How the Helicopter Changed Modern Warfare

Colonel Walter Boyne, best-selling author, retired USAF command pilot, past director of the National Air and Space Museum, founder of the Wingspan Television Channel, and former director of the NAA graced our podium on May 26th to share highlights of his most recent history: How The Helicopter Changed Modern Warfare.

Budd Davisson, editor-in-chief of Flight Journal Magazine, calls it "a history that reads like a thriller ... packed with an immense amount of information and sometimes alarming, but illuminating, insights."

Click here to view Yasmin's photos of this event.

Walter was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2007, and awarded the Lifetime Achievement Medal by the Air Force Association in 2010. He lives on a quiet street in suburban Maryland with his lovely wife Terri, a retired artist and designer whom he met when they were both busy creating the National Air and Space Museum on Independence Avenue which opened to the World on July fourth, 1976.

Walter has dedicated his book to the military members of the vertical flight community who have served as "the point of the modern military sword, sometimes bursting into enemy positions with courage and panache, sometimes acting as angels of compassion, rescuing the wounded under fire. There is no way to measure their selfless bravery, and one can only admire what they have done with so demanding an instrument as the helicopter."

Always entertaining and filled with stories, it was a treat to hear what this highly respected man of letters and experiences had to say about the future of military flight.

Watch for news of our upcoming September meeting. - RD

Remembering NASM Artist Robert McCall

Artist Robert McCall, who helped illustrate the Space Age for America, passed away on February 26th of a heart attack. He was born in Ohio in 1919.

Every single member of our Silver Wings Fraternity has viewed McCall's captivating perception of space as he or she entered the NASM museum on Independence Avenue. It was completed and waiting to be seen when the great museum first opened on July 4th, 1976. I was working on the premises at the time and watched McCall paint his wonderful larger-than-life mural.It has remained right on the same wall ever since.

Raised on a diet of science fiction, McCall knew he wanted to be an artist when he was 8 years old, but he was also passionately interested in science and technology, especially aviation. After high school, he won a scholarship to the Columbus Fine Art School. While attending school, he worked for a local sign shop, making posters and advertising billboards. He joined the Army Air Corps during World War II, but the war ended before he was sent overseas.

McCall and his new wife, Louise Harrup, moved to Chicago, where he worked as an advertising artist, while aiming "to become a first-rank illustrator, like Norman Rockwell or N.C. Wyeth." They moved to New York in 1949, and he continued to work in advertising art, but also began painting magazine illustrations for the likes of Life, The Saturday Evening Post, and Popular Science.

With the coming of the space program in the 1950s, McCall writes, as aviation moved from planes to rockets, so did he. "It was visually dramatic. All of the buildup to a manned launch, so theatrical and dramatic. It really inspired me." In the middle of the decade, the Air Force started inviting artists to visit their facilities and paint about the experience; McCall jumped at the chance. "I got to fly in all the aircraft. I'd go to great lengths to get permission to fly in the backseat of a jet fighter." When NASA instituted a similar program, again, McCall was at the front of the line. He also created several mission patches for NASA, including those of Apollo 17 (the last manned mission to the Moon) and the first and third Space Shuttle missions. Many of his paintings have been donated to the Pentagon, the Air Force Academy, air bases, and NASA. - Ron David

On approach to Narita

I'm currently still in one piece, writing from my room in the Narita crew hotel. It's 8am. This is my inaugural trans-pacific trip as a brand new, recently checked out, international 767 Captain and it has been interesting, to say the least, so far. I've crossed the Atlantic three times so far so the oceancrossing procedures were familiar.

By the way, stunning scenery flying over the Aleutian Islands. Everything was going fine until 100 miles out from Tokyo and in the descent for arrival. The first indication of any trouble was that Japan air traffic control started putting everyone into holding patterns. At first we thought it was usual congestion on arrival. Then we got a company data link message advising about the earthquake, followed by another stating Narita airport was temporarily closed for inspection and expected to open shortly (the company is always so positive).

