A4sForever said:I couldn't quite figure out how to link to a previous post ... I put this (below) up back in June when we were discussing VT-5/T-28's. By the way, Jet Studs CQ'ed in T-2's, not T-28's. When the Navy got a "Basic Jet" syllabus ... i.e., the T-2 ... no T-28 CQ for Jet Studs after the Guppy came onboard. I'm not sure what the program was was prior to the Guppy. All prop and helo Studs continued to CQ on the Lexington with VT-5 and the T-28, however, prior to departure for "Advanced" prop or helo. All in all, not a bad idea ....
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When we did the Corpus portion of our Aviation Indoc/USMC summer cruise (the old format for 2/c Middie cruise) we had the opportunity to take a break from PT, sailing, baseball, and marching and go for a ride in the T-28. GREAT STUFF!! I felt just like some SW Pacific WW2 fighter driver in my mind as we rolled over white puffy clouds, dove down to the blue white-capped Gulf, and then flat-hatted across an undeveloped Padre Island. You could do that then .... a man still had to know his limitations, however. I vaguely remember yelling "YAHOOOOOO"!! at the top of my lungs from the sheer exhilaration of the moment to the amusement of my "Instructor".
My next up-close exposure to the "Beast" was at Saufley when I was in VT-1 and learning the finer points of the Teenie-Weenie. VT-5 shared the field and spaces. VT-5 was the CQ squadron for prop guys --- those most recently graduated from VT-2 and VT-3 @ Whiting. Both VT-2/3 had the T-28 and all the guys slated for prop and helo pipeline(s) went that way. Jet Studs went to Meridian for "Basic Jet".
When the prop/helo Studs returned to Saufley for CQ with VT-5 they were "salty" compared to us newbies and know-nothings in the T-34 -- and they knew it and we knew it. No questions were asked -- it was just accepted. We used to watch them taxi out for CQ at Barin Field --- "don't ever go near Barrin" was one of our hard, fast course rules --- it must have been a very scary place
Whenever the T-28 came into the break at Saufley (they did NOT use the T-34 traffic circle!!) they did it @ max speed (?) and snapped it up into nearly a 90 degree AOB break. IMPRESSIVE!!! I used to look up when walking across the ramp and think: "God, I hope I can survive this long enough to do that someday !!"
The T-28 drivers; STUDS all, continued to lord it over us in the flight spaces and areas (they had their own flight (ready) room -- off limits to T-34 STUDS) and expecially in the cafeteria. The T-28 drivers always cut ahead of us in line ... "Got a "Charlie time" --- sorry, can't wait for you guys" ... they unzipped their flight suits down to their waist, wore ball caps (!), and sported Ray-Ban Aviator shades --- NO CRAPPY ISSUE SHADES FOR THEM !!!
They were gods .... they knew it .... and all was right in the world.
Wish I could do it again ....
Puts the whole VT-28 ready room caste system to shame. I juwt remember slowly progrssing around the room over to the "salty" intermediate flight planning area that very little flight planning got done but the sodium content would give anyone hihg blood pressure.
I went to Corpus Army Depot to pick up a reworked Cobra years later and stuck ym head in same sh!t going on but they all looked so young and scared as I looked in. Good time, thanks for the story. I wish I could have caught a wire once, I dont want to do it full time I like my ride too muhc but once would have been nice.
