T-38 Four Ship @ Williams AFB Before Graduation

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4ship Advanced Afb Flight Flying Formation Graduation Schools T-38 T38 Williams
Lunatic77
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    Lunatic77
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  • Added: 25-Apr-07

Shot with an 8mm handheld in 1968, one of the last sorties before my father's graduation from advanced flight school at Willams AFB, Mesa AZ

The undergraduate flight training program lasted just less than one full year and involved classroom, simulator, and aircraft training activities. Graduates went on to train in their primary weapon system aircraft or, after further training, were selected to remain as instructors.

Students proceeded from the academic phase of classroom and simulator instruction around the six-week point of the program.

Williams AFB was closed in 1993, September.

Music:
Explosions in the Sky - Your Hand in Mine

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Comments on

T-38 Four Ship @ Williams AFB Before Graduation

25 Comments | Add Comment
  • man that sounded ...

    man that sounded like my brothers band playing then, i was like wtf lol .

    went to see this band tho :P

    nice vid

    By frogger2222 [Affiliate User] 1213352489 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • What a great video! ...

    What a great video! It did bring back many memories--Willy 68-E. I sometimes try to tell friends and family what the whole pilot training thing was about and can never seem to do justice to what happened during that year of 53 weeks. Now, I can direct them to YouTube. Thanks to Lunatic77. My class of 68E Warlock and Boysan will be holding a 40 year reunion this late July and early Aug in conjunction with the EAA Convention. I'm sure this video will be a topic of discussion.

    By scrapster44 [Affiliate User] 1209302592 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Terrific flick. ...

    Terrific flick. Swept me back to Willy-Class of 70-05 (Raindance/Boysan). Best year I ever spent on the planet. We're having a class reunion at the Hanger Hotel in Fredericksburg,Texas this month-April 25-27. I'll see the guys I did my 4-ship with that I haven't seen in 38 years. Any brother airmen from those days are cordially invited. Drive fast, take chances, smoke in bed.

    By F105D [Affiliate User] 1207765516 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Awesome video. The ...

    Awesome video. The fact that it was shot on 8mm makes it that much sweeter. Great camera work and music; I could watch this all day!

    By semperfidoIAC [Affiliate User] 1206878029 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Yep--Pilot training ...

    Yep--Pilot training in 78 for me, then T38 IP (available fighters for my class were only 3 F4s; F15 and 16 slots were still rare). But I think I enjoyed flying the white rocket more than I would have anything else. Better than sex.

    By StillRockin77 [Affiliate User] 1206234652 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Hey fellow WAFBAZ ...

    Hey fellow WAFBAZ Crewchiefs...I was Kilo/Lima 81-82 then AR for 83-84 the Patrick AFB ...they just kept shutting everything down until I didn't recognize the USAF I was in...this video brings back memories I remember saving one of the planes from burning down I think it was 4838 "I think" and I know 4938 was my tail number..
    kicking tires and lighting the fires..
    I actually miss those days...not so much the Airforce but ....being 19

    By thomasmack40 [Affiliate User] 1205613379 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • great video, I was ...

    great video, I was going to ask about the date before I read the date it was shot. I was in class 86-05 at willie. "John Black" and "Shatzi". By the time I got there ATC had limited the bank angle in formation. I think it was 135 degree bank even in close trail. Your video shows close trail rolls, awesome!
    Thanks for the video. I'd love to see any others that people have out there. The white rocket was a kick!

    By flyozzy [Affiliate User] 1205503475 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • That music is great ...

    That music is great for th vid, anyone know what it is? What great memories I had of that jet. ANYTHING was possible. I agree, what were they thinking letring 24 year-olds fly them!? What joy.

    By BentWingFlyer [Affiliate User] 1205362227 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • me too! but KILO ...

    me too! but KILO FlT ...

    By bean8u [Affiliate User] 1204642949 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Great video! I was ...

    Great video! I was a T-38 Crew Chief from Oct 1974-August 1978, Lima Flight, (remember the lemonade?) and later Kilo flight. I once got a ride that I will always remember. It was an award I received. Great times at Willie!