From our perspective things were obviously looking a little different. The Japanese controller's anxiety level seemed quite high and he said expect "indefinite" holding time. No one would commit to a time frame on that so I got my copilot and relief pilot busy looking at divert stations and our fuel situation, which, after an ocean crossing is typically low.

It wasn't long, maybe ten minutes, before the first pilots started requesting diversions to other airports. Air Canada, American, United, etc. all reporting minimal fuel situations. I still had enough fuel for 1.5 to 2.0 hours of holding. Needless to say, the diverts started complicating the situation.

Japan air traffic control then announced Narita was closed indefinitely due to damage. Planes immediately started requesting arrivals into Haneada, near Tokyo, a half dozen JAL and western planes got clearance in that direction but then ATC announced Haenada had just closed. Uh oh! Now instead of just holding, we all had to start looking at more distant alternatives like Osaka, or Nagoya.

One bad thing about a large airliner is that you can't just be-pop into any little airport. We generally need lots of runway. With more planes piling in from both east and west, all needing a place to land and several now fuel critical ATC was getting over-whelmed. In the scramble, and without waiting for my fuel to get critical, I got my flight a clearance to head for Nagoya, fuel situation still okay. So far so good. A few minutes into heading that way, I was "ordered" by ATC to reverse course. Nagoya was saturated with traffic and unable to handle more planes (read- airport full). Ditto for Osaka.

With that statement, my situation went instantly from fuel okay, to fuel minimal considering we might have to divert a much farther distance. Multiply my situation by a dozen other aircraft all in the same boat, all making demands requests and threats to ATC for clearances somewhere. Air Canada and then someone else went to "emergency" fuel situation. Planes started to heading for air force bases. The nearest to Tokyo was Yokoda AFB. I threw my hat in the ring for that initially. The answer - Yokoda closed! no more space.

By now it was a three ring circus in the cockpit, my copilot on the radios, me flying and making decisions and the relief copilot buried in the air charts trying to figure out where to go that was within range while data link messages were flying back and forth between us and company dispatch in Atlanta. I picked Misawa AFB at the north end of Honshu island. We could get there with minimal fuel remaining. ATC was happy to get rid of us so we cleared out of themaelstrom of the Tokyo region. We heard ATC try to send planes toward Sendai, a small regional airport on the coast which was later the one I think that got flooded by a tsunami.

Atlanta dispatch then sent us a message asking if we could continue to Chitose airport on the Island of Hokkaido, north of Honshu. Other Delta planes were heading that way. More scrambling in the cockpit - check weather, check charts, check fuel, okay. We could still make it and not be going into a fuel critical situation ... if we had no other fuel delays. As we approached Misawa we got clearance to continue to Chitose. Critical decision thought process. Let's see - trying to help company - plane overflies perfectly good divert airport for one farther away...wonder how that will look in the safety report, if anything goes wrong.

Suddenly ATC comes up and gives us a vector to a fix well short of Chitose and tells us to standby for holding instructions. Nightmare realized. Situation rapidly deteriorating. After initially holding near Tokyo, starting a divert to Nagoya, reversing course back to Tokyo then to re-diverting north toward Misawa, all that happy fuel reserve that I had was vaporizing fast. My subsequent conversation, paraphrased of course...., went something like this:

"Sapporo Control - Delta XX requesting immediate clearance direct to Chitose, minimum fuel, unable hold."

"Negative Ghost-Rider, the Pattern is full" -Top Gun quote

"Sapporo Control - make that - Delta XX declaring emergency, low fuel, proceeding direct Chitose"

"Roger Delta XX, understood, you are cleared direct to Chitose, contact Chitose approach....etc...."

Enough was enough, I had decided to preempt actually running critically low on fuel while in another indefinite holding pattern, especially after bypassing Misawa, and played my last ace...declaring an emergency. The problem with that is now I have a bit of company paperwork to do but what the heck.

