That F-104 XC story is nothin'.    I have to tell my story of a cross country I did from Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona to an air show in L.A.  I was cranking along at FL 240 and 230 KIAS.  I tell you, my A-10 and I can really get from A to B  -  and it only took a couple of hours .. or so.   But of course, we were 'clean' ... well ... ugly but clean.

After arrival in L.A., my Demo Team ground crew cleaned up the bird strikes off the rudder, trailing edges of the ailerons, and the back of the engines, and we were ready for the show.  Since I was the "lips" (West Coast A-10 Demo Team Narrator that year), I combed what was left of my hair, tucked it under my flight cap and headed to the microphone.  After a standard 2-day air show, we headed back to DM.  Those prevailing 'westerlies' made us feel like we were in afterburner - my jet and I must have been steppin' along at better than 300 ground!!   I got dizzy just thinking about it.    I checked my Calendar on the Instrument Panel, and sure enough we would get back that very same day!    Actually, it only took and hour and a half before we were on ILS final.  With the weather clear and a million, ILS is filling squares.  I don't pencil whip.  

After taking Monday off for golf, flunking a student on a checkride on Tuesday, and taking money from my friends at Gila Bend range on Wednesday, I had a Simulator ride on Thursday  (I jumped into the dumpster, and the 'sim guys' threw rocks at the sides - wow that's true wartime realism for the A-10!).  

With my ears still ringing from the 'sim' ride, Friday arrived and we headed off for another adventurous air show for the weekend.  That air show season is really grueling.

 

 I didn't know how good I had it ...         Chris Sweesy

( Ike Sweesy's much younger brother)

 

I'm proud to have served with you my Brother!    Two fighter pilot sons of another US Air Force officer, Lt.Col. (Ret) James Walter Sweesy (deceased)     -  Ike   Snacko, www.FighterPilots.Net