6.53pm Amerinn, Garden City, Kansas
The morning flight to Kansas was much better compare to what I experience 2 weeks ago. Probably, I got used to long route flight that I first experience 2 weeks ago on our way to South Dakota. Obviously the travel pillow I brought along the flight gave some creature comfort. The journey here might felt a bit warmer as we did not set off early in the morning as schedule due to overcast weather, pushing the flight back 2 hours late. All in all, a smooth, no complain flight to our usual half way stop of Garden City.
Today, I was chosen to stay around as a stand by technician crew while the Flight Engineers did the AF servicing for all 4 aircraft. Assisted Johnny and “Camel” with pressurized refueling, tying down the blades and cleaning the wind shield. Windshield got bombarded by thousands of dead bug carcass during our 3.5 hrs flight from Rapid City. Never knew bugs could fly that high.
This is my first military exercise deployment since joining the RSAF 4 years ago and I got to say that it could not have been much better. No rectification for my trade, couple of free time to do some technical manual reading , spare time to take photo for memory sake and opportunity to build up work and social rapport with guys from other trade and the pilots like Major Yicks, LTA Eddie and LTA Quek. In my opinion it’s the most uneventful 2 weeks of my time in the Chinook community speaking in aircraft maintenance context, felt more like a holiday visiting all the attraction than a military operation. In the words of my boss, if we could relax in an exercise it means we did a great job during phase servicing that prevent any problem from occurring during operational flight. We don't fly our aircraft hard and leave it wet.
Come to think of it, the most hectic day was our first day of operation flight. I have wrote about our “Bloody Sunday” Flight in a previous blog. Back than, I thought I did not bathed enough flower water but thankfully that the one and only day for our crew.
I seriously don’t think I made any major contribution in this exercise. Most of the time, its all about learning from the senior guys who has been here before and observing what is right and what is wrong. For one, I sure learn that things get done faster over here than back in base cause of all the extra hands around to assist during ad hoc aircraft servicing. Couple of good ideas noted during this deployment in my little white PDA for my benefit in any future deployment. Its all about been there and reaping in the experience.
Highlight of my tour of duty here got to be the couple of local attraction that we head to. It couldn’t have been possible without Encik Ho enthusiastic invitation every time he wanna explore new places . From Ellsworth AFB Museum to Mt Rushmore, from the Blackjack Table at Deadwood 4 Aces Casino to the Native American Museum at Deadwood. Well, there is still lots of places around Rapid City that I have not explore yet probably gonna come back the next time (Next time means my 2nd USA PP Det tour of duty after this one, I don’t have much Leaves to spare right now).
My tour of duty ends in May 2008 and I’m sure I gonna miss out Joint Thunder 2008 unless management decided to extend my stay in PP Det for another 6 months otherwise I will very much like to go on the Deployment again. Next deployment should be in September where we guys will be heading to Tucson Arizona to joint our Apache guys over there for a couple of joint training flights and a few rounds of soccer.
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