Memories of UPT and Reese AFB, TX

[Speedy]

I was going through Primary and advanced at NAS Corpus around the same time you were at Reece, Ken. I remember a handful of times when we went on an 'out and in' to Lubbock, or used Reece as a fuel stop on a cross-country, and all I remember is a ramp completely full of airplanes but vacant of all forms of life, and this ungodly heat that hit you when you opened the canopy. Walking from the plane to base ops it had to have been 120 degrees.

Woof!!!!

[Ken]

I was always thankful for my timing. I flew Tweets in the cooler weather, as they had inefficient air conditioning and less-than-stellar thrust and flew the 38 throughout the summer where it was better in both departments. I do, however, recall at least two times when heat degraded single engine go-around performance to the point that flying was suspended until the temps lowered. We would do the same for crosswinds, dust storms, and winds out of limits for being dragged by a parachute (should one find oneself ejected). I think the weather there was one of the justifications for the eventual base closure, although the flip side is that I do think it helped produce a well rounded pilot.

Ken

[Ken]

Of course, now there is a Facebook page ...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/183411231842/

[cco23i]

Seems every year we at William AFB, AZ would have to surge due to the other ATC bases not getting their flying totals. From 0600 to 2200 we flew and flew. LONG DAYS on those weeks.

Scott

[Old SAR pilot]

Gotta wonder with Barry Goldwater gone if Luke can hold out.

With the F-3 training moving there, quite a while, I suppose.