An "Old Friend"

[bruce]

Most everyone who comes to this forum shares the common bond of flowbenching but we never really get to know each other past that bond . . . well I'm sure some have formed friendships from here, I know I have . . .

Well anyways I'd like to take some time to reflect on an "Old Friend" I had for many years and had a chance this past week to say "hello" to again while on vacation.

I spent many years with this "Old Friend" in the cold, heat, rain you name it and we were together in it! I had to say good bye to this friend a few years ago due to things that happen in life beyond one's control . . . so let me share a few pics of this "Old Friend" with those who might be interested in seeing what came before my flowbench life.

[SWR]

The good old C-130 "Herc"... Is that one used for atmospheric studies? I'm thinking of the pylons on the vertical fin...

[bruce]

Sorry I didn't add more info last evening when I posted the pics . . . here is a link to some info on what we actually did with this aircraft.



I spent 23 years on the EC130 airframe and just shy of 13 of those on this specific airplane as an assistant crew chief. Spent a lot of time traveling all over the world. Course from my picture now you wouldn't think of me as a "trained killer" our job was actually to keep people from getting killed.

[ThomasVaught]

Thanks for your service Bruce.

Tom V.

[racehead]

[color=#000000]That

[bruce]

My shop is always open to forum members that would like to visit, I've met a few "locals" and become good friends with a few of you and a close friend of one! Even some I've never met from other countries!

But hey that's what this forum is all about, you're all my "extended friends" even if we've never met!

[bruce]

Here is a video a friend of mine posted on his Facebook page of my "Ole Buddy", I do not know the person who made the video though.

[emarsh]

pretty cool - if I had the time and money I'd like to get into aviation

[jfholm]

If you guys want to see some neat stuff, go to google.com maps and go into satellite view and search two different areas. [u]Hill Air Force Base, Utah[u/] and zoom in and look all over. It is incredible and also on the top left area you will see the airplane muesum from the top.

Then do a search for [u]airplane graveyard, arizona[u/] this one will show you an airforce base by Tucson where they put all the surplus airplanes into "dry storage" That one is also incredible as there are hundreds of airplanes there. I cannot believe all of the B52 bombers there.

John