WI WO L P a r t 2 PaulBonhomme
“ D i s p l a y i n gt h eL i g h t n i n g ”
Avi at i onPr of i l e
OneLastTi me,Baby
TheFi nalTomcatDi spl ay
Mi l denhal l ’ sC1 35s
PLUS: Ecl i pseAer ospace
ThenandNow
TheSi ngapor eAvi at i on Museum Br ooksFuel-A Ret r ospect i ve
CONT E NT S I NS I DEI S S UE6
AVI ATI ON PROFI LES: PAULBONHOMME El l i ot t Mar s ht al k st o di s pl ay pi l ot , c ommer c i alpi l ot ,f or mer Red Bul lai r r ac er and s oont obel i c enc ed hel i c opt er pi l ot , Paul Bonhomme, abouthi squi t er emar k abl e ongoi ng l i f ei nav i at i on.
MI LDENHALL’ s C135s -THEN AND NOW BobAr c herr ef l ec t sonRAFMi l denhal l ’ s f i v edec ade l ong as s oc i at i on wi t h Boei ng’ sSt r at ol i f t er .
ECLI PSEAEROSPACE RobEdgc umbeex ami nest hehi s t or yof t hi sdi mi nut i v ebus i nes sj etandv i s i t s t hec ompany ’ sChi c agof ac i l i t yt ot al k t os ome oft hos ei nv ol v ed wi t ht he pr oj ec t .
WI WOL - WHEN I WASON LI GHTNI NGS -PART2 I nt hes ec ondpar tofGar et hSt r i nger ’ s i nt er v i ew wi t hJ on Fy nes ,t hey t al k di s pl ay f l y i ng and ex er c i s es i nt he dar k .
SI NGAPORE FORCEMUSEUM
AI R
Cont i nui nghi st ourofex ot i cav i at i on mus eums ,PaulDunnt hi st i mes t ops of fi nSi ngapor e.
BROOKSAI RFUEL: ARETROSPECTI VE WhenPaul Fi l mers atdownwi t hRoger Br ook si n2011,l i t t l edi dher eal i s et he oper at i on woul dc eas ej us ta f ew mont hsl at er .
ONELASTTI ME,BABY Gl ennBeas l eyt ak esusbac kt o2005 asher ec al l st hef i nalUS Nav yF14 Tomc atdi s pl ayandt al k st ot heman who was wor k i ng har di nt he bac k s eat .
Si nc eobt ai ni nghi sPr i v at ePi l ot ’ sL i c enc eatt heageof18,PaulBonhommehasex per i enc ed dr eam of .Wi t hai r c r af tofas uper bl ydi v er s er angef i l l i nghi sl ogbook–f r om Robi ns onR22t oBoei Sbac h300t ot heubi qui t ousSuper mar i neSpi t f i r e–Paul ’ sl i f ei nav i at i onhasc er t ai nl ybeennot hi n wher ei tal lbeganandmor e. Bor nt oaf at herwhos er v edi nt he Ar my Ai rCor ps as a hel i c opt er pi l ot ,l at err et i r i ngi nt oc ommer c i al f l y i ng,andamot herwhowor k ed asa s t ewar des sf orBEA i nt he 1950s ,i twasper hapsaf or egone c onc l us i ont hatPaulwoul df ol l ow i n hi s par ent s ’f oot s t eps by
pur s ui ngac ar eeri nav i at i on.
Compr ehens i v e Sc hoolt ook hi m di r ec t l y pas tt he ai r f i el d,s t ok i ng hi si nt er es ti nav i at i onatanage wher ei mpr es s i onabl e mi ndsar e eas i l yi ns pi r edbyt hebeaut yand magi coff l i ght .