As it was - landed Chitose, safe, with at least 30 minutes of fuel remaining before reaching a "true" fuel emergency situation. That's always a good feeling, being safe. They taxied us off to some remote parking area where we shut down and watched a half dozen or more other airplanes come streaming in. In the end, Delta had two 747s, my 767 and another 767 and a 777 all on the ramp at Chitose. We saw two American airlines planes, a United and two Air Canada as well. Not to mention several extra Al Nippon and Japan Air Lines planes.

Post-script - 9 hours later, Japan air lines finally got around to getting a boarding ladder to the plane where we were able to get off and clear customs. - that however, is another interesting story.

By the way - while writing this - I have felt four additional tremors that shook the hotel slightly - all in 45 minutes.

Cheers,

(name withheld)

NEXTGEN Will Impact everyone of us who flies

One of our most popular Luncheon Speakers, Mr. Jack Kies, rejoined us in 2010 to walk us through the most complex remake to date of America's National Air traffic System. This rendition is being called "Nextgen", and Jack knows it better than almost anyone else because he helped parent it.

We first met Jack when he was head of the FAA's universal system command Center. Now he is TOPGUN at Metro Corporation and lives in the crosshairs of the National Airspace System everyday. In this writer's humble opinion, no one is better suited for the job.

What Is NextGen?

FAA literature describes NextGen as an umbrella term for the ongoing, wide-ranging transformation of the United States’ national airspace system (NAS).

At its most basic level, NextGen represents an evolution from a ground-based system of air traffic control to a satellite-based system of air traffic management. This evolution is vital to meeting future demand, and avoid to gridlock in the sky and at our nation’s airports.

NextGen opens America’s skies to continued growth and increased safety while reducing aviation’s environmental impact.

These goals will be realized through the development of aviation-specific applications for existing, widely-used technologies such as Global Positioning Satellite (GPS). They will also be realized through the fostering of technological innovation in areas such as weather forecasting, data networking, and digital communications. Hand in hand with state-of-the-art technology will be new airport infrastructure and new procedures, including the shifting of certain decision-making responsibility from the ground to the cockpit.

When fully implemented, NextGen will safely allow more aircraft to fly more closely together on more direct routes, reducing delays, and providing unprecedented benefits for the environment and the economy through reductions in carbon emissions, fuel consumption, and noise.

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Posted By Ron David to Silver Wings Over Washington at 3/08/2010 17:23:00 PM

Silver Wings Over Washington - Mission Statement

2012 Silver Wings Over Washington

Officers: 

Ron David, President; Adm. Whitey Feightner, USN (Ret.), Vice President; Joan Stalk, Treasurer; Ray Kester, CW04 USN (Ret.), Secretary

Board of Governors: Col. Randy Brandt, USAF (Ret.); Col. E.P.Deatrick USAF (Ret.); Steve Craven; Debbie Gallaway; Pete King; Capt. Zip Rausa, USN (Ret.); Col. Charles Stallworth USAF (Ret.)

Our mission is to provide an educational foundation that inspires, advocates, and fosters a venue for learning through aviation, especially for the younger generation; a forum for networking among members, colleagues and friends with outstanding speakers and camaraderie across the board. "What's Past is Prologue"


The Silver Wings Fraternity is comprised of a wonderful group of remarkable individuals who have pioneered, excelled and contributed to the world of aviation. We encourage members to bring friends, guests, and introduce young people to the noteworthy exploits and achievements of our distinguished members and speakers. In the past we have hosted prominent speakers who presented contemporary and historical topics relating to aviation, space, and a variety of military accomplishments. 

Your blog editor is Ron David and your online producer is R.N. Jurgenson

Silver Wings Speakers Luncheon: David Pearce, Laura Kelley, RD - January 22, 2010

Do you plan to attend our luncheon? Click here to make sure your name is on our list. Haven't reserved yet? Call us at (202) 588-9055

JANUARY AGENDA: Pledge of Allegiance, Invocation, Election. Speakers: David Pearce, John Kay, Tareq Salahi, Laura Kelly, and Ron's Video

Election of officers. A slate has been prepared which includes the following:

Officers: Ron David, President, Whitey Feightner, Vice President, Joan Stalk, Treasurer, Linda Wells, Secretary.

