Hard to believe I used to do stuff like this:

[trof]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBm0UlVRxe4&NR=1

High speed, low altitude.
I used to buzz water skiers on the lakes around Alabama.
Just about at head level.
And yes, it's a hell of a rush.

If you flew a practice mission out over the Gulf of Mexico and didn't come back with salt spray on your drop tanks and canopy you were a wuss.

I want to thank all you taxpayers for buying my gas.
;-)

[DS1]

1. ugh, I'm sure your mechs just loved dealing with salt water

:shudder;

[trof]

3. My crew chief would be the first to give me shit if I didn't.

We had great maintenance crews. Unsung heroes.
And I guess they kind of lived vicariously through 'their' jock's derring do.

[trof]

2. Here's a better one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOUx_hDjKjg&mode=related&search=
I think they are French Mirages.
In one shot you can see the bugs on the forward camera bay window.

They are possibly using terrain following radar.
We didn't have that.
Just guts.
whew
How the hell did I make it to the ripe old age of 66?

[Lethe]

4. That's nothing... I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back home

:smoke:

[trof]

5. Save the Tatooine Womp Rat Campaign

http://totl.net/WompRat/

[DarkTirade]

14. Ever thread the needle in Beggar's Canyon?

[Gormy Cuss]

6. You were one of those pilots, eh?

Once we were camping on the shores of a lake in a remote corner of Maine and we were buzzed by a military aircraft. Talk about ruining the peaceful enjoyment of the place.

I saw the Blue Angels perform as part of SF's Fleet Week festivities. Those pilots are nuts.

[Arugula Latte]

7. Hi Gormy.

:hi:

When I was in Seattle recently, our tour guide mentioned that the Blue Angels will occasionally fly past the Space Needle at restaurant level and wave to the patrons. I'm amazed that they allow that! Seems like it's so easy for something terrible to go wrong. I guess that's my "Mom Brain" at work, though.

[Gormy Cuss]

9. They do seem to enjoy spooking people.

They swung over the city and fly directly over the crowd at Aquatic Park on one pass. It was a beautiful weekend -- perfect fall weather for the city: all sun no fog.;)

[Beausoir]

8. I heard a story about a ND Air Guard pilot who buzzed his own father with an F-4.

Dad was plowing a field north of Fargo and the son snuck up behind him. Knocked him off the tractor.

Hi Dad!

[trof]

11. We had Lt. 'Tree-Top'.

He was brand new to the squadron, just a few weeks out of pilot training.

Decided to go buzz his hometown.
Got a little overconfident in his abilities and took the top out of an oak tree in his front yard.
Came back with some pretty good sized dents in the wing leading edges and wood fiber impacted in the forward canopy rail.

Just climbed out of the bird, got his parachute and helmet, and walked off. Never said a word about it at the time.
His crew chief was PISSED!

The Lt. was given a choice between a court martial and being allowed to resign. He wisely chose the latter.

[trof]

10. Yeah, long ago in galaxy far away.

One of my old squadron mates lives down the street.
Once in a while we reminisce about the old days when we were bulletproof and imortal.

And Miz t. sez "Honest to god. I don't see how you guys made it past your twenties. You sure didn't deserve to."

And she's right.
Like the time we decided to do an impromptu fly-by during halftime at the Alabama-Auburn game.
I was listening to it on an A.M. direction-finder radio that was part of the nav gear.
And I wound up flying slot in a 4-ship diamond formation.
I could hear our jet noise on the radio as we made our pass and remember looking UP at the press box.

Oh yeah...
;-)

[puerco-bellies]

12. We used to have two words for you spray skimmer types.

Tartar Missile

[trof]

13. Ouch!

That could ruin your whole day.