Paul gr ew up c l os et o Whi t e Wal t ham i n Ber k s hi r e, an aer odr omewhi c hwoul dgoont o pl ayac r uc i alr ol ei ns hapi nghi s c ar eeri nt hey ear st oc ome.Hi s dai l yt r i pt oandf r om CoxGr een I ndeed,Paul ’ sf ond r ec ol l ec t i ons
and r emember s bei ng “ gobs mac k ed” at t he ar r ay of i nt er es t i ng ai r c r af t on di s pl ay . “ Ther ewer et heRot hmanst eam, aBr i t i s hAi r way sVC10f l ewupand down at naught f oot s i x and Pr i nc e Char l es t ur ned up i n an Andov er . Ther e wer e al s ot wo Har r i er GR. 3s . . . The f ac tt hat t hes et woHar r i er sc oul dr oc kup atagr as sai r f i el dneart owher eI l i v ed j us t bl ew me away !I r emembert hi nk i ng,‘ Thi si si t ! ’ . ” Whi t eWal t ham c ont i nuedt obea r egul arhauntf orPault hr oughout hi st eens .Keent oi nv ol v ehi ms el f i nav i at i onwher ev erpos s i bl e,he v ol unt eer ed hi ss er v i c es as a hangar c l eaner and gener al dogs body ;i n ex c hange f or hi s manuall abour ,t hel oc aloper at or s woul dt ak ePaulupf or‘ j ol l i es ’i n t hei r ai r c r af t – Cher ok ees , Chi pmunk sand t he l i k e – gi v i ng hi m at as t eofr ealf l y i ng.I twas dur i ngt hi st i met hatPaulbegana l ong and f r ui t f ulas s oc i at i on wi t h Ri c har d Goode,who wasatt he hei ghtofhi sf l y i ngont heBr i t i s h ai r s how c i r c ui twi t ht he St ampe andPi t t sS1.
dt het y peofenv i abl ec ar eerdi v er s i t ymos tav i at or sc anonl y ei ng747bywayofev er y t hi ngf r om t heul t r ahi ghper f or manc e hi ngi fnotv ar i ed.El l i ot tMar shs atdownwi t hPault of i ndout ( I mageEl l i ot tMar sh)
ofpl ay i ngwi t hmodelaer opl anes asa boy wi l ll i k el yr i ng t r ue t o manyent hus i as t s .“ I tdi dn’ tdawn on me t hat i t was a mas s i v e pas s i on when I was a c hi l d, al t hough I was madk een on f l y i ng and bui l di ng model aer opl anes ;t he good ol d Ai r f i x
l i ne att he t i me wast he wayt o go! ”Paulr ef l ec t s . Ashegr ewol der ,Paul ’ si nt er es ti n av i at i on i nt ens i f i ed.He c i t est he Queen’ sSi l v erJ ubi l eeAi r s how at Whi t eWal t ham i n1977asak ey moment i nr ous i ng hi s pas s i on
Thr ough t hi s as s oc i at i on, Paul enj oy ed hi sf i r s t ex per i enc e of hi ghper f or manc e aer obat i c s .“ A f r i endandIwoul dl oi t eratWhi t e Wal t ham ev er ySat ur daymor ni ng whenhe’ dgoof ft oanai r s how,or Sundayni ghtwhenhec amebac k . Goode bei ng Goode – he wasa management c ons ul t ant at t he t i me–s pot t edabi toff r eel abour i nt hes ek een 1415 y earol ds . He’ dl etusc l ean t heaer opl anes andi nt heendwedi dabi tofl i ght mai nt enanc e. Goode s ai d, ‘ As pay mentf or t hat ,I ’ l lt ak ey ou f l y i ngi nt hePi t t sort heSt ampe’ , and i twast hen t hatIt hought , ‘ Ac t ual l y ,t hi si sr eal l ygoodf un’ . ”
Mi l denhal l ’ s CThen and Now
