Carmichael's Position

Inspiration

Or envy… sometimes a bit too similar for comfort. 

A photo from Saturday afternoon…

Back From My First Tailhook Reunion and Symposium

As most of you know, a couple of years ago I took on the task of creating, writing, editing, and taking photos for the Tailhook Association’s blog, “The Tailhook Daily Briefing.”  In the two years I have been the editor, the blog has received over a quarter of a million hits and is regularly landed on hundreds of times daily as the number one return on various Google and Yahoo searches.  All very gratifying for me as I try to give something back the some of my greatest heroes, Naval Aviators.

Well, earlier this year I was informed I had been nominated for “Honorary Tailhooker of the Year” for my efforts.  I can never be nominated for “Tailhooker of the Year” as I am not an aviator, nor do I have any traps or cat shots to my name.  (Maybe someday…).  I was honored by the nomination, hell some of the past winners of the award are former Secretaries of the Navy for God’s sake!  Who wouldn’t welcome being included in such revered  company?

About a month ago, I was informed by “Tag” Ostertag (Naval Aviator Extraordinaire … and not just in his mind!) that I had indeed won the award, and that I was expected to be in Reno to receive my plaque at the Saturday awards lunch.  Again, I was floored!  And Honored! And humbled!

Wow…

So come this past September 10th, Ginger and I fly out to Reno, to attend my first (Ginger’s too for that matter) Tailhook Annual Reunion and Symposium.  I am glad I went.

We met up in Reno with my long time friend and fellow Tailhooker, Ken Schoeni, (actually Ken has been a Tailhooker longer than I have).  Ken was kind enough to help me take care of a few awkward logistic issues as I would be unable to arrive until late on Thursday night, and would need our registration materials early Friday Morning as we headed off from Reno to see the Blue Angels perform at the September 11th Remembrance NAS Fallon Airshow.

The Airshow was fantastic, Severe Clear and Beer! No better way to see an airshow! 

After the show, we boogied back in the bus to Reno to attend the Bug Roach Mixer.  A great cocktail party where Hawaiian Shirts and Flight Suits are the Uniform of the Day.  It is a great, cocktail fueled, party where one really has the opportunity to meet and greet the greatest pilots and NFO’s on the planet.

Seriously, I met up with dozens of old acquaintances and made an equal number of new friends at this year’s event.  I ran into a number of folks who are good friends of my Mom and Dad, as well as many familiar faces I had met at the Colorado Tailhooker parties Hans and Kathy Schmoldt have thrown at their ranch in Grand Junction.  Old Home week does not do it justice.

Every night is late night at Tailhook, after the scheduled events everyone regroups at the “Admin Rooms” to continue the camaraderie, the lie story telling competitions, accompanied by various bar games and the obligatory adult beverages!  I’m pretty sure one of the communities was serving up Cubi Cocktails AKA Radford Specials!  Wow, that’ll put hair on your feet!

We returned to our Hotel much much earlier than the young JO’s and somewhat older LCDRs in the crowd, leaving the olympic drinking events to those better able, and wanting… to deal with the after effects of such activities.  Even so it was well after midnight before we turned in. 

The next day after grabbing a few extra winks I headed back to the Nugget (we were staying in the Silver Legacy), but as I hailed a cab, at 10:00am mind you, who should get out but a LCDR and LT I had chatted briefly with at the Mixer the previous evening… they were just rolling in!  And were planning to return to forward battle area by noon!  IN—TREP—ID!

The warm up act before the lunch was the symposium session on “Pushing the Edge of the Envelope” which had current and former Blue Angels on one side pitted against Topgun Aviators on the other!  No better stories to be told than when on the opposing side is the “Oh Yeah?” gang.  I promise to post  few of those tails over at TDB in the future.

Next came the awards lunch, where all sorts of achievement awards were handed to the deserving flight crews, for bombing excellence, missile accuracy, most carrier landings (Traps), 1,000 trap milestones… etc.  And finally the Honorary Tailhooker of the Year.  There were two recipients this year, Mr. Woody Sales, a man who coordinated more Distinguished Visitors tours of carriers this year than anyone else, and insured that countless crewmembers of the USS Roosevelt received free passes to the Ryder Cup Golf Tournament last year!

