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ADAK
Dick Reichelt
So what's happening on the way home? We're out of Kadena heading for
Elmendorf. We started out with a pretty heavy load for Stateside plus six pax.
It was a while, and finally a struggle to reach FL370 to settle down for the
ride. Pretty night ,stars shining bright, just like in the song.
KABOOOM! From the left side. That was a new one on this ace jet pilot! The
tapes might have jiggled, N1 or N2 might have done something but it happened
too fast. We were certainly awake, all of us. The chattering about what it
could have been had just subsided after a minute or two, when KABOOM !, This
time I saw the flash. I had to look at number one even though I had once vowed
NEVER to look out there again.(Remember I was always nervous about the area of
the junction of the outer wing and engines 1&4)
The blasts came regularly now, a blast and flame shooting FORWARD about 10
feet, as well as a longer torch out the tailpipe. We established a call to
Elmendorf to see if they could rouse anyone with advice for us. We changed the
fuel flow to see if that would eliminate the blasting which was becoming
unnerving to all of us. I think it changed the severity of the blasting going
on, but we all didn't like what might be going on in the engine or to the
mounts, so we shut it down.
When heavy and on three engines even in the mighty powerful model A we were
taught to look ahead, to two engine operation just so you were prepared for
that eventuality.
Uh, Oh,A jettison plan? I KNEW it, I'm gonna be the first guy to jettison a
load out of the 141! Oh woe on us!
Elmendorf advised us that Adak, an island in the Aleutian chain extending a
thousand miles from Anchorage was suitable for us if we didn't think we could
continue.
We decided yes! Lets get out of here and started a descent into Adak. Pretty
far down on the descent the radio advised us that Pratt and Whitney had advised
them that they suspected an engine nose cone deice failure, check all switches
and circuit breakers. In addition if that all checks out, the engine would
probably run OK below 18,000 feet. It would be OK to restart and see.
Sure enough, after the start-up the engine ran fine.
With all the playing around and low altitude fuel burn, we continued our
letdown to Adak to get the airplane checked, with Anchorage still 1,200 miles
to the east.
The weather at Adak had broken layers to 8,000 and 600 & five miles visibility
for the approach.
'Air Force, Navy Adak approach, you're cleared for a VOR approach.'
In my mind I'm screaming VOR! VOR!? We don't DO VOR's!
Here we go, out bound, procedure turn descend inbound, intercept! VOR inbound,
check minimum altitudes! Obstructions, obstructions . 'Don't f**k this up
Reichelt! This I don't like!
Whew! We pop out, runway in sight, short final now,. Wow! There in the
illumination of the landing lights, off to the right is the crashed skeleton of
a P-3 Orion. I guess they didn't like the VOR, letdown and approach either!
We had enough for this day, so we had a delightful crew rest at ADAK,
drizzling, cloud- swept, garden spot of the Aleutians.
Next day we had a chance to see what we had gotten into. Clouds and fog are
swirling around us in the drizzle and all across the island. Grey everything.
The place was one big grey volcanic cinder. Looking north past the take-off end
of the runway was a hill that swept upward from the level on up into the
clouds. Very ominous, this place was awaiting some Hollywood 'B'-film director
to come film Creatures of The Lost World of the 20th Century!
The C-141 was the only airplane I would trust, to take off in that schmootz
with that hill threatening us with it's black cape and sickle. The engine had
been examined, fuel put on board, so off we went. The engine ran like a champ
at 18,000 feet en route to Elmendorf where the engine anti-ice problem was
repaired and the 141 continued in the system.
Our crew had to go to the end of the line, back into 'crew rest'. Now, after a
very short non-taxing day, we still had a lot of zoom left. What to do? We
could've gone to downtown Anchorage and 'See Nudes in an Exquisite Manner'(An
expensive clip joint where naked women dance behind gauze so thick, and
lighting fixed so you can't SEE anything) .(I heard).
Or - we could go to the Elmendorf club where it was always happy hour, and-YES!
Play the now famous juke box, featuring "YEEEeeeeow,Everyyyytime I Go to town
They Keep Kicking My Dog Around". You just can't know unless you've been
there…. how many drunk quarters went into that machine to play that
record. It played in 1967, 1968, 1969, and as far as I know its still there,
scratched white from the needle and still going .The poor bartenders heard it
played SO many times, they vowed to smash it, but they never did.
At last, homeward bound, last leg. East to the east coast. NOW you know what
its like to party all night when you should be sleeping, but your body knows
its really daytime…. and you get alerted for flight. The take off into
the blackest sky in the universe is 'Hang on. Don't fail me now!' and we make
it! Auto pilot on.
That last leg home to the east. Oh Boy! You've been struggling to stay alert
and here comes the sunrise. First the pretty glow then the FIERCE orange ball,
then the soooothing warm radiant heat. This is when I had my best dreams and
hallucinations.
Wake up! You're almost home! It's a pretty day. Put her down nicely, park it,
bags on the crew bus. Shake hands, pat em on the back and a "Let's do it
again."
I would do it again gladly. Thank you Lockheed, God Bless America!
09/18/2004
Richard (Dick) Reichelt
richreichelt@sbcglobal.net
5690 Schaefer Ave. Suite H
Chino, Ca.91710