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T-34 Disappeared and Reappeared

xnvyflyer

xnvyflyer
pilot
Any of America's 911 force have the inside scoop on the marine T-34C driver that was aparently on a VFR flight plan from who knows where to Miramar MCAS yesterday (3-9-08) and disappeared from FAA radar and comms near Borrego in East San Diego County?

My partner and I got the call of the missing T-34 and launched from Sheriff's Aviation at Gillespie Field in El Cajon with a greater than average sence of urgency, braving the ridiculously harsh east county winds and hoping to not find a smoking hole with the usual chunks of meat strewn about.

We weren't disaappointed. After getting the crap kicked out of us by the wind for a while, we were notified that the T-34 had landed at Miramar.

It was later mentioned that the reason the plane dropped off of Socal radar was that the pilot decided to do a few touch and gos that were not on the flight plan, possibly at Borrego airport?

Curious minds would like to know.

X
 

loadtoad

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
After reading the title I thought maybe this was a T-34 version of "The Final Countdown." Guess not...
 

Harrier Dude

Living the dream
I thought this was going to be about the "Myth and Urban Legend" of the two instructors who stole the T-34 from Whiting back in the '80s.....
 

Schnugg

It's gettin' a bit dramatic 'round here...
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Whatever is known is most likely close hold.
 

FLYTPAY

Pro-Rec Fighter Pilot
pilot
None
Probably TnG's....a buddy of mine used to fly it there and they TnG'ed the hell out of it.
 

Schnugg

It's gettin' a bit dramatic 'round here...
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
I've taken a T-34C out of Miramar and just gone VFR to the east and done T&Gs at Big Bear Airport when I was in VF-101. So I guess it could be done.

Who initiated the search you went on? FAA or USN? Was he overdue for his arrival time would be questions I'd ask?
 

xnvyflyer

xnvyflyer
pilot
Who initiated the search you went on? FAA or USN? Was he overdue for his arrival time would be questions I'd ask?

The FAA advised the Sheriff's Department Communications Center and they advised us.

Good point on the overdue issue. Getting 3rd hand info sometimes can be a pain in the ass so we didn't have the full story and rarely do. Based on the info we had, I thought it best to be enroute immediately and get any amplifying info enroute. Called up Socal Approach with scratchy and busy comms and the controller couldn't be bothered. So, we searched.

Let's go. Somebody give it up. I need my beaten up helmet repainted.
 

FLYTPAY

Pro-Rec Fighter Pilot
pilot
None
The FAA advised the Sheriff's Department Communications Center and they advised us.
So did anyone try to hail the T-34 on Air Force TAC?:D That is normally a good place to start. Then you have the ability to comm relay a guard call by a civil aircraft in the area if terrain altitude precludes LOS comms.
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
I've taken a T-34C out of Miramar and just gone VFR to the east and done T&Gs at Big Bear Airport when I was in VF-101. So I guess it could be done.

Out of curiosity, how did the particulars of that work? Just curious how a NFO gets NATOPS qualed. Not trying to get in a pilot/NFO pissing match, mind you. Or maybe I'm misunderstand your post.
 

Schnugg

It's gettin' a bit dramatic 'round here...
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Out of curiosity, how did the particulars of that work? Just curious how a NFO gets NATOPS qualed. Not trying to get in a pilot/NFO pissing match, mind you. Or maybe I'm misunderstand your post.

I was a senior FRS instructor qualified in all phases at 101. I used to go fly with a friend who was a T-34C spotter pilot and F-14 pilot.

Since I was/am SEL Instrument rated, he'd let me fly the whole hop, including a practice instrument approach or two as needed.

Good times...

XNVYFLYER...how rough was the flight turbulence???
 

jamnww

Hangar Four
pilot
I guess I really don't see what the problem is. If they were VFR and not overdue and they didn't request flight following who cares if they dropped off scope for a bit?
 

FLYTPAY

Pro-Rec Fighter Pilot
pilot
None
Since I was/am SEL Instrument rated, he'd let me fly the whole hop, including a practice instrument approach or two as needed.
165 hours in the S-3 Weapons School T-34C's before primary was a $$$ deal. 3 Out-and-Ins a week throughout South Florida was ridiculous!

and they didn't request flight following who cares if they dropped off scope for a bit?
Without getting into details, and the SH-60 guys can verify this, probably because of a mishap several years ago.
 

FLYTPAY

Pro-Rec Fighter Pilot
pilot
None
UInavy said:
.......so you guys were busy there?
:D Flew the S-3 the other two days of the week. Of course we could not pull schenanigans like that when we had a SCARP or WTI to run.
 
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