And then me… 

Wow, what an honor.  I was presented the award by Vice Admiral Thomas Kilcline Jr., Commander, Naval Air Forces, COMNAVAIRPAC, RADM Jay Campbell, Capt Russ ‘Galdis’ Knight

Seriously, I am humbled by the honor.  I love being a Tailhooker, and contributing where I can.  I may not be able to fly for this great nation but maybe I can contribute something on behalf of those who do. 

After the Awards Lunch, the Admiral’s Briefing followed, this is really the event to attend!  It is comprised of a number of Admirals in the Air Navy chain of command, and is the opportunity for a Honest “No Holds Barred” Q&A session of the Navy Leadership.  Cuts to the quick. 

And then the final event of the Reunion is the Formal Banquet.  Where Ginger and I sat with Hans and Kathy, and had the fortune to sit with the CO and XO of VAQ-140 charming men both, and Capt. “Sterls” Gilliam, one of the officers of Tailhook, and one of the most complimentary gentlemen I could have had the fortune of sitting next to.  It made for a great evening of stories and general conversation.

We stayed up late into the morning that night as well, and after Saturday merged into Sunday, and we managed to capture a few hours of shut-eye… not nearly enough… we bid farewell to Reno, and the 2009 Tailhook Reunion, promising to return for 2010’s shindig!

This is what a $300,000.00 Photo Op Looks Like?

The above image is the officially released photo from the Air Force One Photo Op over NYC last week.  Obviously taken from the back seat of the F-16D in formation. 

Ok, I’m going to say my thoughts here…

To me this lends more credibility to the supposition that the other F-16 (even though claimed to be an F-16C not a two seat “D” model) was taking pics of the two plane formation.  Because if this was “THE” Photo to come outta of this… MY GOD!  Send me up next time!  Nice canopy rail, and canopy glare!  What? Did you guys use a Kodak instamatic with a Flash Cube?

There had to be better angles available to include Lady Liberty too!

Oh well… I think it is time for me to move on from this fiasco… no sport in it anymore.  Besides, the scapegoat I mean man responsible for this ill planned mission, just announced his resignation.

A top White House aide resigned Friday for his role in Air Force One's $328,835 photo-op flyover above New York City that sparked panic and flashbacks to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Louis Caldera said the controversy had made it impossible for him to effectively lead the White House Military Office. "Moreover, it has become a distraction in the important work you are doing as president," Caldera said in his resignation letter to President Barack Obama.

…Caldera's office approved the photo-op, which cost $35,000 in fuel alone for the plane and two jet fighter escorts. The Air Force estimated the photo shoot cost taxpayers $328,835.

White House officials said the flight was designed to update the official photo of the plane, known as Air Force One when the president is aboard. The White House released a photo of the blue-and-white plane high above the Statue of Liberty, with New Jersey in the background.

Here’s the discussion topics that will I’m sure be conspiracy theorized to death add nauseam…

Deputy military director George Mulligan said he first told Caldera about the proposed photo shoot on April 20 — a week before it was scheduled to take place. The same aide also said Caldera should notify deputy chief of staff Jim Messina because it was an unusual move.

Caldera told officials he didn't recall the conversation.

Caldera also told officials that he didn't read an e-mail detailing the flyover plans until it was over. Mulligan, Caldera's second-in-command, sent him an e-mail message on April 24 advising him again to tell Messina and Gibbs about the photo shoot.

Caldera said he hadn't seen the e-mail because he has two official accounts. He also said he was suffering from severe muscle aches and had been prescribed pain medication.

Ok… so I’m done with this, other than if some really incredible revelation comes out of this… But I’m sure the conspiracy guys will continue.  Frankly if you’re going to profligate a conspiracy, work on the one where Obama “One World’s” us into a Orwellian state led by Keith Oberman!  That’s always a fun one.

Ain’t Got the Blues in Colorado this Year!

Word just out is that the Blue Angels will not be coming to Colorado this year after all.  The Front Range Airshow scheduled for June 13-14, 2009 has been canceled due to airspace confliction with Denver International Airport.  From Denver’s Channel 7 News

Denver International and Front Range airports have canceled the previously scheduled air show, which included performances by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels aerobatic flight team and other air show performers.

The air show was to take place this summer at Front Range Airport as part of the facility’s 25th anniversary.

Airport officials said they made the decision to cancel the performance after determining the negative impact on commercial air traffic to and from adjacent Denver International Airport was no longer acceptable.

