Chris's first flight was a totally unmemorable Continental Airlines trip from Kansas City to Denver in the summer 1965. Although the flight was unmemorable, it led to an adventure that continues to this day. At the end of that flight was the US Air Force Academy. And by graduation in June 1969, Chris had gained 30 hours in Air Force T-41s, an FAA Private Pilot's license, a dozen hours or so in the back seat of a Korean War vinatage T-33, navigation training in the Air Force T-29, as well as basic parachute training at Fort Benning GA and advanced parachuting at the Academy.
Conviar T-29 Flying Classroom
Cessna T-41
Northrop T-38 Talon, still in use today
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Stars over Mount Ranier
Graduation brought new flight adventures. USAF pilot training in the Cessna T-37. The venerable "Tweety Bird" (so-called because of it's high-pitched engines) served as the Air Force's introduction to the wonderful world of jet aircraft. This was capped off with six months flying the Northrop T-38. For Chris, and thousands of other Air Force pilots over the last 50 years, this is the aircraft that provided thrills like supersonic flight, four-ship formation flight, and loops and cloverleafs that took 5,000 feet of altitude to complete.
Lockheed C1-141 Starlifter
venerable Cessna T-37 "Tweety Bird"