View Full Version : Crew Chiefs
How many other crew chiefs out there? Come on yall know we are probably the nastiest group in the Fair Force. Lets hear some stories. Fighter guys and Cargo guys on equal footing, past and present welcome.
Current crew chief here as a reservist, was active duty served two years at Ramstein Germany and two at Tonopah Nv.
Been activated several times and just got back from Balad Iraq.
Currently assigned at Homestead Fl.
A crew chief is the best friend of anyone wearing wings and not a crew chief!!!!!!!!
Puke in a plane, the crew chief is no longer your best friend...not your janitor or maid or mother...you lost it, you find all of it. Rank? What's that? {The smell if you don't clean up all of it!!}
It is the crew chief's aircraft...any questions? You borrow it in good condition...return in same condition, less normal wear and tear...bullet holes from small arms is not normal wear and tear.
Peg the g-meter and the crew chief gets really pissed...
Leaving the plane while it is still flying is a no-no. Leaving when the engine(s) quit may be acceptable.
Most importantly, in an aircraft where the crew chief stays on the ground, when that crew chief salutes as you leave on a combat mission, return it sharply and with respect, he (or she, now) has done his job... They are passing control to a Higher Authority...
Did I miss anything?
RussP
SSgt
USAF 1/67 - 1/71
Combat Photographer
126 Combat Missions by the Grace of God and some great Crew Chiefs
Started my AF life as a B-52G crew chief. Our Bomb Wg was deactivated after VN so I moved to KC135Qs. The very unofficial motto of the Q model tanker was "We screw the Habu" since it pumped gas for the SR-71. Moved into the SR program after that which is why I use the handle I do. Not officially a Habu since I have not flown at mach 3+ but I smelled enough JP-7 and lost enough sleep on TDYs.
Sgt_York
03-14-2006, 22:05
Retired AF crewed F-4's, A-10's and KC-135R's. SJ, Eglin, Taegu, England AFB, King Faud, KKMC, Griffiss, and McConnel.
77'-98'
Crew chief B-52H at Minot AFB and Grand Forks AFB from '68 till '76 with time off to go to Thailand and Guam. And your right , It was MY AIRPLANE not the flying crews!!!!!:cool:
crewdog252
03-15-2006, 16:41
Only crewed F-15s so far. I've worked the flight line until last summer when i went to the MOC. It's been a nice break but, I'm going to Kadena and back to the line in May to work old C models. I hope to go to another fighter when i make Tech. Hopefully, A-10s.
Sgt_York
03-15-2006, 17:21
I was a Flying Tiger during Desert Storm, you will love the A-10. I crewed the 23 FW wing commander jet.
i was a crew chief on F-100D,F at homestead afb, fl. 1962-66.
Originally posted by Jeff51
Crew chief B-52H at Minot AFB and Grand Forks AFB from '68 till '76 with time off to go to Thailand and Guam. And your right , It was MY AIRPLANE not the flying crews!!!!!:cool: ^c
Glockenbang76
03-15-2006, 22:26
One of my favorite stories of being a crew dawg happened when I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath in the UK. As many of you know, only some pilots get their name put on the side of an aircraft (more pilots than aircraft). This particular day, I was crewing aircraft 86-0176, since it's dedicated crew chief was on leave. I was the assistant crew chief on 86-0171, and I was never fond of crewing other aircraft. Anyways, Captain Glen comes out to the aircraft, and he was glowing as if he just purchased a new Glock. I look up at the aircraft and realize that his name is on the side of 0176. As I give him the aircraft forms, he asks, "How's the pride of USAFE?" Being a smart ass, I snap back with, "171 is great. I'm sure you'll see it at EOR (end of runway)." He shot me the most evil look. So, I get him in the cockpit, and begin to help him get situated. The parachute risers are the harness buckles that go over the pilots shoulders and are fastened to the seat. Our standard procedure is to have the pilot click the buckle in place, and the crew chief tugs on it to be sure the buckle is fully engaged. Well.....it wasn't and the heavy buckle assembly tagged the top of Captain Glen's left eye socket. He doubles over in pain and begins to rub his eyebrow. He was pissed, and I was trying not to laugh. So the launch goes off without a problem and the aircraft leaves. About a half hour later, I go back to my spot to prepare for the aircraft recovery. The expediter pulls up and says someone else will recover the aircraft, and tells me to get in the truck. He procedes to tell me that Captain Glen radioed the tower to make sure I was not to be there when he returned. I sat in the truck as the aircraft returned. Capt. Glen gets out and you could see a nice strawberry on his left eyebrow. To this day that makes me laugh.
Glockenbang76, that is a great story!!!
;f ;f ;f
Lennyjoe
03-22-2006, 18:48
A-10 crew chief here. Haven't crewed in a couple of years though. Was in Flight Safety the last 2 years and now I'm a Flight Chief for an A-10 outfit.
Still going strong though with 20 + years.
Glockenbang76
03-22-2006, 21:08
I love A-10s. They are so simple to work on, yet so cool. I remember in fundamentals replacing the utility hydro system on an A-10. It only took an hour. For a 15, that job would take atleast three times as long. The Air Force will always be hard-pressed to replace that cannon with wings.
Sgt_York
03-22-2006, 21:57
You think a F-15 is bad try an F-4, I love the A-10. Although I can say troubleshooting/changing a vib sensor isn't a lot of fun.
