Topic: Upside-Down Forks. What's all the hullaballoo about?

[jaknight]

Hi Bill,

     Once, at Beale AFB in Northern California, while I was working on an Old WorkHorse B-52, I had an entire wagon of BIG UN'S drop off, due to someone else's idiocy.  They bounced, rolled, and did all kinds of things right within 20 feet of me.

     I had a lot of crazy thoughts rocket through my head for a few seconds.  Course, they really have to be preset to go off............... still not a good feeling.

     My favorite to work on? The workhorse (kinda like B-52's & KC135's)  for training--------> the T-38

P.S. Bill, do you know if #595 was ever kept at Edwards Air Force Base? That tail number seems strangely familar....... I worked on an awful lot of F4's at Eddies Air Patch........Did some special work on a select group of F4's that took orders only from straight out of Washington DC........
Yeah, yeah, I know, security........ I did work on the SR71 and Lockheed said they would hunt me down and eviserate me if I talked about it........now I can buy a book and read almost everything about it or watch a cable channel TV and see all the visuals that no one was ever going to see........
     ~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

[bill440cars]

     jaknight, I was trained on 1 & 2 eng fighter planes so, I never got a chance to work on the big ones. Allways been fascinated by the B-52s though. I can well imagine how you felt when that wagon load of em' dropped off. Once (while on alert duty),I was going out to check my plane, I got a pretty shakeup myself. There was an area in front and between each pair of planes where the Big Un was parked (on it's trailer) and that area was usually empty and you could walk across the area, if it was empty. One day, it wasn't empty and I just stepped into that area (without thinking). I was immediately halted by a security guard (Air Police) and had his M-16 pointed at me. Needless to say, I stopped in my tracks. At his command, I carefully backed out of the area. Then,.......... after I got my heart going again, I carefully walked around that area. For those who don't know, that guard and any others in the same position, he had the right to shot to kill. Thank God he didn't.

                Where is Beale AFB, my last base was Hamilton AFB by Ignacio (between Novato and
        San Rafael, CA.  Hamilton was closed years ago.     Later on,  Bill

[jaknight]

Hey Bill,

     Beale AFB is (my memory is getting bad, used to know exact mileage) about 55 to 70 miles straight north from Sacramento, actually near Marysville and Yuba City.

     Beale was the place where the SR71 first became operational on a real work-a-day basis.  Not testing out like at Palmdale or Area 51, but really earning its keep.  I was standing in the hangar the night the first one rolled in.  Talk about armed guards everywhere; the President never had it so good........

     I guess we should stop this; we are way off topic, kinda outta line..... it's a shame, it has been great to speak with another aircraft man..... My God, the memories I have about the places, times, and things..... It has been great to have the short exchange we have had....... Remember me; I will remember you....... Do take care.......

     ~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

[bill440cars]

                   

                         I hear ya. and yeah, it has been good and I know we need to cool it. When I get in
            with anyone about this, motorcycles or cars, I usually don't know when to stop. Yeah, Lots of
            memories. I'll catch you later and before I go, I gotta say that the SR71 really is awesome and
            with that, I'm going to bed. Later on, Bill

[Sam Green Racing]

Talk about armed guards and guns, my eldest son phoned me a few hours ago, told me he has just qualified as a firearms instructor.

Next week he is doing range safety exam so he will be in charge of the whole shooting match.

He is Millitary Police in southern England.

Sam.

P.S. I'm a guard as well but without a gun.

[bill440cars]

                          Hey Sam,  That's great news about your son. That's a pretty good responsibility.
               If he's anything like you, I'm sure he'll do well. You keep us posted on his progress Sam.
                                                               Later on, Bill



                          Hey there jaknight,  I was doing some rereading this morning and saw your "P.S." concerning #595. I had it from Dec. 67' - Dec. 69'. Before or after that, I don't know where it was. I don't remember if it was a 63' or 64' model, just that it was an F-4C. Gotta be cool just to have been around the SR71, much less worked on it. Good to know someone with your background too. Catch you later on.  Bill