"It was determined that the resulting flight delays and cancellations would cost DIA’s airlines hundreds of thousands of dollars, and adversely impact tens of thousands of passengers," said Kim Day, the manager at Denver Interntional Airport. "We have looked at a number of alternatives in an effort to find a way to make this happen, but the impact is far too immense at this time."

Always wondered about that.  The Blues usually require a 5 nautical mile radius from show center point, and 15,000 feet above ground level (AGL) and this requirement would certainly interfere with DIA (KDEN) operations.  These clearances are required not only on “The Show Day” but are required for:

1. Thursday from 12:00 to 14:00 (Circle and arrival - 2 hours)
2. Thursday from 15:00 to 16:15 (Practice-1 hour 15 minutes)
3. Friday from 15:00 to 17:00 (Demonstration-2 hours)
4. Saturday from 15:00 to 17:00 (Demonstration-2 hours)
5. Sunday from 15:00 to 17:00 (Demonstration-2 hours)

The Lighter area around Front Range Airport indicates the 5 mile Radius.  This would in effect shut down, at minimum, 3 of Denver International Airport’s Runways to Arriving and Departing traffic. 

As saddened as I am that the Blues will not be here in Denver this year I have to say I can certainly understand.  I might just have to catch them out at Tailhook this year at Fallon.

Why Won’t Obama Release the Pictures of Air Force One’s NYC Fly-by?

The NY Post is Reporting that the Obama White House has “not technically classified” the photos taken of the VC-25A aircraft circling the Statue of Liberty last week, but has no plans to release them to the public.

The $328,835 snapshots of an Air Force One backup plane buzzing lower Manhattan last week will not be shown to the public, the White House said yesterday.

"We have no plans to release them," an aide to President Obama told The Post, refusing to comment further.

The sole purpose of the secret photo-op, which sent thousands of New Yorkers running for cover, was to take new publicity shots of the presidential jet over the city.

"The photos . . . are classified -- that's ridiculous," Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., said.

The photos have not technically been "classified," a White House aide said, but they are being kept from public view.

New Yorkers said they could not understand how a president who shares intimate snapshots from the White House could justify keeping these secret.

"So we're not gonna see the fruits of this cruel joke?" said Frank Antonelli, 39, one of the Wall Street traders spooked by last week's flyover.

"I'm not surprised. Obama . . . wouldn't further all the bad publicity by putting out those pictures."

Actually, I think I know why. 

Outside of the bad PR experienced as a result of the poorly executed photo op, I suspect there was a deeper “Subject” of the photos than is being acknowledged to the public for fear of even further cries of pandering.

Allow me to explain…  On the day the VC-25A was tooling around NYC, she was not alone.  In close formation was an F-16, two actually, but “dash two” was flying more of a high cover, …or was it?  I suspect that “Dash Two” was also the real photo bird.  Meaning the intent was NOT just to get photos of the VC-25A Presidential bird, bit to actually get the F-16 flying formation on the 747!

FAA Memo outlining the event: [PDF]

You:  So What?

Well normally I wouldn’t attach any significance to this and assume the F-16 flying the wing was indeed “Just the photo plane” however I (and a number of other aviation aficionados) noticed a specific Tail on the F-16 that has historical significance. 

This particular F-16 had a Red Tail (not normal camouflage painting for a tactical fighter) identifying this plane as belonging to the Alabama Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing.

The significance of this is that the “RED TAILS” are representative of the World Famous “Tuskegee Airmen” an all African American fighter wing known for flying P-51 Mustangs in WWII with a Vermillion Tail (AKA the RED TAILS).

 “To bomber crews of the Fifteenth Air Force-who owed them a particular debt-the men of the four squadrons of the 332nd Fighter Group, the 99th, 100th, 301st and the 302nd, were the Red Tail Angels. Flying P-51 Mustangs with tails painted vermillion, they had by the end of the war won for themselves the distinction of not only having damaged or destroyed 400 enemy aircraft, but of never having lost one of the bombers they escorted on missions over Europe-a rare achievement. [more] 

The Alabama National Guard pays reverence to the Tuskegee Airmen by painting the Tail of (at least) one of their F-16s red acknowledging the storied history of these Alabama based African American airmen.

