HTLI - Lindi, Tanzania (USS Ford)

HTLI - Lindi, Tanzania. I don't think I could have discovered a better airport to work on my Carrier Quals. It's found in X-Plane, it's found in Foreflight, it's visible with Ortho4XP, and it has several runways to practice on... and different wind angles. The BEST part.... it is a pilot's BNB it seems. So I have rented a couple of the houses for me, my support crew and guests. A bit of an Aviator's party is happening...

The Ford's COD, the CMV-22B brought in my flight instructor and LSO; Joseph "Kona" Coffey, a guy actually from the "Big Island" of Hawaii. SUPER nice guy. He got us permission for a flyby of the carrier, and their Naval Mass Communication Specialist (MC) took tons of photos for their crew's use and some potential larger Navy promotional projects.

Joe had me flying low and fast by the frigate and then out to the carrier. He walked me through different ops and landing scenarios and discussed various needed evolutions and then back to Lindi to do T&Gs as he coached me through a Naval Aviator's perspective of flight parameters. I had him also take the front seat for a spell (his grin was HUGE) after my lessons so that he could be "intimately familiar" with the Texan's personality.... did I mention he had a huge grin? That afternoon, his CO informed him to stay on shore and to be my instructor tomorrow as well, since the other LSOs were slotted for other official tasking on ship.

So tonight we will BBQ and sip libations and enjoy aviation chats around a sweet fire-pit at the BNB hood. We scheduled for a late morning wake up. WINK!Read more