Members of the Board: "Randy" Brandt, Gil Coshland, Steve Craven, Ron Gatewood, Laura Kelly, "Mac" McMahon.

Nominations from the floor are welcome.

We will salute Silver Winger David Pearce who has been honored by the FAA with the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. David was recognized recently in a ceremony at his home base, Leesburg Airport, for having demonstrated professionalism, skill and aviation expertise by maintaining safe operations for 50 or more years of active flying. The FAA's Phyllis Duncan made the presentation. We can all be extremely proud of David's half Century of contributions to aviation.

The first recorded aerial assault on an enemy force by ship-based warplanes occurred in 1915 when British aircraft attacked Imperial German Zeppelin sheds in Cuxhaven, Lower Saxony. Hampered by bad weather, the result of the raid was mixed, but it is remembered as the first aerial raid by ship-based aircraft of all time. Retired British journalist and SWOW member John Kay will provide an exclusive report.

The Battle of the Coral Sea will be remembered by a flight of vintage aircraft this Spring when polo teams representing the United States and Australia compete for the Land Rover America's Polo Cup in Potomac, Maryland. Match dates will coincide with the 67th commemoration of the fierce air sea battle which lasted four days in May of 1942. International polo star and co-founder of the America's Polo Cup Tareq Salahi will be on hand at our meeting to give us the scoop about the event.

USS Lexington receives fatal hit May 8, 1942
during Coral Sea Battle

On the Wings of a Dream is the title of Silver Winger Laura Kelly's book about Jim Griffis, a WWII ace who also served two years in a German POW camp. The book is much more than a biography because it also encompasses a short history of aerial combat and even includes an interview with a German fighter pilot. Laura is an aerobatic pilot and flies helicopters for the US Army.

NTSB says: Wake Turbulence From 767 Likely Caused Mexican Lear Crash

The crash of a Learjet in Mexico City that was originally suspected to be the result of terrorism and sabotage has now been determined to be the result of wake turbulence caused by improper inflight aircraft management.

The following information has just been released by the NTSB. It was submitted to Silver Wings by Jim Davis.

US and Mexican investigators speculate the downing of a Learjet 45 in Mexico City on November 4 was caused by the combination of wake turbulence from a landing airliner and the pilots’ unfamiliarity with the aircraft.

The plane’s cockpit data recorder, analyzed by the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, DC, revealed the pilots' last words – "Diosito" (My little God) – in their struggle to regain control of the aircraft as it encountered severe wake turbulence.

Theories of sabotage have been all but ruled out in the deaths of all nine persons on board, including Mexico's Interior Minister, Juan Camilo Mouriño, and José Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, well known for his fight against drug cartels.

Pilot Martín Oliva, 39, and co-pilot Alvaro Sánchez, 58, have been defended by their families as responsible, serious professionals, the Dallas Morning News reported.

But at a news conference, Mexico's Communications and Transportation Minister Luis Telléz said, "The investigation revealed apparent deficiencies in the training and certification process of both [pilots]," and alleged the pilots failed to follow ATC instructions.

As the Learjet approached Mexico City, it was sequenced behind a Boeing 767-300 and given instructions to reduce airspeed in order to maintain proper spacing behind the airliner, Telléz said. But the pilots took over a minute to comply with the speed reduction, putting their plane just 4 nm behind the much larger 767.

Investigators said that wake turbulence from the 767 caused the Learjet to crash within 30 seconds, evidenced by the plane's Cockpit Voice Recorder:

Pilot: "That one's got some turbulence."

Co-pilot: "Hey man."

Pilot: "Hey [expletive]."

Later:

Pilot: "Alvaro, what do we do, Alvaro?"

Co-pilot: "Hand it over to me, hand it over to me, hand it over to me."

Pilot: "It's yours Alvaro."

Pilot: "[expletive]"

Pilot: "No, Alvaro."

Co-pilot: "Diosito."

-30-

Our November Luncheon - What A Wonderful Gathering

If you missed our November luncheon meeting, you missed a wonderful event replete with fascinating topics, entertaining videos, incredible speakers, lots of interaction between members and guests ... and an excellent lunch prepared and served by the top notch team at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia.

