I may have told this story before, but when I was a stud in the HTs, I had completed the syllabus and was just waiting for the winging ceremony. During that interlude, got put on the sked as a 'solo' observer for an RI 'solo'...Cool, cool. Go get some good food in Tallahassee on an out and in...call it a day...then make sure my Service uniform was up to snuff for the winging ceremony.
Fast forward, and while at the restaurant I'm checking my watch and start getting a bad feeling...Cut to 2 TH-57Cs being turned up in record time by studs at the Tallahassee FBO...cut to thoughts of "Fuck, fuck" as we realize we're not going to land prior to sunset.
So, we land back at Whiting, I think around 20-30 minutes after sunset...The comms piece of the story is that the dude that was on his solo calls to the ODO something to the effect of "FACTORYHAND xx, back in the line, aircraft down for nights"
Needless to say, we got sandblasted by the CO while standing tall in Chucks...but hey, here I am. Was a good lesson though.
Shoulda just lit the burners bro
Reminds me of my student airnav solo from meridian to Jackson MS and back. I think this was during one of the "off" periods where someone had done something dumb (he's a VAQ skipper now*cough*great dude BTW) and got the overnights turned off. For no reason whatsoever, other than being alone, I ask tower for the break to low key. Bring about as many 100 knot multiples as the T-45 can bring......high subsonic I'd say. "Fast break Fridays" as you do. I rip it up to whatever low key was in a G limiter pull, and then land. And then realize, oh shit, that probably isn't a thing. But it was that day. And nobody ever knew. I think the statute of limitations has expired on that one at least.
