Some Blasts from the Past

***falcon409*** · July 22nd, 2015, 17:30

Some aircraft pics from an Open House at Wheelus AFB, Libya, circa 1962/63. The airport, if it even still exists after all that's gone on over there, was renamed "Mitiga".

***Moses03*** · July 22nd, 2015, 19:06

Neat pics Ed.

Oddly enough, I was excited to see what looks like a 1959 Schwinn Traveller with the optional detachable tire pump and rear carry rack parked next to the Beaver.

This one has the saddle bag option.

***falcon409*** · July 22nd, 2015, 19:14

Originally Posted by Moses03

Neat pics Ed.

Oddly enough, I was excited to see what looks like a 1959 Schwinn Traveller with the optional detachable tire pump and rear carry rack parked next to the Beaver.

This one has the saddle bag option.

Good eye, lol. Aside from motorcycles, bikes of this type were easily the most popular mode of transportation. You could rent them on-base and if you were adventurous (and long winded enough) you could even ride into Tripoli to see the sights.

**imn2sims** · July 22nd, 2015, 19:17

Originally Posted by Moses03

Neat pics Ed.

Oddly enough, I was excited to see what looks like a 1959 Schwinn Traveller with the optional detachable tire pump and rear carry rack parked next to the Beaver.

This one has the saddle bag option.

AND the generator for the headlight it appears.

**rdaniell** · July 22nd, 2015, 21:50

I'm wondering why the pilot is wearing an orange flight suit. I remember those being worn by Air Sea Rescue personnel. Well, our 815th TCS Stan/Evaul Loadmaster like to wear them. I guess it made him stand out.

RD

***falcon409*** · July 23rd, 2015, 04:05

Originally Posted by rdaniell

I'm wondering why the pilot is wearing an orange flight suit. I remember those being worn by Air Sea Rescue personnel. Well, our 815th TCS Stan/Eval Loadmaster like to wear them. I guess it made him stand out.
RD

Those photo's were taken about 3 years before I arrived so I can't say for sure, but I don't remember seeing this type aircraft at all when I was there. Although the aircraft markings don't imply this, I would guess he was Assigned to an ARS Unit and flew his "Steed" to the base for the Open House. If that's the case, flying over water might have facilitated his need to wear the orange flight suit also. We did have several "Huskie" helicopters for Air Sea Rescue Missions, but that's all I ever saw in the 2 years I was there.

***falcon409*** · July 23rd, 2015, 04:44

Here's one more:

**lownslo** · July 23rd, 2015, 06:38

Geez, Ed, these pics take me back to my youth. We were at Wheelus from 63-66... my father was NCOIC of FM for and a USAF adviser to the RLAF when it came into being in the summer of '63. And quite an Air Force it was... a Gooney Bird and 2 T-33's

. But Idris was proud, and we kept an ally happy. Thanks for the blast from the past, and if'in ya got any more it would be great to see them.

Greg

**rdaniell** · July 23rd, 2015, 06:47

Originally Posted by falcon409

We did have several "Huskie" helicopters for Air Sea Rescue Missions, but that's all I ever saw in the 2 years I was there.

Ah! The "Huskie." They were everywhere as the primary rescue helicopter back when I was in the Air Force. Seems like I remember something about the blades being made from some kind of wood and the helicopter wasn't supposed to fly in rain.

RD

**glh** · July 23rd, 2015, 06:57

Originally Posted by rdaniell

I'm wondering why the pilot is wearing an orange flight suit. I remember those being worn by Air Sea Rescue personnel. Well, our 815th TCS Stan/Evaul Loadmaster like to wear them. I guess it made him stand out.

RD

Yes. If you're in the water, you'd certainly stand out for a rescue pickup.

**Bjoern** · July 23rd, 2015, 08:54

That F-101A makes me tingly. And sad that such a great aircraft has one of the worst panel layouts ever conceived by anyone.

