From Husztek-Markoff @ Juno.com

Instrument vs Visual Flight at Night.

An email conversation with my cousin Tircho who was a Navy Jet Fighter Jockey back when we were both younger.

 

 

Bill,

 What a great story about your Dad..  Those C 47's were the most reliable 
plane ever built and are still flying around to this day.  When we sailed to st Thomas 
and had to fly back,  there was an old C 47 on the tarmac, and it needed some love.   I 
don't know too much about the B45's, I think their usefulness was limited and a stepping 
stone the the B 52, which is still flying.  The C 130, I think has surpassed the  C 47 as 
far as being utilized and re-modernized and whatever.   

Yep  trust your instruments....    I cant tell you how many times I got vertigo and the 
worst case was always night refueling  in the clouds on a dark night.   I am breaking out 
in goosebumps right now just reflecting on those  "good ole days!!" .     

Loved the pics of your new home.  Now when Miki disappears, I will know where to find 
you....   get those boats repaired shipmate. On a different subj,   If you are in a 
building mode,  place a wood order after Oct.   if we can bring it down...    

That article about black on white violence,  I hope that it happens to every white who 
voted for that socialist  un-American person, who probably is reading this email  as I 
type it..  

My best to you Bill.    btw,    Alex is just about ready to leave stateside and go on 
to the Bahama;s.  I thought that he was further along, but he has been spending time in 
each city and is not on any deadline.  my best to Miki..      make sure you hit the HF 
this year a few times... 

On Aug 28, 2013, at 1:39 PM, husztek-markof@juno.com wrote:

Tircho,
 
Yeah. That was the first lesson my Dad drilled into me before I even knew to shake 
the drops off.
 
He is now a 97 year old WWII veteran Air Force Navigator. Served in C-47's in 
N.Africa, then England he flew the Bridge to Far mission as lead navigator and then on 
D-Day he dropped troops behind the lines in the AM before the assault wave. After that, 
he was stationed in England from 1954 to 1957, we got to live there with him. He flew in 
the B-45's over Europe, in the pre-U2 program, before he finally ended up at the Pentagon 
on LeMay's staff before retiring as a bird Colonel.
 
"Trust your instruments! Your eyes and the feeling in your butt will get your killed!"
 
Later by the time I finally got my own Private License, I had learned the value of 
those words both on and under the water as a sailor and as a NAUI and PADI diving 
instructor.
 
My first night flight over Honolulu was as close to nerve wracking as it could be, 
until I remembered his words. "Trust your Instruments." Then it got to be fun again.
 
As I used to tell my diving students when I would take them out for a night dive in 
Hawaii. "Those of you who have vivid imaginations will not like diving at night. 
Especially when something bumps into your leg, and you aren't sure if its your partner, a 
sea turtle or a bull shark!
 
Regardless, don't panic, `trust your instruments' and move to the surface slowly."
 
 Tircho,
I was just thinking, remember that old pilot's joke?
 "A second ago, everything was all right!"
 
 So, looking at the two carrier landing videos side by side, the daytime approach and 
landing is far more white knuckle for me, too much information.
 
Again, though, I'm not sure I ever had the cajones to willingly put my butt into one 
of your jets and do what are controlled crashes. Forget the instruments! That takes way 
more faith in the equipment than I ever had.
 
Thanks,
 
Bill
 
 
Husztek, Realtors
Black Squirrel Cottage Enterprises
Bill Husztek & Miki Markoff
7558 Marshall Drive
Annandale, VA 22003
off. 703-573-8842/fax. 703-573-2108

husztek-markoff@juno.com