about the B-17.. I think I had told you I got to go through a B-17 that was here and was shocked at how small it actually was inside.. I remember getting the distinct impression that if you were in the cockpit, and going down, probably very little chance you'd be able to shimmy out the cockpit and bail out.. My thing was that I always though the ball turret gunner was the coolest position, but eventually found out that was the most dangerous position because they couldn't get out, I think, unless the plane was on the ground.. the ball turret wasn't open on the B-17 I got to go through..

I've gotten to sit in the cockpit of an F-15, F-16, A-10, B-52, KC-135, C-130, B-1B, and C-5 while making courses for specific functions of each plane.. it was heaven... Shocked at how small those cockpits are, as well.. C-5 amazed me the most.. You had to be 4 stories high when you were in the cockpit.. Amazed that thing could even get off the ground..

I think I've told the story of the F-15.. The enlisted guy who was showing me the plane jumped off the scaffold and began shaking the wing of the plane.. He then said, "I wanted you to feel turbulence.."

---

Friendship is like peeing your pants.. Everybody can see it, but only you can feel the warmth..