After five years of flying and instructing in T-37s, I was offered a chance to go to TAC in an exchange officer program. I would serve one tour in TAC, then return to ATC and resume teaching students. The TAC tour was to give me a better idea of "the big picture" and it worked. After checking out in the F-111D I was assigned to the 522 TFS, 27 TFW at Cannon AFB, NM.
TAC-trained killer, with "my" aircraft (had my name on it anyway) F-111D 68-141, 1986
Shortly after arriving in the 522 TFS, we deployed for 29 days to RAF Boscombe-Down in the southern part of England. I got to fly low & fast over Germany, Denmark, the North Sea, and all over the United Kingdom. Even trolled for Nessie several times down Loch Ness. When I wasn't flying, I got to play tourist. What a great trip!
The entrance to RAF Boscombe-Down, 1986
After about a year on the line, I moved up to Chief Of Flight Safety for the 27th TFW. Safety was alot of fun, except we had four aircraft mishaps while I was there. My mishap investigation training got a workout!
Front & center with the Safety staff after designing and building the 3-D Fleagle. 1987
A little over five years after I left ATC, I went back to instructing duties. This time as a T-38 Instructor Pilot at Vance AFB, OK. Going thru the checkout in the front seat of a T-38 was disconcerting after flying the giant F-111 - there was too much visibility! Once I moved into the backseat of the T-38 to perform instructor duties, I felt right at home. I needed all that nose in front of me after getting used to the snoot on the Aardvark!
Eric, me, Tim, Keith, and Al. After flying Keith's fini-flight. 1991
Around 1991 the USAF decided to do away with the Career Trainer program. Since I had flown with TAC they made me a TAC resource. This was after assuring me before I went to fly F-111s (as a volunteer) that I would NOT be a TAC resource. Thanks... I managed to stay away from TAC for one more tour by going to HQ ATC as a Flight Safety Officer. I was the editor of the safety magazine for almost three years, did assorted staff and training duties, and even got to continue flying - in T-37s again. I didn't have to instruct in T-37s this time around, just got to fly for my own proficiency. After awhile TAC finally caught up with me and that's when I decided to apply for early retirement during the drawdown. My application was accepted and I retired in October 1994. I joined the USAF in 1978 (1974 if you count ROTC, or 1973 if Junior ROTC counts!) and retired in 1994. In that time I was stationed in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. So much for the "see the world" advertisements, huh? ;-) What was the best part of my time in the military? Without a doubt it was the people. Worst part? The inability of the military to honor their committments and their idea that people are just another asset.
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