As told by Ed…

There have been a few moments when I wondered whether I joined the right service: the first when I stepped off the cattle truck at Fort Benning, GA in the the Drill Sergeants’ waiting clutches, and the latest when the rear hatch of a C-17 Globemaster opened to a foursome of F-16 Fighter Jets running an intercept, which was but one of many demonstrations of American air superiority conducted at the RIMPAC2010 C-17 Media Day Demonstration at Hickam AFB in Honolulu, HI.

Photo by Edward

The day started early as per MSGT Hammond’s sneaky (we only got the start time after everyone signed up) 0445 first call, which– though a series of hijinks and mishaps–Dallas and I managed to miss! Fortunately we were able to locate the C-17 Taskforce’s headquarters in time to receive all the requisite safety briefings and awareness junkets along with all our other bleary-eyed counterparts.

Photo by Dallas

Photo by Dallas

Dallas, boarding the plane. Photo by Edward.

The C-17 is one of the premier airlift platforms in PACAF, providing strategic outreach via tactical personnel movements, supply drops, medical evacuations, and relief operations. The C-17 can take off on a runway 1/3 of what is required to field a Boeing 747 and is able to make all movements on its own–including backing up by creating a reverse vortex–allowing it to be fielded in most locations around the world.

Photo by Dallas

Photo by Edward

Being in the Army, I’m no stranger to Globemasters, but I’ve never had a chance to feel the bird actually maneuver, and it was pretty novel feeling an aircraft of that size pull enough G’s to keep me glued to my seat though a 45-degree bank just prior to a lightning-quick landing on the Big Island.

The newlywed Whites' first official adventure! Photo by Jasmine!

Photo by Edward

Photo by Dallas

Photo by Edward.

The Globemaster Taskforce personnel were very enthusiastic about showing off what PACAF pilots were really capable of, and made sure to show off the capabilities of PACOM’s air assets at every available opportunity. A last-minute addition was the addition of an F-16 intercept, which amounted to an eye-level airshow through an open rear hatch. At times the F-16 fighters came so close you could almost touch them, only to bank away in unison and overtake the other aircraft in our airborne convoy.

The airdrop over the Big Island. Photo by Edward

The other C-17 on the mission. Photo by Dallas.

F-16s join us. Photo by Dallas.

F16s flying behind our C-17's open doors. Photo by Dallas

As one of their mud-puppy brethren, it was great fun to hitch a ride and see what the flyboys were really capable of, and it was a fitting end to my time in Hawaii with Dallas, and a great adventure to chronicle in ProAwesome.

The End!

For more images from our flight, check out Dallas and Ed’s separate photo galleries!  We’d also like to thank the U.S. Pacific Command and the Pacific Air Forces for allowing us this fantastic opportunity!