Naval Aviation

For Moms with Aviators or anyone interested
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  • ulua

    Wow that is so interesting. The amount of training for all our pilots is amazing.  Thankyou helomom for the insight.

  • USNA Mom

    Wow Helomom!  Thanks for all the insight.....my son tells me nothing!  I totally appreciate it.

    Where in this do they get their wings?  Is FRS after wings and when they go onto their squadron?

    Thanks for the patience with this newbie

  • Helomom

    Thanks, NW&M. For some reason we helo moms tend to be a bit quieter on the board. This was one spot where I thought I could help out. My DS is out flying today, needs to get thru the FRS again so he is fully qualified. 18 month hiatus for school was a lifetime out of the seat. We were visiting him this month when he had his first live flight. He studied like crazy for his oral exam and preflight brief. He was remembering back when he was a check ride pilot and guys came thru doing their re-quals. He said he didn't want to be one of "those guys", rolling his eyes. Fortunately his check ride pilot said he was a-okay. The check ride pilot said you can tell as soon as you leave the ground if the pilot you are watching has a good feel for the aircraft. All that left hand/right hand/left foot/right foot, rub your stomach while patting your head while tapping your feet, would be way above my dexterity quotient. LOL
  • Helomom

    Hi USNA Mom! Winging is after Advanced and they are fully qualified to fly any television station's news and traffic helicopter. Then they move on to learn what the Navy has for them to fly.
  • Barb

    Helomom,

    I laughed when I read your post about all the dexterity, etc.  At our house we say that we'd all have headaches and stomachaches every day if we were doing our son's job.  Sometimes I have to look away when we Skype and he shows us the maneuvers they do.  Ooof.

  • Helomom

    Had to delete that last post...trying to work and type something else at the same time... again I'm challenged. Too many omitted words and misspellings.

    Have you every had the opportunity to fly a simulator. We did years ago on North Island. I am a danger to everyone when flying a helo. Taking off isn't too bad and flying, keeping straight and level without "crabbing" is certainly challenging, and the whole working with the collective is strange. There are three major controls, the collective (the pitch of the rotor head) left hand and control travels up and down, the pedals and they have something to do with controlling the torque and the rear rotor blades, and the cyclic (the pitch of the blades - like feathering props) right hand and the control goes back/front/left/right, if I remember right. In our little exercise I took off from the base, flew out to sea, and was feeling pretty darned confident. Then came the shipboard landing... DS took the controls and said, "Just do it like this." and we swooped to the side and landed. So I swooped to the side hit the superstructure and crashed the helo and damaged the ship. "Try again." Crash. "Try again, Mom you have a good 15 feet from the rotors to the bulkhead. It's easy." Crash. Me, "Can we try a bigger ship?" How they land those things with all the antennas, deck rails, bulkheads, equipment on those ships is beyond me. Fun stuff...

     
  • Paymaster

    Helomom.....I have to laugh to about your experience in the simulator's. 

    When our DS got winged we all went in the simulator.  Needless to say we all crashed and burned, with the exception of the 15 year old.  She was the only one that could land the silly thing.  I think it had to do with the fact that she grew up playing video games and had the experience with doing things on the monitor using a hand control.  We are just to old for the simulator:)

  • Helomom

    You've got it, Nancy. Navy moms united... Prayers for Brian.
  • TennMom

    So sorry to hear Nancy. Prayers, hope and strength.

  • CheriH

    Praying for you both Nancy.

  • USNA Mom

    Nancy, I will continue to pray for your husband......and for you!

  • CheriH

    DS finally got his orders.  Been waiting 3 weeks for them.  He detaches in 3 days and reports to Kingsville in 9.  Good thing they were already planning a do-it-yourself move.  Up next: the Centrifuge in San Antonio.  I can't even comprehend doing that.  

    So happy to hear about winging NNMShelia;  hope the rest of your trip went smoothly.

  • JudyM

    Nancy, prayers and positive thoughts for you and your hubby.

    Sheila, winging is awesome, isn't it? Kingsville does try to make it special. Such a proud parent moment.

    DS still loving growlers and Washington. Can't wait to go up there again.

