Sunday, June 24, 2012

Day 26. Aviation Week.

24 JUNE 2012
1245

On Tuesday of Aviation week, Alpha and Bravo met for a welcome aboard brief at NB North Island with the Commander that organized the week's events for us. It informed us it would be lot of hurry and wait, but we were all expecting that.

They split us up, half would be flying the helo's and the other half the T-34's. I went to the Helo's and magically got selected to be in the first group flying! We got our head gear and walked across the flight deck to the SH-60 Bravo Seahawk. Let me tell you it was AMAZING. I was lucky to be sitting in the gunner's seat on the starboard side of the helo. It was cool because I had my own little personal window and got the best views if you ask me.  We flew for about 30 minutes but it went by way too quickly. We flew along the USA/Mexico border, threw the hills, and got great views of Coronado/Imperial beach, the NB San Diego ship yard, downtown SD... everywhere!

The ride in the Seahawk was awesome. Honestly, naval aviation has never been on my radar simply because I've never been exposed to it and thus never considered it as a future career path. After learning about helo's and riding in one, it's definitely sparked my interest. I like the idea of humanitarian assistance too, which helo's are often involved in. I felt comfortable in the air, and I don't know too much about aviation but I'm definitely interested in learning more about it.

Well the "June gloom" finally started going away this past week so the weather was amazing! (This was not only good for beach days, but also for clear skies in order to do aerobatics in the T-34's!) Unfortunately, liberty didn't start until 1700 so myself and a few friends found ourselves at the pool on base. We all laid out got some rays and played around in the pool. I got dinner at the galley with Chris before heading back to Donelley.

The first few weeks during CORTRAMID, everyone wants to GO OUT. We ate out, did lots of activities, spent money like we all owned the place. After about the second week though, our money had been depleted and suddenly the mediocre but free food at the galley didn't seem so bad...



In the gunner's seat!



The pilots.



Just a view out my window.



SH-60 Bravo Seahawk



My two favorites!



JJ!


Future aviator?


View of Point Loma out of the helo.


Look what I just flew in!





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