Two weeks out of the cockpit in the RAG, get drafted to do a out/in to Moffett Field to drop off the Deputy Commodore so he can get a NATOPS check and attend a school in Monterey. Dodge crappy but legal WX on the way out. Get to Moffett. Gas up the jet. Get WX brief. WX has closed in and Instructor ECMO (CDR from the Wing) decides he values his career too highly to explain why he took a Cat I pilot through it after we ice up the jet and eject. Stuck. Go to the Exchange, acquire civilian clothes since no one packed a bingo bag. Off to Monterey and the Trident Room. Beer and dinner before the bottle/planning cutoff kicks in. Deputy shows up to BS with a glass of wine. Kick myself for not ordering wine. You're in Cali now, idiot. Wine country.
Back to Moffett the next day for Take 2. For those who don't know,the Prowler needs external power and air to start. On the road, ECMO1 and the pilot handle the start while ECMO2/3 handles the ground equipment and supervises line guys before jumping in. There's an external power relay which kicks power offline if the voltages and phases don't match. And you get three start attempts per motor before the starters have to cool for a 1/2 hour.
Well we took damn near 45 minutes to get out of the chocks.
Naturally the jet decides to be a cantankerous fat bitch and not take power. ECMO3 dorks with the cart. There we go, we've got . . . crap, there it goes again. ECMO3 fiddles some more. Wait, it's back . . . OK, start now before it drops. Cranking right . . . push the button, engine spools up. Get ready to introduce fuel . . . and poof. No power. Shit. There's one. ECMO3 kicks cart, fiddles. Power back on? OK, try again, cranking right . . . poof. That's two. Why is ECMO3 jumping around and making funny gestures? Oh. The start cart just ran out of gas. Do they have a spare? Yes? Phew. OK, haul it over. Oh, this is just electricity. Where's a huffer? OK, haul that over too. Decide to start the left and crossbleed the right in case this one is as bad as the other one. Finally start the jet after using every piece of compatible GSE equipment at Moffett Field. Inquire to the Commander if he would be so good as to rehack my NATOPS qual as well after that escapade. Taxi. Takeoff. Go home. Remember to pack a bingo bag next time.