3 years ago:
When I was taking my
very 1st GA training flight at the Chico airport in NorCal (which is located north of Beale AFB) we were rolling out to the end of the runway and over the radio we are advised to watch out ofr the "P3" doing touch and goes....
So low and behold I look left and what do I see but a U2 trainer not 50 feet away just about 10" off the runway!
P3 my azz! So we roll out to take off position and just sat and watched this beautiful bird so soft and smoothly touch the runway and raise right back up
Eventually we take off and see the same U2 doing a go around at about 8k feet or so to do another touch and go... Freaking mind blowing for me a super big fan of all the military & stealth planes...
The next hour was a blurr as I was concentrating on learning to fly, set my trim correctly etc all the while this beautiful U2 is circling around..
Come time to land our little T72 and there he is again coming down for another touch and go!
I couldn't wait to get out of the plane and call my family of pilots to share my experience..
Loved it loved it loved it
From what my instructor was telling me they do this all the time,,
Also, from our property in the footthills south of Chico (again directly north of Beale) watching these U2's and fighters practice air to air refueling is a common occurrence
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Former Test driver & Production Manager Singer Vehicle Design
2009 Cayenne GTS, '81 911SC RoW Targa (lot's of goodies), '86 535csi, '84 633 csi (turbo charged-sold)
, '68 912 Targa (sold)
, '69 911E (sold)
"Dream it, Believe it, Decide it, DO it "