looking at you Hasard).
Totally get where he's coming from. No one wants to get stuck in the Deid, but it's the blackhole base for most. She keeps sucking you back in. And not in the ways you'd like
@@MrTigerTowner Hahahaahaha
1 installed 0 required (both columns), with a note about forecast precip. They got played, lol.
Is a broken wiper really a Red X problem? Sounds like the tanker guys wanted to stay in Rota!
I love hearing the details of these "simple" missions. Thank you!
Good ole Shaw.. was stationed there in the late ‘80’s. 363rd TFW was there. I really enjoyed that base and Sumter was a nice little town. Great memories. Thank you for your service!
Flew back to MCAS Kaneohe Bay in an Air Force C-5 when the first Gulf War ended. We made a stop at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. We were only supposed to stay there about 12 hours but ended up staying there almost a week because the plane crew downed it due to needing a new tire lol. Thank you plane crew. God Bless you. Clark was a great place for a bunch of Marines to hang out for a few days. I also remember seeing the plane crew unloading their golf bags, and I was told that Clark had a beautiful golf course.
New subscriber here. Really appreciate these videos. I've been an aerospace buff all my life and have wondered about many of the questions you answer in your videos - like what it feels like to go super, firing the gun, crossing the ocean, etc. It's great to finally get answers, and in a well-presented way. Thank you!
I think a lot of people take pilots for granted, it's a bloody serious job, and massive talent and skill.
Flew tanker drags over both ponds in the Prowler (EA-6B) in the early 00s. Amazing how the tanker always seems to break in the nicest of spots--Azores for the translant and Hawaii/Guam for the transpac. 😅
Wow! All the logistics involved in just bringing back the jets. Amazing work, guys! Thanks for serving and protecting our country and freedom.
Cool video. I appreciate the experience and maturity of Hasard and his fellow pilots obvious from listening to him speak. I'm glad there are guys like him. All the best, Rob
In the Navy we called them Blivets. On our A-4s they went centerline and inboard station on each wing was a 300 gallon drop tank. With the 2 drop tanks it held 8000 pounds of fuel. Autopilot? What's that? This was in the 70s and 80s. The blivets were the same size as a 300 gallon droptank. Back then it was illeagal to have Coors on the east coast so those blivets carried a lot of beer from the west coast, a lot of beer. Occasionally other spirits but usually they carried golf clubs and luggage. Thankfully you all made it across the pond safe and sound. I have been thinking about a speed restriction with the blivet on. Don't go supersonic in a dive is what I remember but it was a long time ago. Be safe.
I have a friend you flew in RCAF First I must tell you, this was way way back in years . They did a tour of southern USA with the pods holding their luggage. At that time whiskey and certain liquors where out of sight in price and at officers mess in USA they where selling it next to nothing so they all purchase many many bottles wrap well for cold climate and return to Canada. They told me that was the cheapest liquor they ever purchased. Thankfully the pilots made it home safe and protecting our rights.
Used to do citrus and seafood exchanges between the USMC Reserve A-4 squadrons in Cecil and South Weymouth around the holidays in the early 80's. Doubt anyone would take a billet across the pond vice a third working tank. Our guys in Iwakuni didn't even want a billet for the obligatory weekend trip to Cubi Pt. Just stuck helmet bags in the aft hell hole.
Hazard, got to say, it’s a sad state of affairs when you have to wait for a wiper blade and that there isn’t another tanker available to take its place. Crazy times we are living in.
Thanks for your Service Sir!
TACC is a crazy place
Geezus, refuelling 10 times in the 16 would be a nightmare, its crazy hard in DCS !!
It is very hard to learn, the tanker aircraft is intimidating. But once learned you got it! You'll get it down. practice.
