My Son is Doing Good at Flight School

**lou1355** · 05-31-2009, 07:39 PM

Proud Papa Moment Alert.

I just attended Family Day at Fort Rucker where my 2nd oldest son is going through Army Aviation flight training. He was a crew chief on Apache's in Korea as an enlistee out of high school in 2006 and now he is a CW1 at Fort Rucker. He has come far.

His name is Charlie, he's 6'4" tall, weighs 220 lbs. and he's still single, ladies.....

Static dispaly of the TH67 and my ornery son:

Some jocularity with one of his buds and then climbing aboard his Bell 206....

Static display and Charlie's liftoff:

He's got some excellent Vietnam Era flight instuctors who are crusty as hell but very competent and very keen to keep giving the US Army good aviators. He's in good hands and doing well. That's all a Papa could ask for.

My oldest, a Marine 2Lt, is still at Pensacola waiting for his Naval Aviation class start date.

**honu** · 05-31-2009, 08:09 PM

Congratulations, you have every right to be a proud father.

**Sharp Charge** · 05-31-2009, 08:15 PM

Man I wish I had the $$ to go get current. Helo's are too damn expensive to fly for fun. How much longer till they cut his strings and does he have any choice in airframe? Tell your Devil Dog to stay away from Genes Lounge in Pensacola.

**lou1355** · 05-31-2009, 09:22 PM

Your are correct about the hourly for a whirly bird--runs about $500-$600 as far as I know.

Airframe choice is based on order of merit out of flight school and available slots based on the needs of the Army.

He wants an Apache, but a BlackHawk would do, especially in the 160th (Special Ops).

The Devil Dog is just that, and if he hasn't found Gene's Lounge yet I'm sure not going to tell him about it!

His latest amazing feat was punching out a 6' reef shark that was trying to steal his speared red snapper in the Gulf.

Here's the Devil Dog (Chris):

Still single, too, and ought to last a long time if pickeling has anything to do with it.

**Sharp Charge** · 05-31-2009, 10:27 PM

So did he keep the shark too?

**lou1355** · 05-31-2009, 11:51 PM

Nope, the shark just sorta retreated thinking bad thoughts about the US Marine Corps....

**MoPOWeR-349** · 06-02-2009, 01:57 AM

Way to go Lou...teaching your kids right I see--service before self! I would think at 6'-4" and 220 he would be above the max for a pilot.

Capt L

**lou1355** · 06-02-2009, 08:01 AM

I'm not sure, but I think sitting height is a key parameter. He apparently conforms to the standard, or maybe they're going to call him TooTall someday?

**lou1355** · 06-10-2009, 01:39 PM

Charlie got a 90/92 = 91 avg. on his check ride Monday (out of 100).

He's pumped.

Oh, Max sitting height (all airframes) 35". Charlie's sitting height: 34.5"

As long as he doesn't pass gas, he'll be OK.

**8yourM5** · 06-10-2009, 03:17 PM

Lou please tell your son I said thank you for help keeping us all safe. Its brave boys like your and brave familys like yours that make this country great buddy. Thanks!!!!

**lou1355** · 06-10-2009, 04:29 PM

I don't know if we are brave, we just like to go to exciting places, meet new people and blow stuff up.

Now that I am former military, I just blow up my hot rod on a regular basis.

Thanks for the tip o' the hat, though...and I'll pass it along.

**typicalmarine** · 06-16-2009, 10:18 AM

Every time I saw one of these guys blowing stuff up I thought to myself, wow that must be a cool job!

Congrats to you and your sons. Im sure you are beside yourself with pride.

May they be safe while raining death from above!!!