    Everyone, have a great week.

  • Paymaster

    I always love it when they say the went somewhere for lunch!

     

  • Helomom

    Nancy? What's the word? Sending thoughts and prayers your way.
    NNM - Whidbey would send you out are way! That could be fun.
    JAMI-Years of listening and research. Oh the career scenarios I have heard while sitting at the dinner table or riding in the car. I just keep listening. There seems to be an abundance of information about the fixed wing pipeline, not so much about the rotary line. My DS graduated top in his class and chose to be one of the last Navy 46 pilots. He actually flew a 46 out to the bone yard in AZ during the end of his tour at HC-11 (which is now gone, converted to HSC). He flew the 46 that is mounted on sticks at the entrance to North Island. Then he converted over to the 60's. He's flown the SH, HH, MH series. HC originally converted to HS and converted to HSC. Interesting career including a stint as an IA to Kabul on Gen. McNeill's staff when McNeill was in charge if ISAF.
  • AH

    Re: NancyW.  She posted on FB this morning that they had good news.  What ever happened last week did not leave any lasting evidence in Brian's brain.   Good news all around. 

    Nancy - so happy for you and your family

     

  • JudyM

    Nancy, God heard all the prayers said for you and your husband. What a wakeup call.

    Sheila, the folks at Whidbey are wonderful. My DS moved there in May and loves it. Everyone is helpful and friendly.

    Been sewing today for DS and his lady. I made pillowcases. Thought I would share this one with  you all. The fabric is  Naval Aviation Centennial.

  • JudyM

    Kris, I bought the fabric in Anacortes, Wa while visiting DS. There is a great little fabric shop there. The fabric is called: "Celebrating the Naval Aviation Centennial" Screen Print D#11006, Patriots Series, by Robert Kaufman. I just looked on the Robert Kaufman site, saw other great military fabric, but not that one. You might call around to see who handles that line. If not, PM me and I will look up the  name of the shop I purchased it at.

  • Dawn

    JudyM love the pillow case. Do you have a pattern you use you could post? I would love to make some
  • NavyWife09 Ship 3 Div 193

    ATTENTION Navy wives, fiances, and girlfriends going to Pensacola to be with their sailor for A-school: When I moved to Pensacola from Denver I just packed my car up with my dogs and as much stuff as I
    could fit in the car. We are going to be stationed in San Diego, so I will be packing the car back up, but with even less room since my sailor is coming with me. I rented a couple pieces of
    furniture but I am giving away all of the other household items I purchased while here including a desk and couch! If you're coming to Pensacola in a similar fashion and need some household goods PM me for
    a long, full list of items I am giving away. You will need to come pick them up, but other than that, they're FREE! My husband graduates August 8th, so I will need you to come pick your stuff up on the 8th/9th!

  • Paymaster

    Judy...Are you getting in some pillowcase practice before our annual Pillowcase sewing day in September? 

     

    Really cute pillowcase!

  • JudyM

    Yes, Paymaster I am getting lots of practice. When is the date? We will be gone for about 12 days in September.

    Dawn, I do have a pattern and it is really very simple. I have attached it.PillowCaseInstructions.JPG

  • Dawn

    Thank you JudyM!
  • JudyM

    Glad you like the pillow case instructions. It is easy and really cute. Just find the fabric that works for you.

    Everyone, have a great week.

  • Paymaster

    Judy and anyone who would like to join us or help support our efforts.

    Pillowcase sewing day for the Wounded Warrior project

    Sat Sept 21, 2013

     

    Please contact me for more information.

  • bora's mom

    Regarding the aviation fabric:

    equilter.com has it Patriots 5 Naval Aviation

    The pillowcases look great.

  • Dawn

    Nora's mom. Thank you!
  • Dawn

    Sorry. Auto correct. Bora's mom I meant to type, thank you.
  • Marianne

    I had to laugh when I read KrisP's comment about the EAA show. We took the kids up there every year for about 5 years, and I'm sure that is where my DS got the aviation bug! Thanks for bringing back the memories, Kris.

  • Paymaster

    So true!

    While I am waiting for the Red Sox to win this.. now 15 inning game -- I will share a meme I got from a Navy Mom -- cause we are family ...

