Well, Sardaddy & USCGAviator.. I think you both misunderstood me and my intentions.
Not knocking my co-workers, but I think I have one of the smaller egos at my unit.
I completely recognize I am a newbie co-pilot.. which is why I pointed out when I winged and when I qual'ed. I could have easily mis-represented myself and hidden those facts. Among other C-130 pilots, I probably know the least about the plane. Again, a fact I routinely point out to the AC's I fly with.
I wasn't really "complaining" about collaterals.. not more than anyone else does. We all know they're part of the job, and I think we would agree, for the most part, we'd rather fly than do collaterals. Granted, I've had rewarding collaterals in the past.
I don't on a daily basis swoop down and save people or chase bad guys.. as a matter of fact, I have been in on the saving of only 10 lives. Again, I'm not bragging as I'm sure you helo guys have a ton more than that. I'm just saying that I've only been qual'ed 6 months and I thought rewarding missions would be far and few between.
I think the reason you guys took my post wrong is generally in discussion forums, I type like I talk. I type with far more excitement than with ego. Most things I throw out are "FYI", "this is where I'm coming from", or "this is my background". When I was typing my post, it wasn't my intent to come across as "Check me out! I rock!" .. going back to mentioned my recent qual, again, was to point say, "Dude, I'm brand spanking new and these are the things I'm doing and seeing and I love it."
In reference to the "Demo team" under my avatar.. I assumed everyone knew it was a joke.. I saw the picture of the 130 on a web site.. the angle was funny and the plane appeared to be in a steep climb.. thought it was humerous to add the comment. And for those non-Coasties reading - NO, we do not have a C-130 Demonstration Team. And if we did, I would be the least qualified for it.
-Brad