T-34 Disappeared and Reappeared

[xnvyflyer]

Any of America's 911 force have the inside scoop on the marine T-34C driver that was aparently on a VFR flight plan from who knows where to Miramar MCAS yesterday (3-9-08) and disappeared from FAA radar and comms near Borrego in East San Diego County?

My partner and I got the call of the missing T-34 and launched from Sheriff's Aviation at Gillespie Field in El Cajon with a greater than average sence of urgency, braving the ridiculously harsh east county winds and hoping to not find a smoking hole with the usual chunks of meat strewn about.

We weren't disaappointed. After getting the crap kicked out of us by the wind for a while, we were notified that the T-34 had landed at Miramar.

It was later mentioned that the reason the plane dropped off of Socal radar was that the pilot decided to do a few touch and gos that were not on the flight plan, possibly at Borrego airport?

Curious minds would like to know.

X

 

[loadtoad]

After reading the title I thought maybe this was a T-34 version of "The Final Countdown." Guess not...

 

[Harrier Dude]

I thought this was going to be about the "Myth and Urban Legend" of the two instructors who stole the T-34 from Whiting back in the '80s.....

 

[Schnugg]

Whatever is known is most likely close hold.

 

[FLYTPAY]

Probably TnG's....a buddy of mine used to fly it there and they TnG'ed the hell out of it.

 

[Schnugg]

I've taken a T-34C out of Miramar and just gone VFR to the east and done T&Gs at Big Bear Airport when I was in VF-101. So I guess it could be done.

Who initiated the search you went on? FAA or USN? Was he overdue for his arrival time would be questions I'd ask?

 

[xnvyflyer]

Who initiated the search you went on? FAA or USN? Was he overdue for his arrival time would be questions I'd ask?

The FAA advised the Sheriff's Department Communications Center and they advised us.

Good point on the overdue issue. Getting 3rd hand info sometimes can be a pain in the ass so we didn't have the full story and rarely do. Based on the info we had, I thought it best to be enroute immediately and get any amplifying info enroute. Called up Socal Approach with scratchy and busy comms and the controller couldn't be bothered. So, we searched.

Let's go. Somebody give it up. I need my beaten up helmet repainted.

 

[FLYTPAY]

The FAA advised the Sheriff's Department Communications Center and they advised us.

So did anyone try to hail the T-34 on Air Force TAC? That is normally a good place to start. Then you have the ability to comm relay a guard call by a civil aircraft in the area if terrain altitude precludes LOS comms.

 

[Gatordev]

I've taken a T-34C out of Miramar and just gone VFR to the east and done T&Gs at Big Bear Airport when I was in VF-101. So I guess it could be done.

Out of curiosity, how did the particulars of that work? Just curious how a NFO gets NATOPS qualed. Not trying to get in a pilot/NFO pissing match, mind you. Or maybe I'm misunderstand your post.

 

[A4sForever]

T-34 Disappeared and Reappeared

No shit???

They did that 40 years ago EVERY time I blinked ... !!!

 

[Schnugg]

Out of curiosity, how did the particulars of that work? Just curious how a NFO gets NATOPS qualed. Not trying to get in a pilot/NFO pissing match, mind you. Or maybe I'm misunderstand your post.

I was a senior FRS instructor qualified in all phases at 101. I used to go fly with a friend who was a T-34C spotter pilot and F-14 pilot.

Since I was/am SEL Instrument rated, he'd let me fly the whole hop, including a practice instrument approach or two as needed.

Good times...

XNVYFLYER...how rough was the flight turbulence???

 

[jamnww]

I guess I really don't see what the problem is. If they were VFR and not overdue and they didn't request flight following who cares if they dropped off scope for a bit?

 

[FLYTPAY]

Since I was/am SEL Instrument rated, he'd let me fly the whole hop, including a practice instrument approach or two as needed.

165 hours in the S-3 Weapons School T-34C's before primary was a $$$ deal. 3 Out-and-Ins a week throughout South Florida was ridiculous!

and they didn't request flight following who cares if they dropped off scope for a bit?

Without getting into details, and the SH-60 guys can verify this, probably because of a mishap several years ago.

 

[FLYTPAY]

.......so you guys were busy there?

Flew the S-3 the other two days of the week. Of course we could not pull schenanigans like that when we had a SCARP or WTI to run.

 

[armada1651]

I guess I really don't see what the problem is. If they were VFR and not overdue and they didn't request flight following who cares if they dropped off scope for a bit?

That's what I was wondering.