  • JudyM

    Looks like hubby and I will be attending Tailhook! An opportunity (I hope) to see DS. We have a friend that has a booth and have been asked to help. We will be pouring "Fighter Pilot Red" a very nice Zinfandel . Ok, seeing our son and pouring wine for the Tailhook folks.
  • Paymaster

    Judy....I figured we would get to see him! 

  • Michelle

    We just heard a brief radio blip about a collision off Va Beach but can't find any info.  If anyone know any links to news, please post.  We are at our cabin and can only get info on the web.  Thanks.

  • Michelle

    Just found an article on the Navy Times.  The coast guard rescued an Air National Guard pilot from one F16, and the other pilot landed his jet.  Our news in Alaska is often spotty and delayed.  Since DS is off working, we can't call him.  Needless to say, our hearts are thumping every time we hear of an accident. 

  • CheriH

    http://www.navytimes.com/article/20130802/NEWS03/308020015/Coast-Gu...

    Here's the link.  The rescued pilot appears to have a broken leg.  And yes, we hold our breath til we get the details.  

  • Dawn

    Found this on Amazone .com. I can't get the picture to insert but it is cotton fabric with navy pictures and navy seal. It comes up if you put us navy cotton fabric in the search of Amazone.
    US Navy Cotton Fabric
    by Sykel
    5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
    Price: $8.90
    Note: $3.99 shipping when purchased from Fantastic Sports Store. Not eligible for Amazon Prime.
    Only 12 left in stock.
    Ships from and sold by Fantastic Sports Store.
    2 new from $8.90
    Enter the amount of yards you wish to buy in the quantity section
    Will be shipped to you in one continous piece
    All Cotton and Fleece are machine wash and Dry
    Cotton is 45†wide-Fleece is 58†wide
  • Dawn

    SusanW. That is great! My son is in Primary. Had IFS in October. It is so exciting for use Moms to hear how excited our kids are.
  • Michelle

    Thanks Cheri, James & Leslie for responding to my earlier post.  I figured someone closer to Va. Beach might have heard something.

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    I put solid gold wings on Lay-away... What point of the process does he get pinned?

  • Hurricane

    Sweet southern Lady, I commented on the other page but winging happens at the end of Advance training.
  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Thanks.. OMG So I just figured out we're moving in 8-10 weeks. How long does Primary take?

  • Hurricane

    Primary varies. He will be going through it during the holidays so it may take longer but 6-8 months is primary typically. Are you moving to whiting field or Corpus Christi? Our friends are finishing up around the 7 month time frame.
  • USNA Mom

    Sweet*Southern*Lady (whitney), where did you get your wings?  I have heard of several places but let's face it.....they are pricey!  (but well worth it).  Would you mind sharing what the price of the wings are these days?  I will be needing a pair in Feb-April (depending on the schedule).

    Thanks!

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    His follow on orders are to Whiting Field. After talking to some of the spouses here in Pcola they all ordered gold wings from http://www.flywings.com/ you can do a prepayment plan so its paid in cash. They cost $639.00 because I 'ordered' them from Illinois. Its an out of state sale no sales tax. After I get them I'm going to have them engraved on the back!

  • Dawn

    Chris. That is wonderful news. I can only imagine how proud you will be. What a dream come true for them and you!
  • Dawn

    Chris do they both fly the F18? Will they be able to fly together or do they come separate?

  • CheriH

    Oh wow Chris!  How wonderful.  Can't wait to hear all about it!

    SSL Whitney: DS just finished Primary at Whiting.  He and his wife lived in Bagdad, just south of Milton.  Real cute duplex. She got a job on base while he was still in API in Pcola.  Enjoy!

  • Dawn

    Chris we are all here for each other ups and downs! Keep us posted.
  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    CheriH,

    Thanks! I have a fabulous job downtown Pcola as receptionist. I hoping to find somewhere to live in Bagdad and or Pace.

  • Barb

    Having a rough day here too...the calls when things are going well are so fantastic and the calls when things are not are really crushing.  Please send us some positive thoughts and prayers.  Best to all...