Cruisin23
03-23-2006, 10:48
I'm at Sheppard now. 25 more training days here, on to Tyndall, Then back to my Guard unit: 173d FW Kingsley Field, OR to Crew F-15s
Glockenbang76
03-24-2006, 07:45
Never said an F-15 was bad....but an A-10 is way more simple to work on. F-4s? I've heard engine changes on those are a nightmare!
Glockenbang76
03-24-2006, 07:56
Originally posted by Cruisin23
I'm at Sheppard now. 25 more training days here, on to Tyndall, Then back to my Guard unit: 173d FW Kingsley Field, OR to Crew F-15s
Cruisin,
I was doing exactly what you are learning (Tech school) exactly ten years ago today. Tech school in Texas will be the worst part of your AF career. Tyndall was a brand new program when I went through. In fact, the dorm rooms (which were right next to the beach) were recently refurbished when I arrived there. I had a lot of fun there, and it's cool to be working an a live F-15. Too bad Tyndall's F-15s are old C Models with f100 engines. However, you'll be working with old F-15s anyways at te guard unit, so it will be pretty similar to you. Is McCollough Hall still around in Sheppard?
I've been reading this forum forever, but this thread has finally got me to post something.
A-10 Crew Chief here. First stationed at Pope, then Osan (Pil Sung!) and I've been at Eielson for about a year and a half now. Back in Bagram again at the moment.
Glockenbang76
03-24-2006, 18:54
A-10s are da bomb! Too bad a lot of them are no longer painted in the camo scheme.
Lennyjoe
04-08-2006, 18:58
jackb, when were you in Korea? 02-03 for me.
adamgh81
07-20-2006, 00:00
I know this is an older post, but i'm new here.
F-16 Crew Chief in the Guard since May 2000
B-52 D 6580 March AFB, back when there was a SAC. 1980-82
KC-10A march AFB 1982-82
Glockenbang76
07-21-2006, 09:39
I did an airshow at March ARB in 1999. Nice base. Super location!
Crew Chief on KC-135Rs at Fairchild AFB from '97 to '01. Great job, great people, great trips, crappy trips, would do it all again in a heartbeat. Anyone know Limewood (aka Limey/Slimey)?
but I started my career as a MX Officer at Grand Forks (and got tired of working for a living and became a pilot! :) )
Seriously, having spent 2.5 yrs in MX, CCs were the greatest people on the flightline and I fully understood who owned that B-52 when they handed me the forms. Enjoyed taking them TDY and making sure they were part of my crew.
Thanks to all, current and former.
:wavey: F-16 Crew Chief in the OKANG for 5 years and loving every bit of it. Getting ready to serve my second time overseas this coming summer. It is an honor to be able to serve for my country and work on a multi-million dollar aircraft with my brothers and sisters of the USAF :supergrin:
T-38 Crew Chief, Reese AFB from 1987 to 1991.
KC-10 guy here from McGuire AFB. 1996-1999
USAFE7RET
06-23-2007, 17:49
462xx here, cut trained as a crew chief, Luke AFB 74-78. Was swingshift crew chief of F15A 73100. Had a ball loading wpns, fuel tanks, working wpns systems, hydraulics, AMAD, JFS, engines etc. Was working on Avionics qualifications but PCSed to soon.
:banana:
Engine runs on the trim pad were a real BLAST for this wpns troop, Loved full AB WOW :shocked: :shocked: :thumbsup:
Fox_Starwing
07-13-2007, 12:56
A-10 Warthog crew chief, 175th wing MD air guard.
I love that plane... Some say it's ugly, but I think it is
beautiful, and the most capable ground attack aircraft in the world.
I'm currently working as a phase maintenance guy. You know the drill, every four hundred hours we rip the plane apart and fix everything.
Live With Honor
07-30-2007, 18:38
Crewed F-15's for six years. Still the sexiest airframe in the inventory!!!
I specifically remember recovering my aircraft after a patrol mission at PSAB. After the Major gets into the truck to go to briefing, I start my thruflight, and notice a gaping hole in the left rear stabilator. My first thought was "Why the hell didn't my pilot tell me he had been hit!?" I call my pilot back to the aircraft and ask him what gives. His exact words "I'll be damn! I knew the bastards were shooting at us, but I didn't know I took one!"
Turns out he had taken a chunk of AA fire will on mission, and didn't even know it! The round missed the actuator by about six inches. Now that's a solid aircraft!
Glockenbang76
08-08-2007, 21:12
Originally posted by Live With Honor
Crewed F-15's for six years. Still the sexiest airframe in the inventory!!!
I specifically remember recovering my aircraft after a patrol mission at PSAB. After the Major gets into the truck to go to briefing, I start my thruflight, and notice a gaping hole in the left rear stabilator. My first thought was "Why the hell didn't my pilot tell me he had been hit!?" I call my pilot back to the aircraft and ask him what gives. His exact words "I'll be damn! I knew the bastards were shooting at us, but I didn't know I took one!"
Turns out he had taken a chunk of AA fire will on mission, and didn't even know it! The round missed the actuator by about six inches. Now that's a solid aircraft!
The F-15 rules the school. I had many happy memories fishing pilot pens out of the cockpit, and cleaning my girl until she shined. Live, what base were you stationed at?
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