A Cross-Country to Remember!
Author: ES
In 1979, I was the Investigator on an ATC T-38 Class A accident at Ellsworth AFB, SD. During that investigation, I befriended a guy I came to have tremendous respect for, 'Eric' (not his real name!). Eric was the Pilot Member of the board. One night over a few 'pops' at the O'Club, he began telling us a story that I have told for some 45 years now. It was hilarious! As it turned out, he showed up on a Facebook page that I monitor last month. I reached out to him to renew our acquaintance and told him I would like to use his story in a book on the T-38 I am writing. He graciously agreed, so I asked him to go over the details once again. (In telling stories, I pride myself on being as accurate as I can..) So, here goes.
It seems he was on a weekend cross-country to the West Coast with the wing PTO. Upon arrival at El Paso for a gas and go, he met up with four other IPs on a T-3 cross-country, and they decided to continue as a ' three-ship.' We did things like this all the time. In the other two jets were a student pilot and the base hospital commander. So off they went.
The first stop was Mather AFB, CA. Then on to Pt. Mugu, CA. From there it was over to Nellis AFB, NV - Las Vegas! They hit initial in echelon formation at Nellis at 500 feet and about 300 knots, for a pitch-up to land. Upon parking, nothing was said.
Once they all had changed, the crews from the two-ship went out for a bite to eat while Eric headed downtown to the blackjack tables. And as you may know, the casinos were very generous with drinks at the time, if you were gambling. Not eating was the first big mistake for Eric! After 2 hours, by his own admission, he was just about 'tanked!
They all met up early the next morning, Sunday morning, planning to leave before it got too hot. Eric was in no condition to fly, but with the PTO being "pilot qualified" in the T-38, he said he would just ride back - but not before performing the rejoin out of traffic as Number 3.
Being Number 3 in single ship takeoffs, Eric watched as Number 2 rejoined to the outside of the turn out of traffic. Not the usual position for Number 2 to rejoin on these departures. So, undeterred, Eric picked up about 100 knots of overtake and, with Idle, Boards, and Cross control, he "stuck it!" Now he felt his part was over.
Having a "bag," an instrument hood, in the rear cockpit, Eric took two of the bungee cords that held it in place and put one under each side of his helmet to hold his head up so he could sleep. Not as uncommon as you might think!
Once they got back to the unnamed base in North Texas, Lead requested an East-to-West pass across the airfield, perpendicular to the runways. The feeling was that if the tower approves it, it must be legal.
So, here they come, in a diamond formation at 500' across the field. Then in the turn to Initial, again at 500', they convert to an Echelon formation for a pitch up for landing. Eric, at this time, was just sitting in the back, more or less, mesmerized by it all!
After landing, taxiing in, and shutting down, they all headed into Life Support, where a none-too-happy squadron commander met them! And that's when "the crap hit the fan!" A few of the wing's senior leaders were out on the golf course when they came over, and they were not impressed.
As you might imagine, punishment was handed out to all. A couple of the guys lost their jobs over it all. However, the leader of the gaggle was separating from the Air Force the next day, so he just booked. The student was unscathed as he was just a student! He just thought it was just the beginning of a great flying career once he was out of pilot training. So cool!