Lost RVers

[Old_Crow]

In our case I was an adult CAP Member and my dad was a squadron leader. We did a ton of stuff for the cadets but they were never allowed as flight crew on searches.

We did lots of volunteerism at airshows and we did basic glider flight training but two highlights I remember were getting the kids a ride in a C130 and getting the older cadets who were already in pilot training into the hyperbaric chamber at Edwards. The kids rode in the bay but I was lucky enough to ride on the flight deck.

The highlight of my AF career as a crew chief on fighter jets was a back seat ride in a T-38. Went as support on a month long TDY to Vandenburg AFB in Cali. Got to ride there and back from Arizona.
Had to do a week of training first. Hyperbaric chamber, ejection seat trainer, the whole enchilada.

The only other thing that came close was when I qualified for my run-up and taxi license on the F-4's.

 

[Oldgator73]

I remember were getting the kids a ride in a C130

As kids they were most likely thrilled to get the ride. I never was thrilled at the prospect of riding in a 130. I was always happy when it was announced we would be taking a C5 or better yet a contract flight. Took the freedom bird back from Misawa, Japan to St Louis when my Dad was in the hospital. A 747 with 5 passengers. Never even saw the other four guys.

 

[Old_Crow]

As kids they were most likely thrilled to get the ride. I never was thrilled at the prospect of riding in a 130. I was always happy when it was announced we would be taking a C5 or better yet a contract flight. Took the freedom bird back from Misawa, Japan to St Louis when my Dad was in the hospital. A 747 with 5 passengers. Never even saw the other four guys.

Worst ride I ever had was in a C-141. We, of course, were seated sideways to the direction of travel. When we landed at Nellis, the side winds were so heavy that you could look down the airplane and see the amount of crabbing we were doing to maintain course. That jerk at the end when we touched down filled many a barf bag.

 

[Ex-Calif]

The highlight of my AF career as a crew chief on fighter jets was a back seat ride in a T-38. Went as support on a month long TDY to Vandenburg AFB in Cali. Got to ride there and back from Arizona.
Had to do a week of training first. Hyperbaric chamber, ejection seat trainer, the whole enchilada.

The only other thing that came close was when I qualified for my run-up and taxi license on the F-4's.

Worst ride I ever had was in a C-141. We, of course, were seated sideways to the direction of travel. When we landed at Nellis, the side winds were so heavy that you could look down the airplane and see the amount of crabbing we were doing to maintain course. That jerk at the end when we touched down filled many a barf bag.

In my commercial career riding jump seat used to be common. I mean like free travel type stuff city to city. But also we would be in the cockpit at times for observation/troubleshooting purposes.

When I was based in Honolulu with Aloha I rode the jumpseat a lot. If a captain had questions it was pretty easy to grab a trip ticket and ride the airplane with him for an afternoon.

Honolulu-Hilo-Maui- Honolulu - repeat for 5 hours - LOL...

I bring it up because it's really noticeable to land with a crab from the flight deck. What is also very different is how it feels 60 feet or whatever in front of the main gear. It is really smooth and feels "mushy" on the wheels until the nose drops.

Then of course 9/11 came and everyone got kicked out of the cockpit except "essential" crew.

<sigh>

 

[Larry N.]

In our case I was an adult CAP Member and my dad was a squadron leader. We did a ton of stuff for the cadets but they were never allowed as flight crew on searches.

We did lots of volunteerism at airshows and we did basic glider flight training but two highlights I remember were getting the kids a ride in a C130 and getting the older cadets who were already in pilot training into the hyperbaric chamber at Edwards. The kids rode in the bay but I was lucky enough to ride on the flight deck.

I spent many years as Senior Member too, but the highlight of my Cadet years was when we rode a C-123 from Evansville to Whiteman AFB in Missouri (and back). Many sneer at that aircraft, but as a teenager in love with flying, it was a treat!

No, cadets can't fly on actual missions, but they do have many other roles today from flight line to ground teams to communications, etc. And they get both fixed wing and glider orientation rides as part of the cadet program.

As kids they were most likely thrilled to get the ride.

You bet- that C-123 ride in 1959 was a real thrill...

When we landed at Nellis, the side winds were so heavy that you could look down the airplane and see the amount of crabbing we were doing to maintain course.

Unfortunately an aircraft like the C-141 can't drop the wing enough in strong crosswinds to align the fuselage with the runway, as is possible in most aircraft with greater wing clearance, so that odd touchdown is unavoidable -- even at that there often is an attempt to kick the nose straight at the last second in some aircraft.

 

[DonTom]

"Nevada's Silver Alert policy changed after elderly couple went missing, husband died."

See here.


