Category Archives: The Book

“Is that Legal, Bob”

Posted on 11/11/2011 by Bobo

As I was going through T-38 PIT the second time, Jul – Nov ’82, I had a flight with the squadron commander; our resident “Reg Reader.”  I don’t know if I would rank him up there with the most motivational … Continue reading →

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“He wants to talk to any student…”

Posted on 09/11/2011 by Bobo

One morning the phone rang in the flight room.  2nd Lt. ‘W.W. Fog,’ so named because he was “woxof” most the time, cupped the receiver after answering and announced, “This guy wants to talk to any student.”    What do … Continue reading →

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Because His Name is not ‘Butch,’ Sir…

Posted on 10/10/2011 by Bobo

I was the Supervisor of Flying (SOF) one night as we were closing shop.  There was just me, an airman and our squadron commander in the building at the time.  The airman was busy with securing the area.  I was … Continue reading →

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Strapping On Jets

Posted on 10/10/2011 by Bobo

My T-38 IP once told me, “You don’t ‘strap in’ a jet; you ‘strap it on.’”  He didn’t make a big deal of it – he just shared this as a ‘matter of fact’ statement.  For whatever reason I knew … Continue reading →

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The Day ‘Billy Bad’ Won the Salad Bowl…

Posted on 03/10/2011 by Bobo

The Commander’s Trophy, which was awarded to the top graduate of every UPT class, was known as the ‘Salad Bowl.’  It’s a coveted award that is supposed to be awarded on ‘objective’ criteria, but on occasion, the grading can become … Continue reading →

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“Three’s Inn”

Posted on 25/09/2011 by Bobo

We have a formation we fly, “The Missing Man Formation,” to honor fallen aviators.  It is performed at funerals, various dedications, and other ‘special events,’ with all sorts of aircraft.  Essentially it is flown with four aircraft in “fingertip” formation.  … Continue reading →

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Well, Crap…

Posted on 25/09/2011 by Bobo

I first met ‘Joe’ at the 560th FTS in 1982.  He was a ‘nice enough’ guy; maybe kinda ‘anal’ – but conscientious and well meaning.  He tended to ‘micro-manage,’ often overlooking ‘the big picture.’  One evening while we were sharing … Continue reading →

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Tommy and the Stan/Eval Nazi

Posted on 20/09/2011 by Bobo

Tommy was a young FAIP who worked for me in the early ’80s as a T-38 Check Pilot in the 56oth FTS at Randolph Field, TX.  He was a good kid; highly motivated, talented and with a great career ahead … Continue reading →

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“FAIPs” – First Assignment Instructor Pilots

Posted on 16/09/2011 by Bobo

Air Training Command (ATC) tended to “eat it’s young.” We would bring back a certain number of recent UPT grads as instructor pilots (IPs). There was both ‘good,’ and bad’ with this practice. We used to refer to these guys … Continue reading →

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Major ‘Booger’ Malone

Posted on 25/08/2011 by Bobo

(Caution: Explicit language: ahh, more ‘explicit’ than usual…) There were 70 of us who found our ways to Room 45 in Hanger 12 at Randolph AFB, TX on the morning of 24 April 1970.  This was our designated reporting point … Continue reading →

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