I stood next to a fighter jet
Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 12:51PM So, it is now almost 1 pm PST. I just got off work. I've had two hours of sleep and I have a billion things to do. How did life become so busy???? I have homework to do, dishes to wash, laundry to be done, an apartment to tidy up, a mirror to hang, and a cat to pay attention to. I'm tired, I'm hungry, I'm freakin' cold (it's windy and 50-something degrees outside). Someone save me!!! Okay, never mind. . . This is self-imposed madness . . . I'll deal with it all . . . eventually . . .
This last shift was the first time I felt confident in this new job. The last few weeks have overwhelmed my brain, my body, and my cat (poor thing is probably wondering if I actually live here). Anyway, I had an awesome time with my base manager. She is my favorite partner so far. She's so totally stellar!
Our first call of the day took us to the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field. That was pretty cool. We were there to pick up a team to fly them to Orange County to get a baby with heart problems. They were delayed for 40 minutes so we had time to play. A fighter jet was there and some sort of Navy aircraft. You know I was all over that taking pictures like the perpetual tourist that I am.
So, we ask the guy there if we can take pictures of the aircraft. You know, it's NASA and all that, so didn't know if there were security issues. I think he thought we were security issues anyway. He tells us to go ahead but stay behind the red line (he emphasized to stay behind the red line on the tower side, not close to the aircrafts). What the &*%&*$ is that? So, we toe the red line, get as close as we can, and take some darn photos.
Then I notice that he is chuckling back at the tower. I walk over there and he chuckles some more. He says, go ahead, you can go past the red line; just don't touch the aircrafts. Yes!!! Of course, I'm there right away. Imagine this. It is cold out. Maybe 40s? It is windy and blustery. My partner wants to get back inside, but I drag her out to take pictures. Then I thought, what the heck, I'll push the envelope a little bit more, so I ask the guy if I can go inside the jet for pictures. I got a big fat 'NO'. Hey, had to ask. I could have gotten a 'yes', maybe, you never know.
Okay, okay. It's not a candid shot and certainly not very original, but what can you do? I was warned about the missiles that are right behind the nose of the jet. I wanted to touch it, but I feared the wrath of the entire Navy brigade (is that what they're called?) and didn't want to go to jail. Although, it can't be too bad having Navy guys as guards. Ah, but I digress.
We are told that this is an aircraft that gathers data about weather. Okay. Looks weird. I still wanted to go inside and thought about acting petulantly and maybe they'd let me, but then I realized I was in a blue jumpsuit and, apparently, I am expected to act professionally, blah, blah, blah. So, I smiled and took my dang pictures outside.
Reader Comments (2)
Your fighter jet is a Northrop F-5 Tiger II. Designed and built from the late 1950's to 1972. There were updated versions built until 1987 and sold to third world nations. It's primary use for the USA, is as an aggressor aircraft for training pilots in dogfighting skills. See the Red Star on the tail..foe. It does carry missiles behind its nose, as do all fighter aircraft.The funny part is that directly behind the nose is where the pilot sits. The Navy guard was definitely having fun with you.The pilot probably laughed when he heard that you wanted to touch his missiles, especially the one directly behind the nose. The F-5 carries its missiles on the outer edges of it's wings. See the slide locks in your pictures. FYI.. Any fighter jet that is actually armed with missiles will have red tags hanging from the missiles that must be removed to arm the missiles just before takeoff.There will also be well armed guards in the near vicinity and "BB Stackers" highly trained ammo specialists. As an unescorted civilian, you can't get near armed military aircraft, blue flight suit or not. The F-5 in your picture is carrying a "drop tank" under its belly for extra fuel. Drop tanks are used because so much fuel is consumed on take off. In war time, the pilot will drop the tank after take-off. This F-5 uses the tank for extra fuel that is consumed during dogfighting exercises and the tank doesn't get dropped. The Air Force version of the F-5 is called the T-38 Talon. The T meaning "training". Both aircraft were built in single and double seat versions.
The other aircraft is a Grumman E2C Hawkeye. They were built in Calverton, NY until the mid '80's. It has many uses including data collection and airborne command center for Navy air to ground or air to air strikes. The E2C has it's eye on a lot of things. It also serves as fleet protection. It can be launched from a carrier and moved forward to give the fleet extra eyes in the sky for ground and airborne threats. Weather collection is a great non-security breaching way of saying it gathers information.
To the Guy on the Ground:
Wow! Thanks for that awesome info!!! You know, I'll probably have to read that about 50 times to remember half of it.
I should probably print your comment, take it with me when we fly to Moffett again, and do another walk-around just so I can see everything you described (I'm such a visual learner that way).
That is some serious information (at least to my ignorant brain) and I truly do appreciate it. I'm sure many of my readers will also. Thank you for taking the time.