Unusual 737 Builder!

[jackpilot]

..a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Rear Admiral !
Read the story and enjoy the pics.

http://www.flightdecksolutions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4897&highlight=chuck

[sagrada737]

Wow!!!  That qualifies as one of those "experiences of a lifetime".   It looks like you got the Red Carpet treatment, and a chance to see America's finest in action.  Congratulations on the live tour, and thanks for sharing the wonderful photos and video.   Truly an incredible experience that not too many folks have an opportunity to enjoy.

It brought back some nice memories when a few decades ago, I had a similar opportunity on the aircraft carrier Independence, at that time based in Athens, Greece.  I appreciate your triggering those memories.

Mike

[Trevor Hale]

Wow, bet that would have been the experience of a lifetime.

Good Story.

[phil744]

Does Peter ever smile?

[fdspcos]

I was actually a little "unnerved" on the tarmac prior to  the flight out to the Carrier Phil... I think I built up the whole thing in my head and I was admittedly a bit nervous.. I can say that most of that trip I Was in awe taking it all in....
You cannot capture in pics/words an F-18 Super Hornet landing 20 metres in front of you.. its... ferocious.
The best part of the trip was meeting the Rear Admiral. Chuck has been a customer/friend for years and when we had the opportunity to meet him this way it was really something.
He took us around the ship with the Air Commander that night and one of the stops was the LSO station at the aft end of the ship where the guys are watching the incoming aircraft and guiding/waving off... That night was pitch black.. clouds were 800' and these guys were doing their deployment excercises.. unreal...
you would literally see "headlights" in the cloud cover and seconds later an "18" would rip across the deck and grab a wire.. a few sparks.. a tap of Afterburner (in case they "bolter" and miss the cables)..... then quiet... I count myself very lucky....
Chuck moves around a lot as you can imagine so his project stops and starts a lot. He has a full shell, DSTD, Overhead.. etc.. we just rebuilt a -200 737 TQ for him and that was in place for only a few weeks before he shifted again.
Amazing who is out here sharing our hobby and passion.... I can drop a few names!
Peter