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Yes, we envied the Navy guys as the AD1 had a much more powerful (and
reliable) engine than the Air Force B-66. I remember seeing many EB-66s
sitting on the ramp with one or more engines missing. Wasn't this later
called the A3D? As I recall the Navy guys said it stood for "All 3 Dead" -
the SkyWarrior normally had a crew of 3.
We used to joke about having two engines was good. Two to go out on
and one to come home on.
I lost a friend due to those lousy engines. As was not uncommon, he
was returning on one engine at night, attempted to make a go around and the
other engine blew - no time for anyone to get out. Aways sad to lose a
friend, but particularly due to faulty equipment.
Ed
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 7:12 AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Ed Anderson's old "ride", off
topic
The aircraft was actually developed for the Navy as the AD1 Sky Warrior.
Then later mods for the Air Force as the RB66. I watched many launch and recover
from the USS Forrestal.
Lynn E. Hanover
AO3 USS Forrestal
Actually, Bill, being the EW, I flew to the right and back of
the pilot in
the E model - so that was the seat cushion that needed
replacing {:>).
The interesting thing is that when the crap hits the
fan, your training
kicks in and you are so busy twisting knobs,
making radio calls, listening
to the radar and missile guidance signals to
tell what mode they are in
....etc, that you really don't have time to get
scared. Its not until you
get back and down that the reaction kicks
in. I guess in my case, at least,
it was the old - it won't be me
they get. I mean how could you really go
back out day after day
unless you believed that.
But, after returning from that long 11 hour
mission (several air
refuelings), I got debriefed, got a bite to eat and
hit the Officers club
bar around 1100PM. Had a few drinks, went to
the bungalo - slept 45
minutes, woke up wide awake and couldn't go back to
sleep for 48 hours. Its
when things get quite that the reflection
takes ahold and you relive the
incident - with enough time to get
scared.
Actually, I have been more scare flying my rotary powered
aircraft - because
in a 12 mile guild for example, you've got plenty of
time to think
{:>)
Ed
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