RAFMi l denhal l ’ sas s oc i at i onwi t hBoei ng’ sv ener abl e‘ 135i sal ongone,s panni ngs omef i v e dec ades ,andher eBobAr chert ak esal ookbac kats omeoft heai r c r af tt hathav ebeenf ound att heSuf f ol kai r f i el dt hr ought hey ear s .Al li magesBobAr c herorTheBobAr c herCol l ec t i on. Roy alAi rFor c es t at i onMi l denhal l hasbeenunderUni t edSt at esAi r For c eoc c upanc ys i nc eJ ul y1951, when St r at egi c Ai r Command ( SAC)began r es i denc y .I ni t i al l y Boei ngKB29Super f or t r es s esand l at erKC97sSt r at of r ei ght er swer e ont empor ar ydut yt os uppor tt he ar mada of Boei ng B47s on nuc l ear al er t i n Cent r al and
Eas t er n Engl and. Thi sended i n 1959 when t hebas er ev er t ed t o Uni t edSt at esAi rFor c esi nEur ope ( USAFE)t enanc yandt he7513t h Ai rBas eGr oupwasf or medon1 Sept ember ,t o admi ni s t er t he s t eady f l ow of ai r l i f t f l i ght s ut i l i s i ngt hebas east he“ Gat eway t ot heUni t edKi ngdom. ”
Thepr i mar yoper at oroft heai r l i f t f l eetwast heMi l i t ar yAi rTr ans por t Ser v i c e( MATS)whi c h began i t s as s oc i at i on wi t h t he Boei ng C135A St r at ol i f t er i n Oc t ober 1961whent hef i r s tex ampl ewas del i v er ed t o t he 1611t h Ai r Tr ans por tWi ng atMc Gui r e AFB, New J er s ey . Thes e began t r ans at l ant i c s er v i c es i nt o
C-135s: w
Mi l denhal li n1962,al t hought hey wer enotaspr ol i f i cast heel der l y pi s t onpower edt y pes ,s uc hast he C118 L i f t mas t er , C121 Cons t el l at i on and C124 Gl obemas t erI I . Af t erar el at i v el y s hor tt i me, t he C135s wer e r epl ac ed by t he C141 St ar l i f t er , r es ul t i ngi nt he15C135Asand28 C135Bs ( f r om 30 or i gi nal l y or der ed) bei ng r eas s i gned t oa hos tofs pec i al i s eddut i es . Thes e i nc l uded t es t and ev al uat i on [ NC135] ,Open Sk i es[ OC135] ,
s t r at egi c r ec onnai s s anc e [ RC135] , ai r c r ew pr of i c i enc y t r ai ner [ TC135] , VI P t r ans por t at i on [ VC135] , and weat her r ec onnai s s anc e [ WC135] .Al loft hes et y peswer e r egul arv i s i t or st oMi l denhal l .
Mai n - 610286, an EC135H bel ongi ngt ot her esi dent10t hACCS seenatMi l denhal li nMay1981
Mi l denhal lon15Nov ember1965. Thei ri ni t i alai r c r af twasEC135H, 610282, whi c h had ar r i v ed at Mi l denhal lf r om t heUSA t hi r t een day sear l i er .Thi sar r i v alher al ded t hebegi nni ngofC135oper at i ons at Mi l denhal l , whi c h has been v i r t ual l y unbr ok en s ubs equent l y . The f i r s tper manentas s oc i at i on The 7120t h ACCS was bet weenMi l denhal landt heC135 r edes i gnat edast he10t hACCSon s er i es began when t he 7120t h 1J anuar y 1970. The EC135s Ai r bor ne Command and Cont r ol wer ei nr es i denc ef or26 y ear s , Squadr on ( ACCS)r el oc at ed f r om bef or et heywer e al lr et ur ned t o Chat eaur oux Deol sAB,Fr anc et o t he USA, f ol l owi ng t he v i r t ual
E CL I P S EA E R OS P A CE