So, as much as I hate to point out what for all appearances seems to be possibly a photo op that may be, possibly, motivated by connecting two racially ground breaking events (first African American Aerial Squadrons and the first African American President), I am led to wonder if this was not the image happy White House’s gratuitous motivation.  The F-16 flying wing on the aircraft used for Air Force One was actually meant to be INCLUDED in the images taken that day.  This was not a photo op just for Air Force One, rather it was a Photo Op for the White House to connect to another Historically great stride in African American successes in our oft racially troubled history.

Paint me suspicious, and yes very skeptical of this particular photo Op.  IMAGE IS EVERYTHING when it comes to staged events like this, so NOTHING is present by coincidence or accident, they know damn well what they were up to, and this was not just a “bad idea” on the part of the Office Of Military Affairs.  In reality it is looking more and more like the OMA was scapegoated.

First Raw Photos from the Air Force One Fly-by

I just received from an Air Force buddy of mine a sample form the controversial Air Force One photo shoot from the other day.  Obviously not the one they will use for their PR distribution, but should give you an idea of what they were up to.

Or does it? 

I have to confess.  I just Photoshopped this together using very rudimentary PS techniques. Mostly to prove a point that the White House really didn’t have to scare the BeeJeezus out of Jumbo-Jet skittish New Yorkers.  Imagine what professional Photoshoppers like Scott Kelby could pull off…

Fein Outrage and the World Will Believe You… Or not

Ya know, once I got sort of caught in the act of hatching a practical joke on my college roommate.  I was not in the room where a couple of buddies of mine I had recruited were dismantling said mark’s bed.  Well the target came back early from class and discovered the two assistants with screwdrivers in hand and bed in slight disarray, well… I mean pieces.

He then headed to where my two partners in crime told my roommate I could be found… the terlet.  He noticed my size twelves under the stall door and began to inquire as to what I was up to…

Him: Uh John?

YHS: Yeah?

Him: What are Stu and Greg doing to my bed?

YHS: Dunno… What are they doing to your bed?

Him:  Taking it apart!

YHS: Why would they be doing that?

Him: That’s what I would like to know!

YHS: Well hell, let’s go find out!

I finished the business at hand, washed said hands and then we two headed to our dorm room, me with complete distain plastered across my face.  Upon entering the room, I explode with a “What the [expletive deleted] are you two doing to Mike’s bed?!!”

Initially, Greg, sitting among the various pieces of the bed, with screwdriver in hand stared at me in disbelief, knowing full well it was I who had concocted this entire scheme.  His silence lasted for only a couple more mili-seconds before both he and Stu decided there was absolutely no way they were going to “Take one for the team!”  and began to tell Mike in full detail how I had painstakingly laid out the plan of ill-will.  It was a good plan, so Mike obviously had no choice but to believe my cohorts, and yeah because it was such a good plan I had to confess.  Ah well, all in fun.

You: Uh John?

YHS: Yeah?

You: You head’n somewhere with this?

YHS: Yep…

The above story I tell here as an example, juvenile as it is, of the same rat I smell relating to the VC-25A (That’s the 747 aka Airforce One) fiasco over NYC yesterday.

CBS 2 News in NYC is now reporting:

FAA Memo: Feds Knew NYC Flyover Would Cause Panic

Threatened Federal Sanctions Against NYPD, Secret Service, FBI & Mayor's Office If Secret Ever Got Out

Furious Obama Apologizes: "It Will Never Happen Again"

The article continues (emphasis mine):

A furious President Barack Obama ordered an internal review of Monday's low-flying photo op over the Statue of Liberty.

CBS 2 HD has discovered the feds will have plenty to question.
Federal officials knew that sending two fighter jets and Air Force One to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered the photo-op kept secret from the public.

In a memo obtained by CBS 2 HD the Federal Aviation Administration's James Johnston said the agency was aware of "the possibility of public concern regarding DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes" in an around New York City. But they demanded total secrecy from the NYPD, the Secret Service, the FBI and even the mayor's office and threatened federal sanctions if the secret got out.

Which “Federal Officials” and who is “They”?

The flyover -- apparently ordered by the White House Office of Military Affairs so it would have souvenir photos of Air Force One with the Statue of Liberty in the background -- had President Obama seeing red. He ordered a probe and apologized.

Ok, here’s where I call BULLSHIT! 