**roger-wilco-66** · July 23rd, 2015, 17:40

Great photos and stories, thanks for sharing! I love posts like that.

Cheers,
Mark

**n4gix** · July 24th, 2015, 08:56

Originally Posted by Bjoern

That F-101A makes me tingly. And sad that such a great aircraft has one of the worst panel layouts ever conceived by anyone.

You ain't kidding! This is fugly:
http://www.f-101voodoo.com/photo_gal...g?m=1293015268

**rdaniell** · July 24th, 2015, 10:58

Originally Posted by n4gix

You ain't kidding! This is fugly:

He, he, your post made me think of another story from my days at Charleston AFB, Charleston, S.C. There was an Air Defense Squadron located there which flew the F-101. One of them stayed "broke" for so long once the squadron commander had the chaplain do a funeral for it.

RD

**Rallymodeller** · July 24th, 2015, 12:03

Originally Posted by Bjoern

That F-101A makes me tingly. And sad that such a great aircraft has one of the worst panel layouts ever conceived by anyone.

An ex-419 squadron CF-101 pilot I knew said, "I was told once that McDonnell engineers set up the panel layout by throwing gauges into the cockpit and mounting them where they landed. I said that wasn't possible because random chance would have been a better layout than that."

**Bjoern** · July 27th, 2015, 05:18

Originally Posted by Rallymodeller

An ex-419 squadron CF-101 pilot I knew said, "I was told once that McDonnell engineers set up the panel layout by throwing gauges into the cockpit and mounting them where they landed. I said that wasn't possible because random chance would have been a better layout than that."

And there goes my hope that the canuck F-101s might have had a better layout (because the "B" was basically a different aircraft).

***Jafo*** · July 27th, 2015, 05:29

You should try skinning a 101 panel sometime....it's an acquired taste....[and I still haven't....though there are worse out there]..

**DaveQ** · July 27th, 2015, 07:28

Which AS Voodoo panel is that Jafo?? Looks phabulous (sorry, spent too long on a Spook

)

Great photos Ed, thanks for posting them. I read once that the 81st TFW used to haul bootleg booze and cigs back to the UK in the cannon ammunition boxes. Well they never used them for ammo AFAIK!

DaveQ

**ce_zeta** · July 27th, 2015, 07:33

Amazing pics Bro!

**rdaniell** · July 27th, 2015, 08:09

Originally Posted by DaveQ

..... I read once that the 81st TFW used to haul bootleg booze and cigs back to the UK in the cannon ammunition boxes. Well they never used them for ammo AFAIK! DaveQ

Well we never used ammo boxes but we did love to stop by the Azores on our way back home from a trip to Europe when I was a loadmaster with the 76th ATS.
Since custom forms was my responsibility, I also always appreciated it if we had some passengers who were not interested in their monthly tax free alcohol allowance.
I simply took advantage of their allowance for myself and the crew.

Thanks for the memories, Falcon 409.

RD

***falcon409*** · July 27th, 2015, 09:24

Originally Posted by DaveQ

Which AS Voodoo panel is that Jafo?? Looks phabulous (sorry, spent too long on a Spook

)
Great photos Ed, thanks for posting them. I read once that the 81st TFW used to haul bootleg booze and cigs back to the UK in the cannon ammunition boxes. Well they never used them for ammo AFAIK!
DaveQ

Yea, there was a lot of "Moving of equipment" going on with the F-4's (travel pods) and also C-47's. Manifests always showed legitimate cargo though, lol

***Jafo*** · July 27th, 2015, 14:44

Originally Posted by DaveQ

Which AS Voodoo panel is that Jafo?? Looks phabulous (sorry, spent too long on a Spook

)

Great photos Ed, thanks for posting them. I read once that the 81st TFW used to haul bootleg booze and cigs back to the UK in the cannon ammunition boxes. Well they never used them for ammo AFAIK!

DaveQ

Dave...it's for the Alphasim F101c. I did it and uploaded a while ago - about this time last year.
Here's an uglier one...the RF....