Category Archives: War Stories

“Kansas City Center, Guess Who?”

Posted on 21/12/2014 by Cheeta17

It was about this time of the year when we took a 4-ship out to the area to ‘play’ a bit.  The students had all gone home for the holidays so there were just IPs (instructor pilots) in the jets.  … Continue reading →

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The Basic Aircrew Read File

Posted on 21/08/2014 by Cheeta17

In 1977 we (Vance AFB, OK) picked up an ACE (Accelerated Copilot Enrichment) mission, using T-37s at 4 or 5 ‘northern tier’ SAC (Strategic Air Command) bases.  This was a program where ATC (Air Training Command, now AETC) provided SAC … Continue reading →

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“Bounce and Tilt”

Posted on 09/08/2014 by Cheeta17

A friend of mine, call sign ‘Rat,’ once flew with a Tweet guy (T-37 IP) on a staff assistance visit somewhere or another.  They were in formation with another T-38.  At one point while in ‘fingertip’ formation (on the wing) … Continue reading →

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The Little Coincidences…

Posted on 26/05/2014 by Cheeta17

Last April (2014) I was visiting Bill and Fran Ferrier in San Antonio when Bill pulled out his Air Force Pilot’s Flying Log Book to show me a trip that we took when we were flying T-38s at Randolph.  I … Continue reading →

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“Hey Honey, How Would You Like to…”

Posted on 14/05/2014 by Cheeta17

In 1984 or ’85 we had been waiting the results of the Lt. Colonel promotion board to be released for the better part of 3 or 4 weeks.  I think it was the year after I was promoted to Lt. … Continue reading →

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A Lesson In Clearing

Posted on 04/03/2014 by Cheeta17

After reading an earlier post here, a friend shared this story: My first FOT (Follow-On-Training) flight as a new IP in “L” flight was with a couple of “O” flight guys, Chuck H. and Mark M.  I can’t remember the … Continue reading →

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Randy 10 Lead Is ‘Bingo’

Posted on 04/03/2014 by Cheeta17

In flying, ‘Bingo’ is the term we use that means we have just enough fuel remaining to return to the base, land and have our ‘minimum fuel’ by regulation.  More often than not, in T-38 flying, that value is 600 … Continue reading →

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“Why Don’t You Fly for a Little Bit, Bob?”

Posted on 01/03/2014 by Cheeta17

We took a 4-ship of T-38s from Randolph Field, TX to Tyndall AFB, FL one weekend, just to enjoy the weekend on the beach.  I was flying with Nick A., our squadron commander.  Good guy. Enroute we had a planned … Continue reading →

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“Just Wanted to Make Sure You knew….”

Posted on 26/02/2014 by Cheeta17

I was flying with our squadron commander one day.  He was in the front seat, and I was in the back (T-38A).  I didn’t have a great deal of respect for him; he was a “reg reader.”  A “matrix colonel.” … Continue reading →

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Cruising at FL 430

Posted on 11/01/2014 by Cheeta17

In the early ’80’s we were having a rash of J-85 flameouts, engine failures, at altitudes above FL 390.  The J-85 is the engine in the T-38A.  So Command issued a directive stating that flights would not be conducted above … Continue reading →

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