Army15P From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 27 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 5196 times:
Well a 2 for 1 deal on my very first post (i've lurked for a few years however)
Well today I participated in a tradition that I guess has been around for quite some time. A LT. Colonel made is last flight as a pilot in an Army airframe, and following his landing, with the help of his family and the Otis Fire Dept., he(and the helicopter) was hosed down by water and champagne. I'm looking for a little help on tracking down the origins of this tradition, one that seems to appear in all facets of aviation, Commercial and military. Any help you guys could provide in tracking downt he tradition of hosing a aviator down on his last landing would be appreciated.
2nd part
During all the excitement today, I got the pleasure of watching 2 KC-135E's (?) practice approach's today at Otis. They looked to be sporting brand new paintjobs and engines. (CF-6's?) My questions pertains to where the hell they were from. Only distinguishing features was the tail where home airfield is usually painted. The only thing i can add is that it was a dark blue band with white lettering. Again any help you guys can provide would be great.
I have plenty of faith in you guys after reading you posts for so long.
Dc8jet From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 321 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 5164 times:
I can think of four KC-135 units that have blue tail bands with white lettering,
CA ANG, NH ANG, OH ANG and a reserve unit from Indiana. Judging from your location I would guess the aircraft you saw were from the 133rd ARS NH ANG
based at Pease ANGB Portsmouth NH.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11711 posts, RR: 52 Reply 3, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 5013 times:
Quoting Dc8jet (Reply 2): can think of four KC-135 units that have blue tail bands with white lettering,
CA ANG, NH ANG, OH ANG and a reserve unit from Indiana. Judging from your location I would guess the aircraft you saw were from the 133rd ARS NH ANG
based at Pease ANGB Portsmouth NH.
Since the NHANG flys the "R" model, that might be a good guess. But, with ANG KC-135 units on almost constant deployment, they really could be from almost anywhere, and could have finished working with the MAANG F-15s from Otis.
Quoting Army15P (Thread starter): Well today I participated in a tradition that I guess has been around for quite some time. A LT. Colonel made is last flight as a pilot in an Army airframe, and following his landing, with the help of his family and the Otis Fire Dept., he(and the helicopter) was hosed down by water and champagne. I'm looking for a little help on tracking down the origins of this tradition, one that seems to appear in all facets of aviation, Commercial and military. Any help you guys could provide in tracking downt he tradition of hosing a aviator down on his last landing would be appreciated.
The tradition goes back to the 94th Pursuit Squadron (Eddie Rickenbacker's unit) during WWI. Baron Von Rictover's squadron did something similar. They had a toast with champain to those pilots lost on a recent mission, thus their last flight, sometimes called a fini flight. The tradition is today used to recongnise those who are retiring from flying. Mine involved champain squerted from a shaken up bottle and a hose down from a crash/fire/rescue truck.
B52murph From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 233 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 9 months 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 4887 times:
Quoting Echster (Reply 4): Just an FYI, but the Grizzlies have switched from KC-135s to Predators. Their tankers left this summer to new units under the latest BRAC.
When did their tankers leave? They were just over here @ Incirlik a few months ago (163d ARW?)...
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11711 posts, RR: 52 Reply 7, posted (6 years 9 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 4805 times:
Quoting Dc8jet (Reply 6): The last 163rd ARW KC-135R departed March JARB on May 30.
Yes, I believe the CAANG 163rd is the first ANG unit to "fly" the Predator.
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