I forgot...

[FJRocket]

My AE has been neglected, that's for sure. Just sitting gathering dust over with the lawn mowers and my dirt bike. I felt really bad it sitting all these months. Well, my other project was sitting at an out of state airport getting an interior installed, so I wasn't doing much flying. Then I thought... hey, I need to ride through beautiful south central Indiana and go to Louisville to check on the upholstery. So I shook the moths and mouse poop out of my duds and helmet and started off. And where the hell is that intercom connector for my helmet? Long gone, dammit. At least I found my Etymotics and jacked into my smart phone for some jams.

I was off an running. Over to Martinsville, down to Bloomington and just stayed on 37 until I64, then into Louisville (Bowman Field).... I was in a hurry to catch the interior guy at work (he wasn't even there on this Friday afternoon). Almost 3.5 hours later, I was happy to stand up for an hour. Ugh.

As I was cutting across to Martinsville, I saw the only FJR I would see all day. I think it was Blue Bullet two up. Hard to say, he went ripping by me going west bound ...uh... at a clip.

Talked to a couple ex fighter jocks at the hangars in Louisville. Almost hate to say it that way, these guys are actually decorated heroes, complete with Purple Hearts and Distinguished Flying Cross medals. I was fascinated by their discussions (like talking to you Iron Butt and ex-racers guys). Turns out I was talking to two guys from two different generations who each flew in two different wars and each had punched out of two disabled jets. How rare is that? Great guys. Thanked them for their service and said I'd like to talk more about flying over a beer or four but....

Back on the Feej, off to another airport. The B-17 Liberty Belle was at Clark Regional. A buddy of mine flies that one. No one was around. Back on I65, then jumped off and tried to get lost. Up the back way to Bloomington again through the empty, chilly ridge bottom roads that lead up to Brown County State Park. The leaves were starting to turn, but they were still on the trees. And the roads were clean and dry. Sweet!

By the time I got near the top of 135, it was nearly dark. For some reason I came to a line of traffic, everyone at a dead stop. Screw that. I did a 180 and took off through the side roads, where no FJR usually goes. Being a bit ... uhm... rusty, I did NOT pass the minivan. I also figured they knew where they were going, and I did not. So I followed, Came out at 46 just east of 135 and I was back on track... Turns out the traffic was stopped where this small town on this two lane road was having trouble getting cars in and out of their corn roast. Shucks.

I zigged a bit and road up 231... followed a deputy for a good bit of the way... keeping me sane (I was actually riding REALLY conservatively). Of course shortly after he turned off, I blasted passed everyone (and there were several) doing UNDER the speed limit. By the time I was back up to I70, I decided to just take the interstate back toward home. It was late and I was tired. Out of shape.

My butt was a little sore. Happy to report my wrist was not, and I didn't go numb... guess I outgrew that.

A nice 7 hour ride... some two lane, some 4 lane. Warmish sunshine and lots of good riding.

Man, I STILL love this bike!

 

[wheatonFJR]

Great report Matt! :clapping:

Glad to see you're still alive and kickin...

We just came back from MO/AR a couple weeks ago and had a blast. :yahoo:

 

[RedPorscheKilla]

What a nice write up, especially your Air Force talking!!

 

[snackbauer]

Enjoyed your report Rocket.

We've only lived in the Lafayette area a few years, transplanted from Naperville, I'm sure WheatonFJR knows where that is. I'm recently retired and have just begun exploring southern Indiana and into Kentucky this past summer. The last time I was down that way, I ran into Fort Knox. I had no idea it was so close. I felt richer instantly, although I hear there's really nothing in it. :angry2: Another surprise was the George Patton museum, I have to check that out one of these days.

 

[FJRocket]

One of the two guys that I talked to (and flown with a bit) was a Viet Nam era pilot. Got shot down in NVN, evaded for better part of the day and was picked up just before sunset. Punched out of two Thuds. The topic started by these guys talking about meeting POWs from various conflicts. Then they started comparing their own evasion training. Scary stuff. Brutal.

The other guy was Navy. Punched out of two Tomcats. Had interesting stories of that experience. The two retired UPS pilots compared "egress" details. The Navy guy went into detail about everything he did wrong the first time. Looked back at his RIO, wondering if he was out yet... had his head turned when the canopy blew. Looked up, admiring the clear view of the sky, head still turned. Seemed like an eternity. Then the seat fired. Evidently, it didn't go well. But his chute did open. He said he gathered his senses and noticed something flailing above him. Evidently it was his arm... mostly torn off... flopping around with the risers. His thought was "interesting". Fortunately a full recovery and flew again, just to lose another Tomcat. He talked about Top Gun and being in the Aggressor Squadron, flying F16s, MIG 21s and others. Said a certain version of the A4 was his favorite jet.

I asked the Thunder Chief pilot if he was shorter after two rocket seat rides. He said no, but his back was definitely all screwed up. You could never tell it, the guy never complains or has an ill word. He did go on his own to say (because I did NOT press these guys into this discussion) that his evasion was the worst, and luckiest, say of his life. He said what saved his life was his radio. And the fact that someone else airborne spotted where he went down. He said he heard the enemy nearby on the ground, but never saw them. There was a pile of brush and detritus a hasty rush away from his LZ (chute hardly hidden). He crawled in underneath, radio in one hand, 38 in the other. Said he looked at the radio, looked at the 38, and cried.

Several hours later, he heard the whap whap of the rotor blades and he was back in his own bunk that night.

They talked about seeing phone pole sized projectiles being fired at them and streaking by.

Sheesh... I can't even imagine.

 

[wheatonFJR]

We've only lived in the Lafayette area a few years, transplanted from Naperville, I'm sure WheatonFJR knows where that is..

Yep, typing from my office in Naperville as we speak.

Punched out of two Thuds. ...They talked about seeing phone pole sized projectiles being fired at them and streaking by.

Yep, my Uncle from Lincoln, CA flew the F-105 in the mid 1960s over NVN from a base in Thailand.

He said that their very first mission over enemy airspace was a day after McNamara had gotten on TV and told the North Vietnamese we were going to take those SAM sites out. (Wadda ******* that guy was.) He said flaming telephone poles were whipping all around and he lost one of his buddies on that very first sortie. He said it was amazing anybody got out of there. They found out when they got back to base what our SecDef had done.

He got the Distinguished Flying Cross and is as humble a man as you will ever meet.

Of course, he is a little proud of pitching on a championship softball team. Otherwise he is just a typical transplant from a farm in Nebraska to being a fighter pilot to flying commercial jets for his career.

 

[Bungie]

Yep, my Uncle from Lincoln, CA flew the F-105 in the mid 1960s over NVN from a base in Thailand.

Whoa! your uncle looks identical a younger version of my grandfather on my moms side. Like brothers.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Good to have you back Matt...its been too long!

Thanks for the ride report and reporting in!

--G