Carroll Adams, a Pan Am World Airways pilot, talked about an alleged act of air piracy by "renegade" Japanese Naval officers purported to have taken place 70 years ago. I say "purported" because neither the US government nor the Japanese government are willing to discuss the event.

One thing is known for certain - that Pan Am's Hawaii Clipper disappeared while on a Pacific run, and according to witnesses, the passengers and aircrew wound up murdered and buried face down on Truk Island. The burial site was then covered over with a heavy layer of cement and the Japanese built a hospital over it which they used during their occupation. The huge Truk Lagoon became Imperial Japan's principal naval base in the South Pacific during World War II.

We then watched a ten minute video which chronicled the history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (The WASP) after which Gayle Reed (age 90) and Lorraine Rodgers (age 88), two WASP who ferried both fighters and bombers during World War II, shared some of their best stories about that action-packed period in world history.

We also had a lot of fun debunking a very popular YouTube video in which an aerobatic pilot "looses" a wing and manages to land his stricken plane safely. Ron David also showed another "spoof" video that had everyone laughing in the aisles.

In spite of the fact that the event was held a day earlier than usual, 58 reservations were received and 64 members and friends actually showed up. We had only one no-show.

________________________

Mark Your Calendars For 2009

Here are the dates of our first five meetings during 2009: January 22nd, March 25th, May 28th, July 23rd, and September 24th. We will announce the date for our November, 2009 meeting in January.

Silver Wings Speakers Luncheon: Air Piracy & WASPs, November 14, 2009

We hope you will be able to attend. If you haven't yet done so, your deadline for reservations has been extended by one day to Thursday, November 14th.

The Meeting at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington will take place on November 19th at 11AM. Our primary subjects of discussion will include a report on the first alleged act of air piracy, which occurred 70 years ago, a short video about the WASP followed by a Q&A with two former Womens Air Force Service Pilots, and a brief forum on plans for our Fraternity's coming year.

Air Piracy has been a hot topic lately. Carroll Adams, a retired Pan Am pilot, will shed light on what may have been the first, and certainly one of the bloodiest, hijackings in history: the seizure in 1938 of Pan Am's Hawaii Clipper by "renegade" Japanese Naval personnel. The complement of passengers and crew from the Hawaii Clipper were murdered, buried face down and hidden on Guam under a thick layer of cement. Adams is certain he saw the Hawaii Clipper at War's end in Japanese livery.

History of the WASP an exclusive ten minute film about the Women Airforce Service Pilots will be followed by a Q & A with two incredible WASP veterans: Lorraine Rodgers (age 88) and Gayle Reed (Age 90).

We will also hold a brief forum on the coming year for Silver Wings Over Washington.

It is vital that we receive your confirmation for this luncheon by mid-day on the 14th.

Phone or email us at Ron and Nour David (202) 588-9055 rondavid@gmail.com or Joan Stalk (703) 451-4181 joans.hangar@verizon.net

Luncheon cost is $26

Please mark your calendars. Here are the dates of our first five meetings during 2009: January 22nd, March 25th, May 28th, July 23rd, and September 24th. We will announce the date for our November, 2009 meeting during the luncheon on the 19th.

Our Oldest Living Member

Happy birthday to Tuskegee "Redtail" Johnny Suggs, a long time member of SWOW.

Colonel Suggs was born October 8th 1911. We all miss his late wife Alice, who was also a regular attendee at our meetings.

This photo was taken by Nour shortly after the commemoration of the 9-11 memorial at Arlington National Cemetery . It lists the names of all those who perished there that day and contains the small, unidentifiable remains of those victims.

When he was active with SWOW, Nour, John and I often drove through Arlington following our luncheons at Spates Hall. He now resides at Knollwood, the beautiful Army retirement facility located at the North end of Rock Creek Park in N.W. Washington, DC.

World War Two Aircraft Visit Warrenton, Va. Airport

Two American Bombers that served during World War Two visited Warrenton Airport (W66) last week.

