Dipping in the Cockpit...

[Taildragger]

I think you guys may get a kick out of this... rumor has it that one of the pilots in my brother's F-16 squadron will dip Skoal or Cope on long cross countries while he's flying. So I started thinking if this can actually be done. Obviously he must be swallowing when he's wearing the MBU-20/P mask because he can't spit. Have you ever heard of any pilots who have done this -- and have any of yall actually done it yourself?

 

[skidkid]

I have had numerous people with me try to dip in the bird when I was the aircraft commander it wasnt happening (hate the smell), when the boot @ss co-pilot I shut my mouth (and still hated the smell). It is against OPNAV and therefore a shall not kind of thing but it happens pretty regularly. Guys bring soda bottle to spit into. One guy spit into the relief tube and the AMO had his @ss out there cleaning every relief tube on the line.

 

[Taildragger]

Haha, a worthy punishment -- I'm assuming you are referring to AH-1's?

 

[CLAM97to99]

Are there really that many officers in today’s Navy that use tobacco products? It seems to me that most every thing discourages it.

 

[Punk]

alot and I mean alot dip

 

[zab1001]

I can smoke at my desk...but then again, I'm doing an exchange tour...all these guys smoke like there's vitamins in there or something.

(and yes, I have become the cliche 1970s O-3, khakis, smokes, coffee, and sideburns...)

 

[AirRyan]

From the enlisted side in a Phrog squadron, I knew the CC and AO's did it all the time, like what was mentioned above they just kept a plastic plastic soda or water bottle with duck tape around it so as to hide the nastiness.

I can't recall any pilots every trying to dip and fly at the same time, as a helo pilot I would think you have enough on your hands as it is (although the Phorgs keep getting easier and easier to fly!) and how you would have to be heavily addicted to it to need it while in flight, but I saw many a pilot with a can on the ground, especially when deployed and away from their wives and such.

 

[A4sForever]

...and yes, I have become the cliche 1970s O-3, khakis, smokes, coffee, and sideburns...

You mean like THIS ... !!!?? Hey, wait a minute -- I AM AN O-3 FROM THE 70's !!!

PEACE, BABY !!

 

[A4sForever]

"Back in the Day" ... we would never descend into the cultural depths of depravity represented by "dipping" in the cockpit. "Dipping" was unsightly, messy, and against the Regs while airborne.

Instead, we would just drop our masks to one side, secure the O2 , and light up. Much easier, realatively cockpit friendly, and why do you think they put a cigarette pocket in the flight suit shoulder anyway ??? Nothing like the sharp, crisp "snap" of a WestPac Zippo lighter to set the mood .... Hmmmm... ??? -- don't start telling me about mask contamination or O2 leaks -- usually we just didn't wear the darn thing -- wore a boom mic instead.

The only problem we ever had resulted when one forgot to empty the screw-off bottom of the ashtray -- excuse me, the flashlight -- and ended up inflight with a full "tray". Messy, messy me ...

ROGER (*cough*) BA- (*cough*wheeeze*) BALL !!

 

[skidkid]

We have one Cobra on the line that still has an ash tray in the front seat. I cant get a moving map but I got a damn ash tray

 

[A4sForever]

The biggest test of skill and timing was being able to finish your cigarette in Marshal prior to push time. Very relaxing preparation for the night trap. Nicotine and night vision, you say ?? What, me worry? Who could know .....

(conversation heard on frequency @ 3/4 of a mile): Do You Have the BALL !?!? Do YOU (*cough*) SEE THE *&!#@$$@ BALL ??!? CLARA !!

 

[beau]

yeah nothing like going on my primary Cross Country (with 2 other planes 10 minutes apart), when all of the sudden this stench comes across the cockpit.....look up to the mirror to see my instructor with the wad of death in his lip......could not help but laugh a little. of course all he did was talk to the other IP's on Victor......good times, good times

 

[CLAM97to99]

My father said he knew a guy that tried smoking in the cockpit. He said that he got an O2 fire going and tried to snuff it out on his chest and ended up catching his fight suit/harness on fire. He ended up dieing a few days later. Sounds like it’s a lot healthier, for an aviator, to chew than smoke.

 

[SteveG75]

Best thing I did for my health was roll out of my last tour.

The Yellowjackets (VAQ-138) were old school. We did a lot of drinking and smoking. May have helped that we were one of the few Prowler squadrons that had an "all-balls" ready room.

 

[ea6bflyr]

One of my Prowler Pilots would put in a dip at the hold short and then re-dip prior to push during the nightime case III recovery. He had no spit bottle.
ea6bflyr