I n 2008,Ec l i ps eAv i at i on ent er ed bank r upt c ypr ot ec t i on and t hef l eetofai r c r af tt hathad al r eadybeenbui l tl ook edl i k et heymi ghtbec omeor phans .Howev er ,agr oupofi nt er es t ed owner sgr oupedt oget hert of or m Ec l i ps eAer os pac e.RobEdgcumber epor t sf orGAM ont hei r I magePaulDopson ef f or t st os uppor tt heex i s t i ngai r c r af tandpr oduc enew ai r c r af t . The l as tdec ade was s eemi ngl y awas h wi t hc ompani es of f er i ng v er y l i ght j et s . Thes e wer e s uppos edt obes i mpl e,s mal lj et s t hat of f er ed per f or manc e at a pr i c epoi ntt hatt hei ndus t r yhad notpr ev i ous l ys een.One oft he bi gges tnamesi nt hi smar k etwas Ec l i ps e Av i at i on. L ed by Ver n Rabur n, Ec l i ps e dev el oped t he Ec l i ps e500.Thepl anwasnotonl y t obui l dac apabl ej etbutt obui l d i tatar at et hatex c eededany t hi ng t he i ndus t r y had s een t ot hat poi nt . Thepr oj ec tdi dnotr uns moot hl y . The j et t ook l onger t o get t o mar k ett han i nt ended,t he i ni t i al c er t i f i c at i ondi dnotc ov eral l oft he i nt ended c apabi l i t i es and t he per f or manc e was notwhathad been pr omi s ed. Mor eov er , bui l di ngt hem pr ov edt obemor e di f f i c ul tt hanex pec t ed.Af t er260 ai r c r af t had been del i v er ed, v ar i ousef f or t satr ef i nanc i ngand t hei nt r oduc t i onofnew i nv es t or s had f ai l ed, Ec l i ps e ent er ed
bank r upt c ypr ot ec t i oni n2008.
bot howner sofEc l i ps e500s ,had a di f f er ent v i ew of what t hey Thec ons equenc esoft hi sf ort he t houghts houl dhappen.Theyhad c us t omer soft heai r c r af tal r eady t hr ee goal s :1)Gets er v i c e and del i v er ed v ar i ed.Some wer el ef t s par ess uppor tr unni ngagai nf or wi t hai r c r af tt hatwer eunabl et o t heex i s t i ngf l eet ,2)upgr adet he per f or m asex pec t ed( modi f i c at i on ai r c r af tt ot heper f or manc el ev el s pr ogr ams wer e or i gi nal l y t hatwer eor i gi nal l yex pec t edand pr omi s ed byEc l i ps eAv i at i on but 3)t oul t i mat el yr es t ar tpr oduc t i on onc et hey wer e bank r upt ,t hos e oft heai r c r af t .Theyac qui r edt he of f er swer ei nv al i d) .Ot her swer e t y pec er t i f i c at ef ort heai r c r af tv i a s t uc kwi t ht hei rownpr obl emsi n t he bank r upt c y pr oc eedi ngs and mak i ngmoneywi t ht hef l eett hey s etaboutt hes egoal s . hadac qui r eds i nc et heyhadbot h per f or manc el i mi t at i ons and no GAM v i s i t edt heEc l i ps eAer os pac e ac c es st ot hes par esands uppor t f ac i l i t y at Chi c ago Ex ec ut i v e nec es s ar y t o oper at e r el i abl e Ai r por t t o s ee t he ai r c r af t s er v i c ef orc us t omer s .Ev er y one under goi ngmodi f i c at i onwor kand wonder edwhatwoul dhappent o t ot al kwi t hKenRos s ,Pr es i dent , t het y pec er t i f i c at eandwhowoul d Gl obalSer v i c eandSuppor tabout pr ov i des uppor t . whathashappened t o dat e and t hepl ansf ort hef ut ur e.Notonl y Att hi spoi nt ,i ti snotdi f f i c ul tt o i s Ken heav i l yi nv ol v ed i nt he i magi ne t hat t he s t or y of t he bus i nes sofEc l i ps eAer os pac e,he Ec l i ps e500 c oul d hav ebeen y et al s or unsac har t erbus i nes st hat anot herav i at i onpr oj ec tt hatf ai l ed oper at es Ec l i ps es al ongs i de i t s l eav i ng a f ew ai r c r af ts c at t er ed ot herai r c r af t . ar ound t he wor l d. Howev er , Mas on Hol l and and Mi k e Pr es s ,
