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Was it because of this guy?

http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ulti ... 8;t=000146

What about this guy?
http://www.blather.net/blather/1997/05/ ... ssing.html

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Last maintenance folks I know that were allowed to taxi aircraft where the Engine Troops at Beale AFB. Cool

The SR-71's trim pad (bunker) was at the far south end of the field. They would start the aircraft, taxi it down to the trim area, trim the engines, then taxi it back to the hangar.

It was SAC at the time and it was up until the aircraft left in 1990 from what I know.

Anyone from the 9th to confirm Question

Elite 3K Joined: May 10, 2004 Posts: 3098 Status: Offline

I'm not an expert, but this guy is Wink

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Christopher W. Bennett wrote:

Usually, the jet engine mechanics performed the trim runs in full AB, but at times, even us lowly Crew Chiefs got our chance. To get to the trim pad at BAFB, it was about a mile and a half tow south down the taxiway from the hangers.

For the full story on Blackbird and Dragon Lady maintenance, go check out the rest of what Mr. Bennett has to say Cool

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The first story...maybe. We all (or at least some) have heard stories of Crew Chiefs taking planes and flying off with them because all Crew Chiefs know (or should know) how to operate an aircraft. But that time line happened before the C-130J so wouldn't he need a flight engineer just to get started? The second story I think is complete rubbish. Sounds like an anti-government, paranoia ,makes up stories ,drug doing ,"free love" ,tree hugging crap. The reason I think Crew Chiefs can't taxi anymore is because whats the point? Its cheaper to tow and if the pilot is already in the cockpit then why not just have him park where you need him to park. And for those of you who are about to ask "What about brake checks during engine run?" are you kidding me? You installed a motor not the brakes. The pilot will ops check those when he lands. Very Happy

When I was a wee Senior Airman I had an F-4 engine run license for two days. I was at George AFB, but an airman ran two F-15's together at Luke. So, therefore, TAC revoked all the engine run licenses issued to airmen. If memory serves, they yanked the taxi license for everyone about then.

I have a guy working for me now that had taxi clearance on the OV-10, but that 15 years ago.
I know my ole buddy Charlie C. would taxi F-89's but he wouldn't want me to say how long ago that was. Cheers

Newbie Joined: Sep 25, 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Milwaukee

I heard the first story in the early eighties at Rhein-Main. Also stories of the haunted "Franken-hercs" we were flying that were Viet Nam vets. We didn't believe them then, either. In my civilian job I am still connected to the C-130 world and acording to my source there are no USAF Class A mishaps involving C-130s from 07-1975 thru 04-1978. I can't seem to find find any other suspicious attritions during this time either. Boo !!!

Anyone up for a Snipe Hunt ?

It's simple, there are some great Crew Chief's out there and could handle it but as we all know there are the ones that we wouldn't let drive our cars. There are some who can't even handle talking to the tower when they do a tow job, much less getting clearance to taxi. I think with the proper training it could be done but after awhile, like alot of things it would get abused and there would be accidents. I wouldn't want to taxi a jet at Nellis during a Red Flag exercise...total chaos!

Newbie Joined: Jul 10, 2007 Posts: 19 Status: Offline

I think that it's because they found out that the Crew Chiefs liked it Mr. Green

ford2go

Because the Wing King got tired of seeing all of his jets in the Class VI store parking lot on Friday nights... "Dude, let's take the D and see if we can get it through the drive through over at Mickey D's..."

Mike

I agree with tbolt2. There are many Crew Chiefs out there that should be allowed to breed much less taxi an F-16. A few ruin it for many.

Enthusiast Joined: Aug 24, 2007 Posts: 86 Status: Offline

MKopack wrote:

Because the Wing King got tired of seeing all of his jets in the Class VI store parking lot on Friday nights... "Dude, let's take the D and see if we can get it through the drive through over at Mickey D's..."

Mike

OHMAHGAWD!!! That is absolutely, positively, the BEST, COOLEST, GREATEST thing I have EVER read on the entire internet. Not Worthy

Dear Lord, guy, you almost killed me with laughin'! How true! How true! Then, a few hours later, all the station wagons would be lined up in front of the club, or the Sage & Sand. (Though at noticeably more skewed angles, of course... Hee hee.)

Could you taxi a 16 to Alcala before the wheel bearings seperated? Ol' Jack Colten did it in "Jewel of the Nile", must be true...

Side note- For those of your "non-rever"s out there flying free, the Morrocan movie studio outside Quarzazite STILL has that D mockup parked out back. Too bad I still use real film, not sparky, or I'd upload it for yahs...

Newbie Joined: Jul 15, 2008 Posts: 5 Status: Offline

I agree with proper training a Crew chief can taxi a aircraft. When i was At New Orleans as a Air Force Maint. adviser the F-15 next door did taxi their aircraft to the trim pad while we towed the F-16 this was in 92. I am currently trained to run and Taxi DC-9,MD-80,B757,B737,B767,A319,320 out to do high power runs. and taxi check of nose steering Beer

As an A&P mechanic working for an airline I was able to do all the runs, taxi, high speed taxi for nose wheel shimmy, high powered runs @110% unrestrained. I ran the airplane, taxied the plane, talked to the tower, and got it done with no problems. Fun doing autocoursen or prop sync checks on snow...weee!

Now it takes me 5 minutes talking to MOC to get cleared to do an 80% or less run on the 16...hope the battery is good!

Here are the details regarding that C-130 mishap. Similar thing happened to an F-16 in Norway.

http://aviation-safety.net/database/rec ... 19690523-2

Some of the details are incorrect.

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Why can't crew chiefs taxi anymore?