    By mikevincent2 [Affiliate User] 1203521308 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I've been in the ...

    I've been in the broadcast media all my life and was lucky enough to get a "press hop" in a T-38 with the Air Force Thunderbirds in 1976 after the T-Birds got out of the F-4's. This video reminded me of that great experience and how sick I was for a day or two after!

    By wireless51 [Affiliate User] 1203186764 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I was in 70-02 at ...

    I was in 70-02 at Willie and flew brand new T-38's with four hours total time on them. I now have a Porsche, used to have a Corvette, rode in a Lear Jet, nothing even comes close.

    By skyking2320 [Affiliate User] 1203007185 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I was the Fuels ...

    I was the Fuels Czar for a lot of you guys. I'm here to give props to the hundreds of us that it took to get one of ya in the air.

    Cheers to you, cheers to Willie!

    By lulumilia [Affiliate User] 1200054852 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Man, this vid ...

    Man, this vid brought back alot of memories. I was a crew chief at 'WILLIE' from 1980-1990. Then as a civilian till 93. All 13 years in INDIA flight.Thanks for the vid!!!

    By JabbaTheSlut [Affiliate User] 1194029323 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • What a beautiful ...

    What a beautiful piece of filming - good choice of music too.
    I just lurrrrrve flying!

    By madswede99 [Affiliate User] 1193816867 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Hey dude, just step ...

    Hey dude, just step back and take in the big picture. You're getting paid to fly. Not to count beans or sell shoes.

    By skipplet [Affiliate User] 1193260437 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I'm not sure if it ...

    I'm not sure if it was the music. Perhaps it was the beautiful "white rockets." Or maybe it was the close trail and echelon turns. Whatever the reason, I rediscovered the true beauty of flying. More importantly, it helped remind me of why I'm going through "the best hardest year" of my life.

    By rezac0806 [Affiliate User] 1191586208 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Awesome video. ...

    Awesome video. Brings back wondeful memories of flying the T-38 as a stud and then coming back as an IP. I was in 82-01 at Reese and really miss flying that white rocket. The best years of my life.

    By Dale757300 [Affiliate User] 1187773630 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • auctually my dad ...

    auctually my dad graduated in 68 i believe, went on to be an instructor for the t-38, a truly beautiful aircraft, never stops talking about it...

    By TheJihadJoe [Affiliate User] 1187025398 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Con't I also ...

    Con't
    I also remember my last solo. A buddy was full stop in front of me and I was on a touch n go so I raced up to him and lit the burners to they popped when i was over him, pulling up closed in a 5-g burner climb. Great fun till I discovered the Squadron Commander was in the plane with him..he gave me the required grief but it was well worth it. That jet is simply timeless - truely - 'the sports car of the Air Force.'

    By daytraderaz1 [Affiliate User] 1186186557 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I was in class 79- ...

    I was in class 79-04 at Willy and my memories of my last 4-ship are as clear as yesterday. We had to split into two 2-ships on the way down through the clouds and watching 3 and 4 turn away and slowly disappear into the clouds like a ghost is an enduring memory. (Con't)

    By daytraderaz1 [Affiliate User] 1186186497 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Goose bumps and ...

    Goose bumps and chills... Makes me proud to be an American.

    By countachpilot [Affiliate User] 1185201524 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • this is a cool ...

    this is a cool video, i have several like this too. (from williams AFB no less)
    my dad graduated in 73....this looks to be around that era also?

    By klockwerks [Affiliate User] 1183288215 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Ack. For you who ...

    Ack. For you who left the comment about Mesa AZ, I saw it and meant to reply, but the remove button is right next to reply. :(

    Thanks for jarring my memory, the 4 letter AZ cities all ending in 'A' kinda blur into each other in my head, heh. Woops.

    I'll update the description.

    Thanks for the compliment too.

    By Lunatic77 [Affiliate User] 1181576684 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • if i could spell..

    if i could spell..

    By tahoe78840 [Affiliate User] 1178988046 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
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