Sick video Hasard! Love the content ❤️
Hazard. Have you ever looked at the internal fuel and performance on the F-16XL and wondered if that would have been better for later Block Vipers for the roles they’re mainly used for? The XL basically doubled the combat radius and would have cut the need for AR significantly. Payload was insane. BVR metrics were superior. T/W was less though with the early 1980s motors.
With today's better engines and aesa radar i think that the XL should be great platform for the next 20/30 years
The XL is what should have become of the F-16 anyway, General Dynamics hatched the bets wrong by even entering her in competition with the F-15E.
She would have been a great 4.5th gen platform by now.
@@FirstDagger Lockheed had nothing to do with the F-16 back then. It was General Dynamics. The XL was a creation of Harry Hillaker and team after tons of wind tunnel models testing various wing shapes and profiles.
F-16XL would have made a great bomb truck and D-SEAD fighter, with better combat radius than an A-7D.
@@LRRPFco52 ; Thx, corrected my previous comment.
Very interesting. Thanks for your service. My brother-in-law served with the Army National Guard out of Bangor, Maine. Served in Afghanistan at Bagram flying fixed wing twin engine. His son, Daniel, flew Blackhawk in FOB Shank.
Thank you for your service! Enjoyed the info you shared with us.
I’m surprised Amazon couldn’t overnight the windshield wiper, they have everything else.
I’d expect Mildenhall/100th ARW to have spares like those!
Thank you for your service, and commitment. I really enjoy the detailed breakdown of your flights. God bless, and take care.
Oh I really liked this one. The most fun story of most of your videos so far. Thanks‼️
half of the video sound is muted? after 3:20 i cant hear anything
i think secrets are being told. but the cc text still work
When my brother was deployed back to UK from Cyprus, they stuffed all the contraband into bomb casings marked up live munitions. The Customs wouldn't go within a mile of those and certainly wouldn't interfere with.The plan B was if they really wanted to look inside everyone would clear the area leaving them to look themselves.
That was naughty 😂
Nice to hear that Spain is still the place to be. We, as part of the ESTA team, did the tour in 98, Operation Southern Watch. We stopped at Moron on the way over. The deployment was...boring... On the way back we had some issues. Somebody forgot to purge the 370's and they ended up blowing vapourized fuel all over the interior of the C-141 when we were at altitude. The loadmaster freaked and ran to the flight deck. The next thing we knew we were doing a nose dive. Cabin air was dumped and it got cold reeeeeal quick. IFE into Rota, loadmasters had to work all night lifting the floor boards to clean all of the fuel. We got to have our first beer after 3 months in Rota. We then carried on to Lajes in the Azores and "unfortunately" the tanker broke as well as one of our 16's. A week in the Azores was a nice change of pace and would recommend anyone to go if they have a chance. I know, it was a different experience for the later guys but still, it was an experience.
I was part of the flight crew on a trip from Pope AFB, NC to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and back, aboard a C-130 Hercules. It was a grueling 22-hour journey each way, with only brief stops for refueling-essentially a deadhead flight. It was the longest trip of my life.
Holly crap don't tell the bad guys about the windshield wiper weakness.
What’re they gonna do bout it?
Y’all are dense, it’s a good joke
@@spitfire_flyer5659 your exactly RIGHT!! Thats one of the oldest in the book. Cmon people!! Moron, Spain. That windshield broke before it even took off.
Coast of Spain for 3 weeks. I'd break the wiper too
@@jamescollier3that wiper understood the mission
Thanks for the shout out to the maintainers. My brother is a retired F-15 engine mech.
I remember those fighter drags well. Retire KC-135A and KC-10A Boomer. Miss the flying and hanging with the fellas! GREAT video!
Thank you. Always wondered how one-bangers got over there and back. Video is a perfect length too. Nicely done. Very engaging.
