Now N Then

Sunday was a busy day. Breakfast at Corems (have to face away from the cooking area), Church, nap, Golf (95). On the eighth hole we saw our first gators on the course this year(more later). The real excitement was on the 18th fairway. A wild Tom Turkey and his ladies were crossing the fairway in front of us. I asked John if he knew the mating call of a turkey and he said:”As a matter of fact I do”. He then proceeded to whistle some nonsense and right before our eyes the Tom Turkey got attentive, faced us and started walking towards Roy. I started to take pictures while the Tom suddenly got aggressive and tried attacking Roy who got out a club and tried to run off the Tom with his golf bag. Then the Tom decided he didn’t like his picture taken so he came after me. I traded in my camera for a golf club and started banging it on my bag. Finally, ole Tom left.

That is Roy’s leg behind his golf bag

Better known as the old Officers Club although they have now changed the sign. Anyway inside the lobby are models of the two fighter planes that are use here at Tyndall. These are the F-22 on top and the F-15 on the bottom.

Just outside the club there is a nature trail. A sign warns all about alligators. Since we had not seen an alligator this year we were not worried. BUT guess what — two alligators. We couldn’t get close enough for good pictures but you get the idea.

When anyone come near this dog it wags its tail, wiggles its rear end and toots.

Sub scale drones do not cost as much when shot down. Also they are easier to retrieve from the Gulf of Mexico over which air to air tactics are practiced.Tyndall has an area that launches sub scale drones and has two or three boats that retrieve them if shot down.

Sub Scale Drone

Drone Retriever

For training pilots to fight enemy planes without killing pilots in the process, the Air Force uses drones for target planes. There are full scale (actual size of a plane because it is one) drones which are the old F-4’s from the Vietnam war. These are pilotless planes identifiable by their red painted tail and wing tips and by the inverted (downward) tail fins.

In the air

On the flight line.

On 20 Feb there was a lunar eclipise (the earth got between the sun and the moon) (doesn’t happen that often). My camera doesn’t do it justice but you can get the idea.

Once a season FamCamp Management puts on a wonderful festival for the campers. Unfortunately, I was sick all day but everyone said the demonstrations, music, RV models, food and the dog show were really great. Sorry I missed it. Turn head sideways again.

Getting together to celebrate an anniversary. Any excuse for a pot luck party

About 60 people attended although you could not tell it from the pictures.

Happy Hackers planned outing yesterday was rained out. We drove the 65 miles to Dogwood Lakes golf course before it started raining. Then it was would it or wouldn’t it and should we or shouldn’t we? When it started to come down in buckets (the same as raining cats and dogs). Anyway we went to an outlet mall on the way home and then stopped at the “Old Mexican” Restaurant for lunch.

After a really good Asian Buffet lunch at the Heritage (old Officers Club) where we were treated to a Base Briefing while we ate, we toured the Physiological Training Center where we had the physiological effects of high altitude (lack of oxygen) and “G” forces explained to us.

In the high altitude chamber anyone likely to be flying at high altitude experience its effects and learn how to recognize and counter those effects.

In the “Barnay” chair we were shown how centrifical force disorients the senses. Spinning (even at a really slow speed) in one direction  when stopped gets one to think that they are going in the opposite direction even though they are not moving. This confusion, of course, makes it difficult to pilot a plane.