Witchdoctor 1-1 you are clear to land!

...so...those of you who know me well can say that I love a good adventure. I also love to make friends with people who have particularly fun jobs.

In the Army they have a ceremonious "tag-in, tag-out" where new people are hailed and those who are departing are fare-welled. A few weeks ago I went to the "tag-in" for one of the blackhawk pilots that just got stationed here. This guy has some great stories since he's been flying for close to 20 years.

Seeing as how I was kind enough to take pictures/videos for him during his ceremony, he promised me a ride in a blackhawk (helicopter). I didn't really expect for that to happen, but it was a nice gesture nonetheless. Well, last Thursday I got a call at about 1200 while I was at chow..."HEY (rotor-wash background noise), CAN YOU BE HERE IN 30 MINUTES?" Why yes, I can...why? "CUZ WE'RE GOING FLYING!!!!" woo hoo!

I happen to be within hearing range of the executive officer who promptly marched over to me and told me he didn't see me on any passenger manifests, etc. so i would NOT be flying if he had anything to say about it...

...well, there are some people in this world who think that they are WAY more important than they actually are...so I listened and politely nodded and smiled as he left. Then I left and went to the flightline. Less than 30 minutes later I sent him a text message: Can you see the flightline from your office? I'm on that Blackhawk that's getting ready to take off! ...hehe...

So I flew for an hour and a half, landing on various mountain tops, doing touch-and-go landings on the flightline, and making emergency landings on the medical helipad. It was SO cool!!! I was keyed into the comms so I could hear all the conversations that were going on and you would not believe some of the things these people talk about when they are flying! Most of the conversation was about the actual flight...like, "approaching the LZ...there is a cow on my LZ...better buzz back by and scare it off so I can actually land on the whole pad!" ...priceless! Then they talked for 20 minutes about everything they miss back in the states. Taco Bell seemed to win out on that one. I was having so much fun listening to them that I didn't realize we were back to base until we had almost landed.

The fun couldn't last though, and as I deboarded I saw that same exec waiting with his arms folded across his chest...looking rather irked and I just smiled and asked, "Can you take a picture of me and Will?" Reluctantly, he did. Then he thought he could lay into the pilot I was flying with...but Will calmly laughed and shook his head and said, "I've been flying helicopters since before you were born, do you really think you can do anything to me?" ha-HA! So...it was a glorious day and I have taken the liberty of sharing some of those moments with you.

...Jane...out...