A Story to Tell
As I watch my state burn (nothing new) it reminds me.
About 15 or so years ago, as Colorado and Wyoming were burning there was a South Carolina AirGuard unit doing MAFFS at our base. We have a fire plane support area at the north end of the runway.
Anyway, a C-130 just returned so he is in their hotpit. We were cranking up our plane for a maintenance run so we were monitoring the radio. The #3 cranks up like normal, then suddenly that plane rolls forward. We were worried, thought he had jumped chocks. As he moved the #2 starts to spin up. That’s not normal. The sequence is #3, #4, #2, #1.
The 130 turns and taxis towards the hammerhead. As he does both #1 & #4 spin up. Wow! That was cool. By the time he reaches the hammerhead there are 8 F-16’s lined up to take off. The MAFFS calls the tower for clearance. They tell him he is #9 in line. The pilot quickly comes back with that the tower better check fire planes have priority. A second pause and then they order the F-16’s out of his way. As they taxi in circles to make room the 130 squeezes by and just powers up and is gone. That was so fun to watch. Paint those orange number on the side of the plane and you rule the flightline.