Please forgive me...

[HercDriver]

Said I was too cool now that I am a pilot....

Congrats to you!!!
//end threadjack//

 

[HeyJoe]

Please forgive me...

...Gee, I thought this might be Skeeterman finally coming clean...

 

[Intruder Driver]

I always thought "primary" (aka Pri-Fly) was where the dragon - the fire-breathing Air-Boss lived, and from where he liked to yell and breathe fire at you……. Be you screwing up on the flight deck; or you being the duty, 'sacrificial lamb' on your squadron's "Pri-fly" watch duty for that particular recovery.

But that was a much later "Primary". Yours is more immediate; and maybe more daunting…. though it should never be.


You should relax. I didn't know what "Primary" was before I encountered it; and I have long since forgotten what it entailed since. It's just a Zen-like phase to accomplish, and enjoy. So enjoy. Work hard, but enjoy.

Don't let those "salty-dog denizens" here discourage you. (And never, ever let them try to belittle the Midway – either the battle or the ship. )

May you someday, long after Primary, and well after your long and successful career, be able to stand on the deck of a museum "Pri-fly" – the same one you stood before, many times, like I on the old USS Midway - peer out, and remember all your squadron mates and all your many collective experiences. . .

There is nothing better in the world, to do that! And it all awaits you. So go for it! And enjoy it!

Here is the link to my old, Pri-fly view (many, many years after my Primary watches), happily retired in the best bay in the world! http://johncarmichaels.typepad.com/photos/uss_midway_ii/img_0955.html

Cat, you bring back great memories. I swear I must have been a pri-fly centurion on Midway, though it was a great view that never got tiring. Plus we had a great boss and mini-boss, and Midway was the last 3 wire, 2 cat carrier, not to mention watching Phantoms and Whales and C-1's and other assorted planes whose time in Naval history we knew was drawing to a close.

As a retread, I went from Primary to primary to Primary.

 

[HeyJoe]

I always thought "primary" (aka Pri-Fly) was where the dragon - the fire-breathing Air-Boss lived, and from where he liked to yell and breathe fire at you……. Be you screwing up on the flight deck; or you being the duty, 'sacrificial lamb' on your squadron's "Pri-fly" watch duty for that particular recovery.

We called that "Tower Flower" watch (don't forget to take a watch with second hand capability).

I always wondered how they either selected or "trained" the Air Bosses to be so fire breathing*....sometimes I thought they didn't need any electronic amplification means to shout out "Get out of the port catwalk!".

*A few of my former comrades who have taken that job of late don't seem to be cut of that same mold though. But back in the day, they were legendary for "flame on" even if you were standing the duty. If one of your squadron mates wasn't performing properly on deck, you'd take the blistering in the tower to pass the word. I had a chief of staff on shore duty who couldn't let it go. He treated all hands like they were deck apes or misguided souls. Hair trigger temper over anything (he did what I call, "Staying one tour too long").

 

[MasterBates]

I dunno...maybe MB taking his starter wife back....

FVCK NO! Are YOU insane!

 

[insanebikerboy]

FVCK NO! Are YOU insane!

Ha, I've been called that once or twice....