So as of 15 Aug I am living in Fort Collins CO with and adventure wonderland out my window (literally) flying the most rewarding mission in the AF in my dream aircraft whose home is... u guessed it, Arkansas. I decided to do an entire post dedicated to the Herc cuz I started digressing. So how did I get to this point you ask, you have to ask cuz I did a bad job of updating my blog, i just checked and there is a huge hole from T-6s to T-1s and then another hole to now.
You have 4 checkrides in T-6s, I successfully hooked every one of them. When I tell people that they usually aren't paying attention and it takes a second for it to sink in, then they turn there head swint there eyes and say "i didn't think you could graduate if you did that" its pretty funny to watch. God's hand has been all over my training. The commander told me the previous policy had been such, but his was different, considering my bout with airsickness, my last failed ride being fairly commical and my flight commander had nothing but positives about me, he let it slide. Needless to say I didn't get my first choice of the fast track to C-130's after T-6s and instead went to fly the T-1 which typically leads to another cargo or tanker. T-1s went much better for me, nothing steller, but I didn't hook any of the 3 checkrides and once again I had positive critiques. Toward the end of T-1s we recieved a list of what aircraft would be available to our class. We rank our choices and our flight commander ranks us. The first person getting their first choice, the second gets their choice of whats left and so on down the rankings. Much to my disappointment I didn't see a C-130 on our list and wasn't really surprised, it had been 3 years since the last C-130 was handed out, so I ranked FAIPing high on my list. First Assignment Instructor Pilots stay at the shcool house to instruct right after training and recieve their actual assignments later down the road. I thought if I could do this I would have another chance at picking up a C-130. Assignment night came, and rumors had been flying for the past 3 weeks about who would be FAIPed, one of us wanted it and two were being threatened with it. They make a big party out recieving your assignments and they put up funny slides making fun of you, then present your assignment in front of the full banquet room. They had gone through the entire class except the three of us, everyone knowing the FAIP position still lingered. Then there were 2, my roomate and good friend Joe & were all that remained. He knew I really wanted to FAIP everybody there did, and we all knew Joe would make the best of it, but really wanted something else, and he deserved it, he had done the best throughout the program. BUT they need the best to stay and teach others to fly, and the room fell silent as he was FAIPed. I didn't really care what happened after that, I knew what was left, and I too would make the most of what I didn't want, and when they said "Lt Tharel in which aircraft will you be singing the praises of AR next?" i was indifferent to turn around to see the slide, but I felt a collective gasp from the crowd I turned to see what I thought was a cruel joke (my hands are shakeing a little as i type this).
I looked at my flight commander who knew what I was thinking and smiled reaffirming he wasn't kidding. My flight partner through T-1s picked me up and spun me around like we were married (I owe a lot to him, we are complete opposites, but he did more to help me through and pass those rides than anyone, he was more excited to hear my first checkride score than his own and more excited to see my assignment than his own.) I don't know if it really hit the entire evening all I remember is repeating "I can't believe it" the rest of the night.This is an extremely long post to say I had an idea of what was going to happen when I started flight school, resulting in me getting C-130s to fly around the mountains. Everytime my plan was squashed I adjusted and came up with another plan, and everytime it didn't work (mom says not to use always and never so this is prolly an exageration) but it sure happened a lot and in every area of my life including relationships. But God knew what he was doing and was able to make me happy in the end, and I can thankfully say I DID learn His lesson to be content in every situation and know that what ever the result, it will be better than you planned. So here I am living the dream...
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