Asoneoft heor i gi nalmember sof t het eam,Kenwasawar eoft he s c ept i c i s m i n t he mar k et pl ac e. “ Ther e wer eal otofnay s ay er s who t houghtwe di dn’ thav et he ex per t i s e and di dn’ tunder s t and whatwewer edoi ng.Thr oughout t he pr oc es swe under s t ood v er y c l ear l ywhatt hec hal l engeswer e andwhatt hehur dl eswoul dbe.I woul dputourt eam ofengi neer s andt ec hni c i ansagai ns tanyot her OEM i nt hei ndus t r y . ”
Thet hr eegoal smi ghtbes eent o be es c al at i ng i nc ompl ex i t y but Ken s ay st hatwasnott hec as e. “ Eac h one was pr obabl y as c ompl ex as t he ot her . To r eengagey ours uppl i erbas e,t o gett hem t oc omebac konboar d and t oc ont i nue t os uppor tand manuf ac t ur ef ort he ai r c r af tj us t f orpar t sal one wasa c hal l enge. Toopenupandhi r ef ol k st hathad nev erwor k edont heEc l i ps e500 bef or e,t ot r ai nt hemai nt enanc e t ec hni c i ans , t o t r ai n s er v i c e
An ai r cr af tr eady f or f l i ght and r edel i ver y ( Rob Edgcumbe)
engi neer s ,t of or m adev el opment c ompany i nt o an aer os pac e c ompanywasac hal l enge.Thent o c ompl et et heai r c r af t ,t of i ni s ht he f l i ghti nt ok nowni c i ngc apabi l i t i es and t o ac t ual l y wor k wi t ht he av i oni c s manuf ac t ur er who had qui t e a l ar ge out s t andi ng r ec ei v abl ewhent heol dc ompany went i nt o bank r upt c y . To enc our age t hem i nt oc ompl et i ng t he av i oni c ss y s t em was a v er y l ar get as k . ”
WIWOL
When Iwason Li ghtni ngs. . . . . . . . . . Part2
L i f ewas n’ teas yf orj uni orpi l ot sonei t heroft het wooper at i onal s quadr onsandJ ons ay snowt hatt hef l i ght c ommander swer e“ r eal l yt oughbl ok es ”andt hati twasa“ v er yhar ds c hool ” . “ I ’ m notk noc k i ngt hem,Is ur v i v edandgott hr oughi t ,andi twast hes amef oral lt heJ Ps ,butIl os tc ount oft henumberofor der l yof f i c erdut i esIhadt odobec aus et heywer en’ thappywi t honet hi ngoranot her . I tc er t ai nl yens ur edt haty oupr epar edf orev er yt r i pasbes ty ouc oul dasy ouhadt ot r yands t ayaheadof t hegame,ands omeoft hebl ok esc oul dbequi t et er r i f y i ng! ” Al lnew ai r c r ew hadt ogot hr oughf or mals t ages ,s omeofwhi c ht heydi dn’ tev enk now wer ec omi ng,t o ac t ual l year nt hei rs pur sont hes quadr on. “ Unt i ly ouwer er at edas‘ L i mi t edOper at i onal ’y ouwer er eal l yawas t eofs pac e,andt hatt ookabouts i x mont hst oac hi ev e,wi t ha‘ Ful l yOper at i onal ’r at i ngt ak i ngaf ur t hery ear . “ Thatf el tqui t egr ownupbutt her ewer es t i l lv ar i ousot herbi t sandpi ec est haty ouc oul dqual i f yf orand t hatwoul d ev ent ual l y al l ow y ou t o do t hi ngsl i k e par t i c i pat ei n whatIt hi nk wasone oft he mos t ‘ danger ous ’ ,andIus et het er ml oos el y ,t hi ngswedi dasL i ght ni ngpi l ot s–anex er c i s ec al l edCof f ee Char l i e. “ Thi ss i mul at edWor l dWarThr eeandwoul dnor mal l yi nv ol v eL i ght ni ngsandPhant omsagai ns tahos tof Canber r as-s omet i mesupt ot hi r t yoft hem –al lofwhi c hwoul dempl oyf ul lj ammi ngandus eal lt her adar s i t es .Cof f eeChar l i eal way st ookpl ac eatni ght ,i nc i dent al l y ,andy oul ear nedal otont hos eex er c i s es .
