Posted on 07/29/2005 7:51:14 PM PDT by SandRat
An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt pilot reaches a milestone supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, July 29, 2005 — The commander respectfully called "Duck" scored 3,000 flying hours in an A-10 Thunderbolt over the Afghan skies July 3.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jeffrey Cowan, 74th Fighter Squadron commander, entered A-10 "Warthog" history upon returning to base after flying a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Since his first flight, Cowan, from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., has clocked more than 3,000 hours in a Thunderbolt cockpit.
"It is extremely rare for a pilot to get 3,000 hours in a single-seat fighter aircraft. I am honored to have 'Duck' as a boss and mentor."
U.S. Air Force Capt. Cameron Curry
"It is extremely rare for a pilot to get 3,000 hours in a single-seat fighter aircraft. I am honored to have ‘Duck’ as a boss and mentor," said Air Force Capt. Cameron Curry, an A-10 pilot with the squadron.
"Lieutenant Colonel Cowan entered into a select group of combat aviators/attack pilots passing a milestone that demonstrates his professionalism, determination and resilience," said Air Force Col. John Dobbins, 455th Expeditionary Operations Group commander.
During Cowan's deployment here, he has taken to the Afghan sky an average of nine hours each week, providing close-air support for coalition ground troops.
That is the equivalent of 125 days in an aircraft.
It is as if he flew continously from March 26 to today (July 29).
Lucky guy! Well done sir.
Love the A-10. But I do think they are tasked to loiter in the vicinity until it's time to deliver the goods, right? That probably helped.
flying LOW-N-SLOW.
Thought you might like his call sign.
Wow.
Thassalottatime.
If it were eight-hour days, that's about a year and a half.
LTC "Duck" Cowan, my sharp Salute is yours, Sir. It would be great to know "why" LTC Cowan is known as "Duck"- given what a well engaged Warthog does and can do...
Anyone you know?
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All pilots do the minute it's addigned to them. Sort of like new fathers and their newborn daughter.
Is there a problem with your time accounting for an aircraft to "loiter" in a combat area?
I'm sure he spent lots of hours - loitering - circling (like a pissed off Eagle on a mission) - just waiting for the ragheads to show themselves.
Yes, he probably spent countless hours - waiting for the call from the troops on the ground - "Angel 1, Sniper 1, target!"
I DO NOT like the way you worded your reply.
You imply that his time spent loitering did not mean much...to wit....."But I do think they are tasked to loiter in the vicinity until it's time to deliver the goods, right? That probably helped.
What exactly do you mean by, "That probably helped."?
Sounds to me like you think the loiter time does mean much.
LVM
Yes, I suppose they do. It is a hell of a workhorse plane, even if the designers paid no respects to the finer senses. ;~D
Please support our Hobbit Hole Pocket knives for the troops project.
My brother was a helo pilot in 'Nam and was deployed (extraction) near fire zones. Long stories, but he came home alive.
A10 bump
Did you here the one where the Navy was thinking about putting Warthogs on carriers?
Yeah right up to the point that they realized they'd have to put the arresting hooks in the planes nose and steam under the plane so it could land.
I can't picture it........
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