Once they numbered in the thousands, but today, only a handful of B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators still exist that can fly ... but fly they do. Their crews are made up of the sons and grandsons and daughters of the World War Two Veterans who originally manned these planes. And to see them in action, to hear their massive radial engines roar, can still excite those lucky enough to share the experience.

SWOW's David Fields persuaded the non-profit Collins Foundation to bring the two rare flying antiques to the Warrenton Airport West of Dulles to share the sights and sounds of yesteryear with scores of local residents who drove out to see the planes and meet at least two dozen WWII vets who actually crewed aboard these bombers in combat.

For a modest donation to the Foundation, visitors were permitted to take guided tours through the flying museum pieces. a few flights were also arranged ... for hefty donations.

Dave Fields knows how to stage an event, so when a good rain shut down operations at the Midland, VA airport twice, but no one seemed to mind, they just sat down for lunch in a heated hangar and listened to stories told by the vets. Jim Davis and Scotty Cameron were among the Silver Wingers who helped Fields with the event.

HUMOR - from the Editor's Desk

Want to be sure your next flight is safe? Now you can get rid of those nervous travel jitters FOREVER. Call 1-800-cool-n-calm and we will send you two ATP pilots equipped with personal laptops who will guarantee your next safe arrival. Your flight may land an hour late, but, what the heck, most flights aren't on-time anyway.

How do we do it? Simple. Most pilots anguish too much about the next safe arrival, By focusing on next month's schedule instead, our cool-n-calm crews eliminate the need for nerve-wracking communication with ATC, and having to notify the flight attendants to prepare passengers for the next landing. We won't even tell the pilots they'll never fly again until everyone else has de-boarded.

What is the secret to our success? It is a trade secret that goes back to the time-honored tradition established by our founder, Captain Johnny "Sky-Rocket" Morgan whose last words were, "When I die, I want to die peacefully ... in my sleep ... not screaming like my passengers in the back of the plane."

Call 1-800-cool-n-calm today.

-Ed

Silver Wings Speakers Luncheon: Naval Historian Jan Herman, September 24th, 2010

You are cordially invited to attend our Silver Wings Speakers Luncheon on September 24th at the Army Navy Country Club near the Pentagon where we will preview one of the most recent programs in the DVD history series Battle Station Sick Bay: Navy Medicine in World War II.

The six part series tells the moving story of Navy medicine's life saving role in World War Two from the sneak attack on Pearl to the Japanese surrender in 1945. It was produced under the watchful eye of our guest speaker, Naval Historian Mr. Jan Herman and is the result of a quarter century of compilation and research.

Each of the six programs marries documentary footage and interviews with Navy doctors, nurses and corpsmen who participated in the action, with accounts told by the Marines and sailors who were on the receiving end of their care. As an example, "Guests of the Emperor" tells the story of the POWs who struggled to survive while in the hands of Japanese captors. Click below to watch a short clip.

Attend the luncheon and receive the DVD Set at no charge.

The best news is that each person who attends the luncheon on the 24th will receive the complete DVD series by mail as a gift from the United States Navy.

Program titles include:

Navy Medicine’s Trial by Fire: December 7, 1941

Guests of the Emperor

Navy Medicine at Normandy

Battle Station Sick Bay

Stepping Stones to Tokyo

Final Victory

Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy a great luncheon, share stories with old comrades, watch an incredible documentary, then have the six part series sent to your home as a gift from the Navy. (This is beginning to read like a TV ad, except that it's true!)

Defense Secretary Commends Mercy Medical Airlift.

Click here to read the photo-story from Mercy Medical Airlift showing Defense Secretary Robert Gates thanking Silver Winger Steve Craven (Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic) for his service to the Air Compassion for Veterans Program. (It is the third story in the MMA Newsletter.)

We are proud of Steve and his wonderful team of volunteers for his service to those who sometimes need quick aerial transport and may not be able to afford the fare.

"The older I get" Received this from Scotty Cameron who always tells it like it is.