INTRO - Rhino

[Rhino]

Hello to all! Here's a little about my experience: I was drafted when I graduated from college. For those of you who don't remember the draft, it was back in the Viet Nam War days and it was where you registered when you were 18 and then they made you go into the Army. I got deferments that allowed me to graduate college but got a "draft letter" right after graduation. The let you enlist in any service you can qualify for ro they put you in the Army and send you to Boot Camp and about six weeks later you are dodging bullets in the jungles of Viet Nam. So, I volunteered for the Air Force. I qualified for pilot training and flew T-37s, T-38s, T-33s, Instructed in pilot training in the T-38 and later in the t-37, went to PIT where I taught pilots to be instructors in the T-38 and flew the F-4. I really enjoyed the service and stayed for 20 years.

Now I'm retired and living in Idaho with my family (including grand kids) all living near by.

Fairly new to sim flying but enjoying it a lot. I've got VR and head tracking setups - they both have their advantages and disadvantages but I think I'll mostly do VR.

I'm looking forward to doing some more structured flying with mission objectives, coordination, cooperation within flight, pre-brief and post briefs - the works.

See you soon.

 

[Wing]

Rhino, welcome! Really glad to have you here, and thanks for sharing your background.what an incredible career.

Sounds like you’re enjoying retirement out in Idaho with family and grandkidscan’t beat that. Funny enough, we’ve got family in both Moscow and Coeur d’Alene, and we’re actually planning on moving back up that way ourselves before long, so that connection definitely hits close to home.

You’re absolutely in the right place for what you’re looking for. Structured missions, coordination within the flight, and some fun hobby experiences that’s very much how we operate. With flying VR, quite a few of us fly that way and can help you get it dialed in if you have any sim questions.

 

[Axe]

Hello and welcome Rhino. What airframe are you leaning toward flying in the group? I missed the draft by 6 months. Worked out well for me. I too went to flight school with T-37 and T-38. I drew F-111As on drop night. Flew them out of Mtn Home till they retired them. Went “constant carrot” and ended up in the RF-4C. Flew them out of Germany till they retired and ended up in F-16 block 30/40s. Retired in 98 and then was a contract instructor for the Air Force (back to the T-38) and Navy. Got qual’d on the Navy side in the T-6, T-45 and FA-18/C. I have family in Idaho as well in Napa, McCall and Idaho Falls. My Folks lived in Coeur d’Alene for a spell. I grew up in Oregon. Hope you have a great time while in the group and again welcome.

 

[Duchess]

Welcome Rhino, always good seeing more retired guys. They had F-4s at my first duty station way, way in the 90s. Thanks for your service, looking forward to flying with you!

 

[Rattler]

Welcome Rhino, thank you for your service.