REPUBLI C OFSI NGAPORE AI R FORCE MUSEUM
TheAs i anc i t y s t at eofSi ngapor ehasoneoft hemos tpr os per ousec onomi esi nAs i aand i ndeedt hewor l d.I t sar medf or c esoper at es omeoft hemos tadv anc edequi pmentav ai l abl e andar ec ons i der edt obet hebes t equi ppedi nt her egi on.TheRepubl i cofSi ngapor eAi rFor c e mai nt ai nsas mal lbutv er yi nt er es t i ngmus eum atPay aL ebarAi r bas e,whi c ht r ac est hehi s t or y oft heai rar mf r om i ndependenc et oi t sc ur r entpot enti nc ar nat i on.PaulDunnpay sav i s i tf or Gl obalAv i at i onMagaz i ne. TheRepubl i cofSi ngapor ei sas mal l c i t y s t at eof ft he s out her nt i p oft he Mal ay Peni ns ul ai n Sout heas t As i a.I tbec ameaBr i t i s hc ol onyi n1824andr api dl y dev el opedi nt oamaj orpor ti nt her egi on.Oc c upi ed byt he J apanes e dur i ng WWI I ,Si ngapor e bec ame i ndependentofBr i t i s hr ul ei n 1963 aspar toft he Feder at i onofMal ay s i a.Twoy ear sl at er ,i twi t hdr ew f r om t heFeder at i onandbec ameas ov er ei gns t at e.
Af t eri ndependenc e,c l os el i nk swer emai nt ai nedwi t h Br i t ai n, wi t h Br i t i s h f or c es i ni t i al l y r emai ni ng s t at i onedi nt henew s t at et oas s i s twi t hdef enc e.I n 1968,howev er ,Br i t ai n announc ed i t si nt ent i on t o wi t hdr aw al li t sf or c esf r om “ eas tofSuez ”by1971. Byt het i met hi sdec i s i onwasannounc ed,pr ogr es s hadbeenmadewi t hdev el opi ngt heSi ngapor eAr my , butt hec ount r yr el i edont heRoy alAi rFor c ef orai r
def enc e;t hec ount r yneededt oes t abl i s hanai rf or c e andi tneededi tqui c k l y .Theannounc ementl edt o t he hur r i ed es t abl i s hment of t he Si ngapor e Ai r Def enc e Command ( SADC)i n 1968.Thi swast he f or er unneroft heRSAF,whi c has s umedi t sc ur r ent namei n1975. Ast henew s t at eofSi ngapor emai nt ai nedc l os et i es wi t h Br i t ai n,i t si ni t i alequi pmentand or gani s at i on r ef l ec t edt hatoft heRAF.I nl at ery ear sSi ngapor e hasdr i f t edc l os ert ot heUSandi snow c ons i der eda k eyal l yf orAmer i c anf or c esi nt her egi on,wi t hmos t oft hec ur r entRSAFi nv ent or ybei ngofUSor i gi n. Today ’ sRSAFoper at ess omeoft hemos tadv anc ed ai r c r af ti nt her egi on,i nc l udi ngBl oc k52/ 52+ F16 Fi ght i ng Fal c ons and t he F15SG St r i k e Eagl e. Howev er ,al i nkt ot hepas ti smai nt ai nedi nt hef or m oft heRSAFMus eum,whi c hi shous edi namoder n bui l di ngont heedgeofPay aL ebarAB,c l os et ot he
