Gave my hero a small gift he'll remember (aviation pics)

[Badger Matt]

My father, 78-years-young (really), is my hero. He served 33 years in the USAF, enlisting as an Air Policeman and retiring as a full bird colonel. He earned the Silver Star Medal as an F-4 WSO in Vietnam. He and my mom drove out to visit us from Colorado and I wanted their week here to be fun and memorable so arranged a small adventure. He also wants to go skydiving...

I booked a flight with Mike at Wings Over Greenville so my father could have his first flight in an open cockpit. Mike flies a gorgeous PT Stearman and made my father's day. Dad's not a big talker, but he's been made sure everyone knows he took the stick for more than half the flight, Mike told him "you haven't lost your touch," and they did a loop and hammer stalls. Yep, I'm a blind hog...but I found that acorn...

 

[45Colt_Man]

Good on you for setting it up. Glad your Dad had a good time.
I'd like to fly in one of those too. Thirty five years in aviation maintenance before I retired but no open cockpit aircraft.

Dana

 

[graygun]

He still looks gung ho. There used to be one of those that flew in some shows at Randolph AFB. He'd fly in,circle the "Taj Mahal" twice and fly back to a small field in Cibolo.

 

[TinkerDave]

Thank you all for serving. It sure looks like your dad had a great day.

The PT-17 Stearman was one of the first planes, i learned about because my father taught navy and marine primaly fight students in a PT-17 back in WW II. He was stationed in Waco, Texas, and then out in Arizona. He was nearly killed several times by cadets who 'froze' on the controls - once almost pancaking after having a student freeze during an induced spin. He was able to recover and finally pulled the plane out at around 200 feet from the ground. Needless to say, the student washed out then and there. I have a great respect for our military and a real admiration for our aviators so God bless each of you. TD

 

[contender]

Too cool Matt!

 

[FastEd]

Good Job!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Matt,
GOOD for you and your Dad. Did you go up in it?? If not you need to. If you are ever in my area I'll take you up in my Two Winger. Stearmans are GREAT old planes fer sure. There are two of them on our airpark. Looks like the one in the pictures has a 300HP Lycoming rather than the 220HP Continental. 300 makes for a better plane. Never owned one but have flown a few from 220-450HP
One thing good that the AF did was leave the controls in the backseat of the F-4 while the Navy didn't.

This one belongs to a friend of ours who is a retired 86 year old Two Star Admiral.
We all went flying in it while Son was stationed in Norfolk.




Grandsons first time in a Stearman.

 

[WendyZXZ]

That is a great gift and looks like he had a wonderful time!

 

[Badger Matt]

Jim - Nope, I didn't have a chance to fly in the Stearman, but it would've taken sandpaper to wipe the grin off my dad's face. Worth every penny. Thanks for the flight offer. I just might have to get down your way. I received an e-mail from a former troop of mine (deployed with me in '91) and he offered me one of his pistol/rifle courses gratis...and I've always wanted to hunt Nilgai -- two things I can do near Houston.

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

 

[mjpchief]

Great plane and great thing you did for your dad. I've flown in one and it was the best plane I've ever had. Tell your dad thanks for me.