About the windshield wiper
Former KC-135 navigator here (yes, I'm old). About 35 years ago was part of a tanker task force deployment to Guam. We stopped off at in Oahu and lo and behold the other tanker we were flying with broke a part that they had no spares for at Hickam. Apparently the part never broke, except theirs did. We wound up staying a block off off the beach downtown Waikiki (no room at the base, some General had a bunch of rooms for his flunkies) for about a week. As we were from Loring (now closed, as far north and as far east as you can go in the US) and it was winter, we didn't mind the delay. Not to rub it in but while you were in the cramped cockpit in a poopie-suit, the tanker crew got to go to the head at will and then heat up their meals when they were hungry.
Why do you show a KC-10 at about 6:44?
Great video, brought back a lot of memories. Thanks!
NKAWTG!
I’m an old … really old AF brat, wanted to sat thank you for your service. My dad was a 1st generation KC-135 AC, the 135 was is favorite air craft to fly.
Great Hasard. Loved the video.
Shaw Air Force Base is in my hometown. I loved seeing F-16s fly over every now and then.
Thank you for your service
It's easy to underestimate logistics. We used to tear down our CH46E and stuff 3 of them into a C5 for long transport. Then rebuild them upon landing. So much fun. 😒
Apparently 20 years in Afghanistan was due to waiting TWO WEEKS for a windshield wiper...
I knew something was wrong. Dang delivery can never get their stuff in on time.
Great video, answered many questions I’m sure. New subscriber, heard you on the Fighter Pilot Podcast. Thanks!
love these looks into the world of fighter pilots! fascinating
-135 Boom from 1995 to 2001. Plenty of fighter drags through the years. Lots of fun.
I don’t remember wipers being on the go/no-go checklist. I remember them being fairly worthless, except maybe on the ground? (Booms spend most of the time in the cockpit).
I will tell you though, we lost a generator on number three while at Hickam AFB on the way back from Kadena one year. That was a rough week in Hawaii.
Yo!!!!! How have you been Hasard? I love seeing your videos pop up in the feed. Fly Fight Win my Air Force Brother!!!!!
It's a lot easier to ride an aircraft carrier across the pond, with your jet parked on the deck above you.
Amen brother! Hats off to our Viper drivers flying 11 hrs non-stop without the luxury of autopilot.
Great video, I was a maintainer at McEntire Joint Air National Guard Station for 24 years but did an AGR tour at Shaw for 4.5 years in the 20th Security Forces as Bravo 1 ream leader
Team leader
If you could “break” in Rota, wouldn’t you? I was a maintainer and got to make that trip looking down from the boom pod. It’s amazing how beautiful the world is from that vantage point.
Sangria
Fascinating and thanks for your service sir 🇺🇸
Thanks for sharing! Your channel has been very informative. I’m applying to AFROTC for next fall in hopes of earning a pilot slot and these videos definitely motivate me to want to do well. Keep em comin!
I myself am considering joining the Air Force through ROTC to become either a pilot or an aircraft maintainer. How'd it end up going for you? What would you recommend? Tips?
Thank you for your service.
Wow! I love the visuals!!! Always wanted to be a fighter pilot 😢 Keep up the amazing videos!! 🎉❤❤
Thank you for your service!
thnx men great content u have over here brother.keep up the great work
Just subscribed ... great content. Nearly 40 years at GDFW/LM Aero ... in 38 Countries building your Birds. It was such a brilliant career and know that our only "Customer" was the Aircrew ... always. Watching the refuels always makes me think of my good friend Tom Tacino that designed/manufactured your refuel receptacle ... one of my first subcontractors. Also know that we tried our best to help with your ferry flights by offering USAF the 600 gallon wing tanks that the IAF/UAE bought ... also in charge of their SOF/QUAL while in charge of their manufacture at IMI Haifa ... would have reduced the refuel frequency at a much lower cost that retrofitting the CFTs from IAI. Glad to have you on our F-35 Program and look forward to seeing more of your posts. Check 6
Thank you for your service! God bless....
Gotta love good old Shaw and the 79th. Been stuck here a minute.
This is my dream!