c ent r eofur banSi ngapor e. Pay aL ebarABi shomet oas quadr onofKC130sand C130s and t wo f i ght er s quadr ons . The f i ght er s quadr onsar ei nt hepr oc es sofr epl ac i ngt her at her el der l yF5STi ger swi t ht hebr andnewF15SGSt r i k e Eagl e,ader i v at i v eoft heF15E.Si ngapor e’ ss mal l s i z emeanst hatt r ai ni ngoppor t uni t i esf ori t spi l ot s ar egr eat l yr educ ed.Asar es ul toft hi sal mos tat hi r d of t he s t r engt h of t he RSAF i s ac t ual l y bas ed ov er s eas ,wi t ht r ai ni ngdet ac hment sasf arawayas Aus t r al i a ( PC21 and Cougar ) , Fr anc e ( A4SU, TA4SU)andt heUSA( F16C/ D,F15SG,CH47SD, AH64DandS70B) . Rat herl i k et her es tofSi ngapor e,t heRSAFMus eum i s moder n, c l ean and i mmac ul at el yl ai d out .I t c ont ai ns a f ai r l ys mal lc ol l ec t i on of beaut i f ul l y pr es ent ed ai r c r af t , al ong wi t h s uper b di s pl ay s c har t i ngt hehi s t or yofmi l i t ar yav i at i oni nSi ngapor e.
Theai r c r af tondi s pl ays how t hedev el opmentoft heRSAFf r om f ai r l yhumbl ebegi nni ngst oi t sc ur r entpot ent s t at e.Thebui l di ngi t s el fopenedi n2001andf eat ur esac ov er eddi s pl ayar eac ont ai ni ngas el ec t i onofai r c r af t wi t hf ur t hermac hi nesbei ng di s pl ay ed out s i de.The ent r anc et ot he mus eum f eat ur esa pai rofai r c r af t di s pl ay eds pec t ac ul ar l yonpol es .Bot ht heHawk erHunt er( above)andA4Sk y hawkhadl ongc ar eer si n Si ngapor e–mor eaboutt hem l at er .
B R OOK SA I RF UE L ARe t r o s p e c t i v e
The name RogerBr ooks i ss y nony mouswi t ht he s pi r i toft r ue out bac kf l y i ng i n har s h c ondi t i onswi t hol dpr opl i ner s .Rogeri s ,ofc our s e,t hef ounderofBr ooksAi rFuelbas edi n Fai r bank s ,Al as k a.WhenPaulFi l mers atdownwi t hhi mt oc hataboutt heoper at i on,l i t t l edi d her eal i s et hatt hi swoul dendupbec omi ngar et r os pec t i v epi ec e. Roger Br ook s hai l sf r om I daho andmov edupt oAl as k ai n1981 wher ehef l ew DC3swi t hFr ont i er f orf i v ey ear s .I n1986hedec i ded t obr anc houtonhi sownandi n t hat f i r s t y ear owned and
oper at edaDC3andaDC4,bot h f l y i ng f uel under a Par t 91 oper at i ngc er t i f i c at e,whi c hc ov er s gener alf l i ghtoper at i ons .Bec aus e he was buy i ng t he f ueli n bul k hi ms el fands el l i ngi tt oc l i ent sat
mi nesandr ur alc ommuni t i es ,t he ai r c r af twass i mpl yc ons i der edt o beameansoft r ans por tandt hus was oper at i ng per f ec t l yl egal l y . Under t he bounds of Par t 91, howev er ,Br ook swasnotal l owed
Mai n -N3054V,a1945 C54D,j oi ned t heact i veBr ooksf l eeti n 2007 af t erbei ng pur chased f r om Aer o Fl i t e. Pr i ort o a per i od ofst or age at Ki ngman,Ar i zona,t heai r cr af thadbeenusedi nt heaer i alf i r ef i ght i ng r ol e( Kar lDr age)
