Forum: Civil and General Aviation

I have to "thank kryptid" for the suggestion of this trend, his idea of what aircraft have you flown in, made me wonder how many here have "hopped anywhere" .

Now I know this might narrow the field a bit (I hope not) but maybe not only the USAF has such a program for their folks, maybe Foreign Air Forces have a simular program for their folks. If so, I would like to hear from "anyone" in any Air Force around the planet that might have had the chance to take a "Hopp" to some location

Please think about it and list what type aircraft you "hopped" on and where you went, I think this would compliment "kryptid's" other trend listing who flew what or piloted what - it will be interesting to hear some other stories both good and bad about "hopping" adventures and locations...what you folks think - who's first?

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Worst experience with it, at least for my PAX anyway, was about 8 days before this past Christmas. We had a line leaving Ramstein, headed to McChord, with a couple of pieces of cargo, and about 14 PAX.

So, There I Was...About 20 minutes after takeoff, we got an anti-ice warning on the #3 engine. The system would not work. Per regs, we could not cross the pond in that configuration. We tried everything in the Dash 1 to get it working, but to no avail. So, these folks who were already burning up their holiday leave had to return to ETAR with us. Bad deal for them, but another night of German beer and Per Diem for us!

Next day, we were alerted to the same tail. Virtually the same cargo load, same destination (KTCM), and this time 31 PAX, including most from the previous day. This time, we almost make it out of Dutch airspace, when the exact same problem MX said was fixed occurred again. Same exact deal as the day before: we divert back to ETAR, and now those folks have used yet ANOTHER day of their leave due to a Code 3 jet. However, yet another night of German beer and Per Diem for the crew.

Ramstein PAX Terminal did have a C-5 going out that was able to take our PAX, however, so IIRC, they spent the day at the terminal and then took off later that evening on FRED. Next day, we were alerted to one of our own tails, and took 25 new PAX home, with 6 days to spare before Christmas.

Bottom line: As I previously stated, with Hops, you DEFINITELY get what you pay for! The only thing you can expect, is to expect the UNEXPECTED! If you take off from Rota, Spain counting on eating dinner at Dover that evening, guess what? Your bird just broke at Lajes Field, Azores, or Halifax, Nova Scotia. If you want a guarantee, it's Death and Taxes, and unfortunately, NOT in that order!

1970 heading from Texas to San Juan, P.R. trying to get a job flying F-104's for the PRANG.

Drove a 1970 Chevelle Malibu to Corpus Christi NAS.

Free ride in a P2V Neptune from Corpus to Homestead.

Eastern Airlines from Miami to San Juan (not free).

Most comfortable ride was in the Malibu.

Didn't get the job. Malibu parked at NAS Corpus Christi got beat up in a hurricane.

Oh well.

OL

Both stories...amazing (and not in a good way), heck of a thing to happen near Christmas too...damn - thanks for sharing, both of you - outlaw162, sorry to hear you did not get that job....I can only guess at that level of dissapointment - sorry....damn...did you ever get to fly?

Forum: Civil and General Aviation

Have you ever caught a "Hopp" anywhere in the worl