What a great piece. Thank you
Wow! That was amazing to hear! Thank you for your service! 😀
Thanks for covering this. It's a subject I've ways been curious about but hard to find any info on because most people don't find it interesting since it's not combat related.
My son is quite like you. He's leaving Al Udeid today after working at the ops center for the last 6 months.
Thank you for your service sir
Thank you for this! This was something I had been wondering about!
Thank you. that was fantastic!!
In your opinion is it hard to refuel in a f-16 since you cant really see it because you connect the tube behind you?
That’s true, but it’s on centerline. It’s a steep learning curve, but eventually it becomes second nature
@@HasardLee as I understand it, there are lights on the bottom of the tanker too?
(Closest I'll ever come myself is VTOL VR, and even then. I cheered when I finally connected to the tanker without colliding. hah)
@@DFX2KXYes. There are director lights on the bottom that are controlled by the boom operator. FYI: tanking in VR is MUCH harder than real life, imo lol
I really like your videos, you are a really great story teller! Idk what it is about fighter pilots and astronauts, but the ones you hear speaking and telling their stories like this have really impressive communication skills, which I'm sure is a requirement of the job. (There could be a little confirmation bias to that lol)
No love for Gucci man…it’s ok, we’re just the “Other tanker”!
Great story, Redeployment Coronets are my favorites and most rewarding to do. Spain is a good sight after months of seeing Tan.
Came for the thumbnail, left disappointed.
Great info, thank you. I had no idea it was so laborious. How would the trip had been in an F-35 as a more modern single engine fighter?
is it just me or is this video bugged, from 3:14 to the End there is no Sound for me :(
Love this kind of videos!! 🤙🤠
Thank you for your service.👍👍♥️
It's great to hear such details of these sort of logistic operations. Thanks for sharing ^^
Amazing story, amazing lifestyle. I always wanted that when I was a kid. Actually, I still do.
Very interesting stuff on this channel! So for your ride across the ocean your travel pod really didn't slow you down, the speed limiting factor was the tanker. Right?
Sound stops at 3:14??
Thank you for this video! So informative and enjoyable. Please make more.m
135s always magically breaks down at the most inconvenient places.
darn, needed that windshield wiper part... only 2 weeks
You ain't kidding. 135 pilot. The part is only available at 4 bases... Sends wrong part. Fuuuuuuudggeee
Thank You for Ur Service 🇺🇸💪
The F-16 doesn't have a proper autopilot like a commercial jet, but there is a rudimentary one, yes? It's down by your left knee and will hold altitude/attitude and will follow a heading bug or steer point. It's still manual flying in the sense that you have to hand fly the autopilot so to speak. This is just my experience in DCS World "flying" the F-16C. Usually they model the jets pretty accurately and faithfully. But that's just a computer sim. Knowing there's a damn near zero chance of rescue in a sea state 7-8 is just a ballsy call to make. Mad respect
Nice.
We took our 16’s (25’s) from Kunsan to Alaska. Maint rode on the KC-10’s fueling the jets on the way. Nice desert stash btw.
Yeah I believe two weeks. I used to change those motors, they're a pain in the ass and they were low on stock even 10 years ago.
10 refuels in a flight and you didn't shoot the tanker down... I wish I was that restrained on DCS 🤣
lol😂
Once you got it down, he's your best friend. Especially in a Hornet...
Super cool. Great video
Seeing the steam shoot up from the wet runway was awesome!
Thanks Hazard I leave for boom training in November
Kick Ass. Thank You for your service.
Epic video man
Anybody else's audio cut out at 3:13 ?
Hi Mr. Lee. Can you make a video on scramble, what it is, reaction time and which country's air force has the best scramble time on the ground to airborne.
Where’d you get the scaled down models behind you? Used to work on the Strike Eagle at JBER and would kill for one.
Rota is a fun place. I spent some time there in the early 1970s.
Really awesome perspective! :D