t hi s means t hat t hei r t ar get c us t omer bas es r ar el y ov er l ap, wi t h Ev er t ss uppl y i ng t he l ar ger des t i nat i onsandc ar r y i ngheav i er l oads .Aswi t h mos toper at or si n t hi s of t eni nhos pi t abl e env i r onment ,Rogermai nt ai ns a heal t hy r el at i ons hi p wi t h t he per c ei v edc ompet i t i onatt heot her endoft heai r f i el d. Mos ts t r i pst hes eday sar eabout 4000 f eet i nl engt h and ev en t hought heyt endt obel i tatni ght , Rogernev erl i k es t o go dur i ng dar k nes s ,ast her ear enotmany v i s ualc l uesouti nt hewi l der nes s . L i ght sc anal s oeas i l ybek noc k ed outby s nowmobi l esr ender i ng a har dt as kev en mor edanger ous . Thi sc ut sdownt hef l y i ngt i mei n t hewi nt erwhent her ei sonl y56 hour s of day l i ght ( i nc l udi ng t wi l i ght )and may be as l i t t l e as t hr ee hour s ofs un.Dur i ng t he wi nt er Roger woul d depar t Fai r bank si nt he dar kand ar r i v e homei nt hedar k ,mak i ngs ur et he mi ne s t r i p oper at i ons ar e per f or med i nt he bes t pos s i bl e l i ghtc ondi t i ons .Mor ef l y i ngt i me i s ,ofc our s e,per f or med i nt he ongerday sofs ummer ,andt hat t os el lany unus ed s pac e wi t hi n St andar ds Di s t r i c t Of f i c es ) and l c aneas i l ymeanf l y i ngupt ot hr ee t heai r c r af tf ort het r ans por t at i on i nc r eas edc r ew paper wor k . orf ourr oundt r i psaday . ofc ar go. So,i n1997hebec ame a Par t 125 oper at or , whi c h Des pi t et hi si nc r eas eoff r eedom i n i ng my v i s i t ,Rogerand hi s al l owed hi m t oc ar r yf r ei ghtas whatBr ook sc oul dc ar r y ,t hebul k Dur eam wer e per f or mi ng a heav y wel l ,and meantt hathe c oul d oft he oper at i on ov ert he y ear s t hec konDC4N96358. Hes ay s of f eramor ec os t ef f ec t i v es er v i c e has been haul i ng f uelwi t ht he c hatt heyper f or m ei ghtr ot at i onal t o hi sc l i ent s . Wi t hi tc amet he c apabl eDC4( C54)ai r f r ame.The t hec k sev er y150hour s .Soaf t er r equi r ement f or mor e t y pec angeti nandoutofs mal l er c s eac h ai r f r ame has mai nt enanc e s c hedul es , mor e ai r s t r i pst hant heDC6sofEv er t s , 1500 hour hor oughl yi ns pec t ed. moni t or i ng by t he FSDO ( Fl i ght l oc at edf ur t herdownt her amp,s o beent
I ti swi t houtques t i ont hatt he1986f i l m‘ TopGun’pr opel l edt heTomc att owar dsc el ebr i t ys t at usandboos t ed c ons i der abl yi t spopul ar i t yamongs tt heai r s howc ommuni t ywor l dwi de.Towi t nes st hatk ni f eedgepas st hatgot t hef i c t i onal ‘ Mav er i c k ’ and‘ Goos e’ i nt os uc hhotwat eratt heUni t edSt at esNav yTopGunSc hool was ,f ormany , wor t hadr i v eorf l i ghtofmanyt hous andsofmi l es ,es pec i al l yi nt het wi l i ghtofi t ss er v i c el i f e.TheTomc atwas abi gai r c r af tandt os eei tdi s pl ay edwi t hs uc hr emar k abl eagi l i t yandpoi s ewast es t amentt ot hos ec r ewswho oper at edherf r om t hef l oat i ngdec kofaUni t edSt at esai r c r af tc ar r i erats ea.I thadaper s onal i t yt hatwasbot h f i c t i onalandv er yr ealatt hes amet i me.