-Don- Reno, NV

 

[jackiemac]

"Nevada's Silver Alert policy changed after elderly couple went missing, husband died."

See here.


-Don- Reno, NV

You need the app to read it..

 

[Larry N.]

You need the app to read it..

I can read it just fine with Waterfox (therefore presumably with Firefox).

 

[Isaac-1]

The moral of that story is don't wonder off into the wilderness unless you are prepared for any reasonable eventuality. This should hold true regardless of ones age or physical condition.

I have a friend that lives in rural North Dakota, and they keep at least 48 hours worth of survival supplies in their car at all times, just in case they get stuck in a blizzard driving home some day. From what I understand it is common practice for all the locals to do so.

 

[DonTom]

You need the app to read it..

I don't. I can even click on the llnk in your quote from me and it goes right there.

I am using Edge in Windows 11.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Matt_C]

While I am so glad that they were found and that the Silver Alert has been amended, I have to think in my own terms here that without much more bad luck than I usually have, we could end up in a similar situation. Let's be honest here folks, I spent most of my life in places were it was hard to get lost. I don't actually consider it as a real possibility very often. That does not mean I should not be ready.
Matt

 

[DonTom]

Let's be honest here folks, I spent most of my life in places were it was hard to get lost.

I enjoy getting lost out in the middle of nowhere when I used to go backpacking. But it's not really possible for me to get lost as I carry an inReach, Spot and a couple of GPS units. Campus and map also, sometimes.

And many extra batteries.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[JudyJB]

What is interesting is that I don't remember the original articles about this couple mentioning that they did not issue a silver alert because they were not residents. That would certainly have upset a lot of tourists at the time.

Also, the article mentions that they did not have any water. Shouldn't there have been 6 gallons in their hot water tank even if their regular tanks were empty? Maybe they did not realize that or know how to access it through the outside panel.

 

[camperAL]

Hi JudyJB,

I remember this happening last year. We drove through about the same area before they did.

First they got their RV stuck and decided to head out the next day to get help getting the RV out of the rut. They headed out in their car with no provisions, including water. Not real far from the RV They got the car stuck and stayed there in the cold.

The Lady melted snow? so they would have something to drink. The nephew kept on authorities and people traveling in the area to keep a look out. Why I think they found the wife still alive.

So the water tank in their RV wouldn't have helped. BTW they found the RV first and saw the direction the car went and then found the car stranded. Sad Story.

 

[Matt_C]

CamperAl,
If you saw the televised version of the recovery, you would also know that flatted a rear tire. The recovery people were ready to deal with that.
The real shame too is that the car got suck less than 2 miles from the RV. They could have walked back to it and used its resources to stay alive.
There is a lot for all of us to learn from this.
Matt

 

[Kirk]

There is a lot for all of us to learn from this.

If I remember right they followed a GPS on to that road. Even today the GPS is only as good as the data that it has and the algorithm that processes it. Having traveled by RV for many years I just can't imagine the lack of judgment that would cause you to follow a GPS onto a primitive road with an RV.

 

[Oldgator73]

Having traveled by RV for many years I just can't imagine the lack of judgment that would cause you to follow a GPS onto a primitive road with an RV.

Our GPS took us onto the Tail of the Dragon. Luckily we were in our passenger car (and the Tail has all kinds of warning signs at the entrance but there were no signs warning us that the road was closed over the bridge or the dam, whatever it was).

 

[jymbee]

And many extra batteries.
-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Ray-IN]

If I remember right they followed a GPS on to that road. Even today the GPS is only as good as the data that it has and the algorithm that processes it. Having traveled by RV for many years I just can't imagine the lack of judgment that would cause you to follow a GPS onto a primitive road with an RV.

Some people blindly follow the GPS. During our Alaska trip, one morning the wagonmaster told us NOT to follow or use a GPS as it would be wrong, then handed each driver printed driving instructions.
Well, one couple driving a 40" DP towing a car, followed their GPS and turned onto a gravel road 1/4 mile from the intended highway.
He kept driving, the gravel turned into dirt, then a service road thru a forest.
When they finally arrived at the CG for that night, he said he had to unhook the towed, back the MH 1/2 mile until he found a clearing where he made a 13-point turnaround, reattached the car.
Then his wife read the driving instructions to him to get them to the CG. Boy was she fuming when they finally arrived-after dark.

The kicker was; we all had hand radios on the same frequency.

 

[camperAL]

If I remember correctly, the couple wasn't in good enough shape to walk back to their RV. This story is a really old one but has a good message for others so they don't repeat it.

Since this story is water way over the dam, I think there isn't much use in continued talking about it, since it has all been said. Nuff said.