Frost Times

Hello all!

Sorry it’s been awhile since I last posted. I have had a great few weeks. I have flown three times now. My first flight was November 17th and was phenomenal! In-flight refueling really is in my mind a modern marvel. It’s overwhelming lying in the back of a boom pod having a 400,000 pound aircraft flying 6 times faster than you car can go closer than home plate is to the pitchers mound at an altitude higher than the tallest mountain in the world. My first flight was a little bumpy with me being so overwhelmed trying to do everything right the first time through…my instructor lodged his 12 size boot up my hind quarters a few times but we got everything done in time before the receiver showed up to get refueled. My first contact was absolutely perfect! My instructor gave a THATABOY!! and slapped my back which almost caused be to freak out and call a breakaway. (A breakaway is something the boom operator calls anytime the two aircraft involved in the refueling process start to get into unsafe conditions such as running into each other or having the receiver fly directly underneath the tanker. In such an instance I will call over the radio “BREAKAWAY BREAKAWAY BREAKAWAY” while flashing the lights we have, flying my boom up and away from the receiver as they dived down and cut their engines.) After my first contact I was a little shaky on the radios, it’s weird being up there plugged into the radio hearing “Delta 54 contact Denver Center” or “Southwest 2843 Contact Minneapolis Center” as we fly through the heart of the country. Being on the radios is something that doesn’t really come naturally considering there are so many people listening in and the first time you do it you are already so nervous. During Air Refueling I am, as the boom operator in charge of everything that goes on during that period. So here I was as a 9 month airman (second lowest Rank in the Air Force) calling out commands to a 20 year Lt. Col (extremely high rank) and tell him what he needs to be doing when it was literally my first time flying in a military jet. Needless to say, my first flight was a bit nerve racking. My first contact as I earlier mentioned was awesome, but my next 6 didn’t quite go so well, I got nervous a few times that I was going to put the boom through the receiver’s windshield which wouldn’t be good for anyone anywhere. As I got more contacts I got more confident and they started to get much better. Overall it was an amazing experience that I will never forget and wish I could have shared with you all. (especially you Kaydi since you have to hear my try to explain this all to you every day ;) My thanksgiving was an amazing treat to be able to see my Loved ones and I am so blessed and thankful for all those who do love me and care about me. I hope you all know I love you all and miss you everyday. Thanks for reading…more to come!

Dan