That plane NEVER goes anywhere without the President knowing.  He was briefed!  Trust me!  The White House Office of Military Affairs had to get at least a “Mother May I” from POTUS.  Who probably said, “Sure, sounds like a great idea, I’d love to have some new photos of MY beautiful jet flying by our monument to Liberty.  It’ll make me look like I give a crap about liberty.  But whatever you do, don’t tell anyone, because if word gets out that I wanted my plane Air Force One to fly around just for a photo op costing taxpayers 100’s of thousands of dollars, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

And now that the poop has hit the turbo-fans, Mr. President is “SEEING RED!”

Uh… yeah. 

Just because you were on the pooper and your Military Affairs Chief had the screwdriver in hand, doesn’t mean you should be assumed clueless… we have plenty of other reasons to assume you’re clueless… but in this case I smell a scapegoat on the way.

By the way… anyone have tapes of ATC that day?  I would like to know the call-sign for that particular VC-25A’s mission.  If it was “SAM 28000” or “SAM 29000” ok fine… but if it was “Air Force One” Obama will have a MUCH bigger problem to try to cover up.  Which in a way would explain a bit more of the secrecy.

Photoshop… the MUST HAVE for Photographers

Ok, many of you know I am an average amateur photographer trying to be a decent amateur photographer.  I love to take a camera wherever I travel and try to capture interesting images from these journeys.

Well as I was looking through a few images I have taken on my recent jaunt to the Empire State, I really took note of how much I depend on Photoshop to really “deliver” the final product I want.  And what a tremendous asset it is to ANY photographer.  Yes, Photoshop CS3 (or now 4) will set you back $600.00 in many cases… it should be required photography equipment for anyone seriously considering trying to create good imagery.

I won’t get into all the capabilities and tricks to the trade type of posting because there are already COUNTLESS good sites out there that already do an excellent job at teaching the nuances of this tool.  I just wanted to point out how simply ONE CLICK! in PS CS3 can turn a poor image into something salvageable to use in telling a story.

The following image was taken out the window of the Aircraft I was on flying out of Chicago O’Hare to White Plains NY earlier this week.  The window was not clean and the weather in the area was hazy, but our flight path looked to take us right over Downtown Chicago and I thought I would take a crack at capturing an image to help illustrate any tales I may want to tell about this journey. 

The two Images below are the exact same image, however the second one, I opened in Photoshop and ONLY clicked on the Auto Adjust Levels feature (ok two clicks) and this is the resulting image. Simply Amazing!

 

As if it squeegeed the window and blew the haze away…

Lucky Shots

My house lies underneath the LARKS 5 Arrival to Denver’s International Airport, (at least I think that’s the arrival) so air traffic is fairly predictable. 

Well this evening I had the chance to enjoy the waning warmth of a 70 degree day here in Denver by hanging out on my back patio watching the planes go by… and of course I had the camera out to snap a few.  Here are some of the results, got lucky on a few for some creative looks… too bad my focus is just a bit off.  (No photoshopping involved except for tightening or correcting exposures).

 

 

Ok the one below is PhotoShopped  but provides an illustration of what flies over my house in an hour… one patch of sky.

The Immediacy of Life

I was greeted this morning with a very unwelcomed e-mail in my inbox.  I learned of the tragic death of a co-worker’s sister (and her boyfriend) on Flight 3407 that crashed on approach to Buffalo’s airport last night.

We’re a small company and obviously an incident like this hits home quite intensely.  We are all in shock, we all conveyed our deepest sympathies and offered our help in anyway we can.  To be honest we all feel a bit helpless in supporting our friend and coworker.

As most of you are aware, I grew up immersed in the world of Naval Aviation.  I can distinctly remember a few very late phone calls made to our house informing the CO or my Mom, that an aircraft from the squadron is reported down and the crew is presumed killed.  These calls were always dreaded, but always a possibility you kept locked in the back of your mind trying to ignore until once again the reality is called upon.  Never easy… just a known possibility.

In the civilian world, I find my guard is down in accepting this as a possibility and I found myself fully understanding my co-worker’s disbelief in the realization of what has happened.  “Surreal” is the term that seems to meet the criteria. All of us are saddened by this tragedy, and through our prayers we hope to help assuage the angst, anger and sadness that are sure to assault our trusted friend.

I hope my friend knows our concern and it can serve to bring him some solace in these difficult times… I suspect it is insufficient.

-JC