Page 42 - Volume 15 Number 2

40 • ­TWIN & TURBINE FEBRUARY 2011
From the Flight Deck by Kevin R. Dingman
Boy’s Toys
things like: new bracing, stronger crusher, better hydraulics, “That’s one of the new bumpers, ya know.”
Once again, both men were very familiar with their machines and proud. I tried to think of some “there-I-was” stories that must go along with these trucks. I know they had a few and trying to imagine them made be chuckle.
AKeytotheCAT
A fellow pilot once let me borrow his CAT 426B backhoe for an entire summer. I still remember howcoolitfelttohaveakeyinmy pocket that had CAT stamped on it. Sometimes I’d take it out just to look at it. My “there-I-was” heavy equipment story was when I almost put the backhoe stinger through the house picture window, and when I did crush my chain link fence. Think pat-your-head and rub-your- tummy when you try to operate a backhoe. I remember once seeing a nice car in a driveway parked next to a John Deer farm tractor. The car was out in the weather and the tractor was protected with a custom-fit cover.
Our Toys and Machines Help Define Who We Are
Everyone is proud of his or her machine. For us boys, and probably girls too, our toys and machines help define who we are. At least a dozen times when flying with FO’s that have GA experience, our backgrounds and toys come up as we introduce ourselves. Most commonly what I hear is, “Oh ya, I’ve heard about you...you’re the Duke guy! Got any pictures?” Word gets around. Defending and espousing your ride has been a tradition and privilege forever. Cars, trucks, farm
Sometimes I have to shake my head and grin about how we guys act. Recently a couple officers from the local fire department met me at our church for the building’s annual fire inspection. When I pulled into the parking lot a very nice (red-no Dalmatian) fire truck was parked on one side of the parking lot taking up about eight spaces. As I got out of my truck and headed toward the guys, I exclaimed to them, “Nice truck!”
It was. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a dirty fire truck. One of them replied that it was their oldest engine and past retirement by more than a year. A new one would be over $500,000. Whoa.
We had a few squawks from the inspection and as I waited for one of the firemen to fill out the report of discrepancies, which I would be fixing over the next 30 days, I chatted with the other. He was proud of the machine. In addition to the many repairs and modifications, new pumps, paint and parts, there were plenty of “there-I-was” stories to go along with the vehicle. He would be sad to see it go.
Later that day I was at the phone store having the track ball on my “smart” (i.e. broken) phone repaired. In the parking lot were two large garbage trucks; again, off to the side of the lot. This time they were parked nose-to-tail taking up at least 15 parking spots. I’m not sure why they were there; no donut shop or anything. The two drivers (What’s politically correct anymore? Garbage men, sanitation workers, waste disposal specialists?) were standing at the junction of the two trucks, pointing and talking. Both trucks looked new. I overheard
equipment, boats, and of course, aerospace vehicles.
The first plane I ever flew and soloed, was a Mooney M-10; that’s a Mooney Cadet. Basically an all- metal Ercoupe with a single straight “Mooney” tail. Not very fast, sleek, or pretty. Friends flying 150’s and Cherokee 140’s gave me plenty of grief. Hey, at $14 / hour, I was happy to fly it. And yes, I did love that airplane. I’ve loved them all.
The T-37’s function, it’s said, was to convert JP4 into noise. They called my F-16 a lawn dart because in the beginning of its life we put a few into the dirt with flight control malfunctions and GLOC (g-loss of consciousness). The “real” fighter pilots said the A-10 used a calendar for an airspeed indicator and the B-52 was called a BUFF; Big-Ugly- Fat-Fellow.
One jet I don’t ever remember hearing called a name was the T-38 Talon. A sweet ride and one of my favorites. The MD-80, or Super 80, is called the Stupid 80 by its detractors; the B-737 a Guppy for its “not round” and initially short fuselage.
Even though it’s one of the only commercial “lifting body” designs, who would put a model of the Shorts 360 on their desk? And how come an airplane as sleek and sexy as the Cardinal RG isn’t faster? The name- calling goes on: Slow-tation, Barbie jet (for the plethora of regional jets), Lead Sled, Gut-lass RG, and Trauma-hawk to name a few.
For many years the Cessna-built T-37 (C-318) trained thousands of new jet pilots. The F-16 was, and still is, an extremely dangerous opponent. The A-10 is one of the most unique designs ever, designed