The 82nd Rainforest Thread ~

So glad to hear that all are well and happy.

Touch of fall in overnight temps here too. Can't wait, although we were lucky this summer re daytime highs.

Clicked.

Hi all, early clicks today.

Early clicking it is. No work.
danon5-As I was approaching Selfridge Air National Guard Base the other day, what I think, was a F-16 ,was coming in for a landing. I timed, driving underneath the landing aircraft. Wow.
I thought maybe you'd appreciate that story. Did you ever fly f-16's?
Other then that, I'm a bit rambly at the moment. Mother-in laws birthday tomorrow. Scoring points. The other day I was dragged to an art show. I bought these handmade, don't laugh, zipper pulls. Decorative, intricative, gaudy. She'll love them.
Good day all.

g'day all ~



http://rainforest.care2.com/i?p=583091674

Stradee discovers computer glitch...

to funny

~~~

You and your 300 friends have supported 2,914,887.7 square feet!

Marine Wetlands habitat supported: 216,312.8 square feet.

American Prairie habitat supported: 68,183.7 square feet.

Rainforest habitat supported: 2,630,391.3 square feet.

~~~

long day here. neighbour is resurfacing my porch and repairing the front steps - cost of supplies only - great guy. Late in the afternoon he hollered at the house, could I take him to pick his mom up at the dentist, take her to the bank, then I'd bring her home while he went shopping. ok. no problem. I'm getting pretty good at getting his mom in and out of my car without her tipping over. on the upside I found the key to the gate so I could get out of the house - haven't seen that key in years - never use the gate.

All went well - except for one of the dogs getting out on the porch on the fresh thinset - before it was cured - it'll have to be fixed in the morning <sigh>. Same dog had rumbly tummy last night ... worried about her all day. She's fine now, got her zip and appetite back but it made for an unsettled night - for most of us (not the other dog - he's not fussed about her).

Alex,

No. I didn't fly the Airforce planes.

I flew the US Army planes. Both in the USA and in the conflict with Vietnam.

USA flying was OK - Vietnam flying was a trip (that's a 1960's expression for an exciting experience). I figure now that during those times in RVN (Republic of Vietnam) I was out of my mind. Crazy. That happens in a war zone.

During the Vietnam Conflict the US Army had a ratio of 5 to 1 pilots over the Air Force, the Navy and the US Marines combined. We had all the helicopters and propeller driven aircraft.

I flew about ten feet above the ground - looking for eyeballs - and when I saw them I pulled the little red trigger and got the hell out of the area - because, behind me was two Cobra gun helicopters who took care of the situation.

The end.

Clicked
danon5. I did not know the army had that many pilots. Ten feet above the ground. Geez. Heck of a story. The movie "Apocalypse Now" popped into my head.
Thank you for sharing. Thank you for defending our country.

Thattabe FIUR...
{flying in under the radar}

how scary is that!!!


http://rainforest.care2.com/i?p=583091674

for some very interesting reading, you can't do better than danon's flying posts - I wish I knew how to collect them - they're a real treasure/treasury

The low level flying with the copter was in order to blow the brush aside to see what was under it. Those were tough little fighters. I admired them.

The fixed wing plane I flew in the Nam was the OV-1 Mohawk. Here is a blog that shows the company area I was actually in and the last photo in the first set of pictures is of the actual airplane that I have told the story of before. It was my landing after having what I called my .30 caliber hydraulic leak (from ground fire) and I flew to the US Airforce base close to my home base because they had the best emergency equipment. As I approached the runway to land I pulled the emergency landing gear blow down lever - Nothing happened, I pulled it again about 12 inches, still nothing - I pulled the handle out of it's socket and then pulled on the steel cable. Finally, the gear blew down but I didn't have a down indicator for the front wheel. I touched down on the two mains and held the nose up as long as possible. When it went down it was safe. Then I had no way to guide the plane because everything was hydraulic. No brakes, no steering, not nothing except my two engines which I used to guide the plane off the main runway so other tactical planes could continue to operate. A stiff gust of wind turned my plane which then came to a quiet stop in the sand off the taxiway. You will see a picture of it in the first set of photos. Also, notice the steel padding we used for the taxiway and the runway - same stuff used in WWII.

Here's the link to the blog = http://www.225observer.blogspot.com/

More photos of the OV l Mohawk
http://www.photovault.com/Link/Military/Army/Aircraft/OV-1Mohawk.html

and for something completely different, Set, the dogs, my friend Jen, her son/daughter-in-law and darling baby grand-daughter Lily went to this think globally-act locally event



what fun! a friend of mine is in the afro-funk-jazz fusion band - we danced a lot, and Jen took a short turn on one of the bicycles powering the event (she said it was too hard - we are distinctly not bicycle people) - did I mention we danced a lot

doing something good for the environment doesn't have to be dour and serious business

Thanks for the writing, danon, and the link. I've bookmarked the link.

Howdies to all. Nice new format (to me at least). A bit confusing as to where to reply. I hope this lands where it's tossed.

ww xo

(((((((((((( wonkywiggler )))))))))))

how grand to see you here!

aktbird57 - You and your 300 friends have supported 2,915,022.2 square feet!

Marine Wetlands habitat supported: 216,364.6 square feet.

American Prairie habitat supported: 68,207.1 square feet.

Rainforest habitat supported: 2,630,450.5 square feet.