The Inspiration to be an Air Force Pilot

 

Alan was my ‘roomie’ at Korat, Thailand in 1974.  Another one of the blessings in my life has been his friendship over these many years.  The other day he sent an email to me, explaining how he became inspired to become an Air Force pilot.  I was so taken by it that I asked him if I could include it in my blog…

“I’m at Myrtle Beach Int’l now, formerly Myrtle Beach AFB, parked in front of the old base ops building, reflecting on my early aspirations to be an Air Force pilot.  One weekend in the spring of ’69, when I was a senior and giving some serious thought to applying for UPT, I was here in a P-2 on a weekend cross-country with my Navy reserve squadron and taking in all I could of what life in the Air Force might be like.  When we came out to the airplane Sunday morning to leave there was a T-38 parked just down the ramp from us, very close, I think, to where we’re parked now.  It was from Laredo and was the wing commander’s airplane, all polished and new-looking.  I walked all around it, checking it out carefully, just able to see the ADI in the front cockpit, and thinking how possibly sometime in the not-too-distant future I could be flying one.  It was the first T-38 I’d seen close-up and I was all fired up, excited at the prospect that I could have a chance to fly one and at the same time apprehensive about whether I could make the cut.  Confidence won out, though, and it was this moment that clinched the deal for me to decide on going in the Air Force.

So here I am 45 years later, having come full circle to the place where it all began, kind of like you sitting on the curb at base ops at RND, thinking about that pivotal moment in my life and the journey it led me on.  Just wanted to share this with you…”

I love hearing stories like this – they’re inspirational to me, even today…

Thanks Alan!

 

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