Eyes of a Stranger

Queensryche………………………

Eyes of a Stranger………………sometimes when I look in the mirror, I don’t know the man looking back at me……………………

All alone now
Except for the memories
Of what we had and what we knew
Every time I try to leave it behind me
I see something that reminds me of you
Every night the dreams return to haunt me
Your rosary wrapped around your throat
I lie awake and sweat, afraid to fall asleep
I see your face looking back at me, looking back at me

And I raise my head and stare
Into the eyes of a stranger
I’ve always known that the mirror never lies
People always turn away
From the eyes of a stranger
Afraid to know what
Lies behind the stare

Is this all that’s left
Of my life before me
Straight jacket memories, sedative highs
No happy ending like they’ve always promised
There’s got to be something left for me
And I raise my head and stare
Into the eyes of a stranger
I’ve always known that the mirror never lies
People always turn away
From the eyes of a stranger
Afraid to know what
Lies behind the stare (Lies behind my stare)

How many times must I live this tragedy
How many more lies will they tell me
All I want is the same as everyone
Why am I here, and for how long

And I raise my head and stare
Into the eyes of a stranger
I’ve always known that the mirror never lies
People always turn away
From the eyes of a stranger
Afraid to know what
Lies behind the stare

Milestone of sorts

This day, 19 January 1975, I finished my first deployment to the Med on Independence.

Ironically it was the same day that this event occured.

This Day in Aviation

The F-15 Streak Eagle made it’s record breaking time to climb.

3 December 1945 – This Day in Aviation

3 December 1945: The first landing and takeoff aboard an aircraft carrier by a jet-powered aircraft were made by Lieutenant-Commander Eric Melrose Brown, MBE, DSC, RNVR, Chief Naval Test Pilot at RAE Farnborough, while flying a de Havilland DH.100 Sea Vampire Mk.10, LZ551/G. The ship was the Royal Navy Colossus-class light aircraft carrier, HMS Ocean … Continue reading 3 December 1945 →

Source: 3 December 1945 – This Day in Aviation

Super Scoopers Arrive in Los Angeles 3 Weeks Early Amid Active Fire Season | KTLA

A pair of bright yellow and red firefighting planes affectionately known as “super scoopers” landed at the Van Nuys Airport late Saturday afternoon. The aircraft, which Los Angeles County leases fr…

Source: Super Scoopers Arrive in Los Angeles 3 Weeks Early Amid Active Fire Season | KTLA

The best fire fighting aircraft available. Quick turnaround with a pass over a lake or open stretch of river.

De Pasquale’s Dozen with TV Host Mike Rowe

Lisa De Pasquale had a little interview with the one and only Mike Rowe and put it up on Townhall.

I thought it may be of interest to all of you out there who follow ATJT.

This one drives it home……………………………

1. What’s your favorite movie line and who would you like to say it to?

“What we’ve got here, is a failure to communicate.”? The Human Race.

http://townhall.com/columnists/lisadepasquale/2016/08/01/de-pasquales-dozen-with-tv-host-mike-rowe-n2200496

The Santa Barbara Fire

The big fire down by Santa Barbara is at 4,000 plus acres. This morning the smoke showed up in the Antelope Valley. At sunrise we realized it wasn’t high thin clouds.

I had to fuel my pickup and stop at the exchange before heading home. When I left the exchange, I could smell the smoke. Jets taking off were disappearing in short order on climb out from the base.

On the way home, I broke out my Trusty Nikon and grabbed a few pictures at the California City Boulevard turnoff. I give you those pictures.

Another shot of the San Gabriel Mountains

Looking West toward the Tehachapi along the utility service road parallel to the 58

I also decided to include the link to the latest on the fire from KTLA 5 out of Los Angeles.

Brush Fire Burning in Santa Barbara County Grows to 4,000 Acres; 5 Percent Contained

Senior photography on train tracks – illegal & deadly – WFSB 3 Connecticut

It’s a nationwide problem that railroad companies are looking to solve, and it all starts with a camera.

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) –

It’s a nationwide problem that railroad companies are looking to solve, and it all starts with a camera.

Getting on the tracks is very dangerous and outright stupid.

raphy on train tracks – illegal & deadly – WFSB 3 Connecticut

Winter in Upstate New York

A friend of mine had to hire a plow truck to clear his drive this morning. He is a 70 or so year old former Marine. He said the snow was far to wet and heavy to shovel.

I admit that I would have gone this way myself. Shoveling snow can be risky for some.

The rest of the pictures are at the link.

Plow Truck Day in Upstate NY

mike trani plow truck 1 mike trani plow truck 2

RARE PHOTOS: ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOEING 727’S FIRST FLIGHT

Today is the 53rd anniversary of the Boeing 727’s first flight. What a day. At the time, the 727 was a risk and important to the success of Boeing. Luckily for everyone, not only was the first flight a huge success, but the aircraft would go on to help redefine domestic air travel.

My first ride in a jet airliner was in a 727 of Northwest Orient. My Mom, two younger sisters and I rode in one from Billings MT to New York JFK with a stop in Minneapolis-Saint Paul in February of 1968. We were on our way to Germany to join Dad where he was working for an Air Force Contractor.

The meal service was really good and we could get a Coke or othere soft drink by just letting the stewardess know.

The Boeing 727's first flight - Photo: Boeing

Air-to-air photo of the Boeing 727’s first flight – Photo: Boeing

More pics and the full story at the link below.

Rare Photos: Anniversary of the Boeing 727’s First Flight

Eddie Rickenbacker – His Life and Accomplishments

The man had a colorful growing up, to say the least!

A short biography about Captain Rickenbacker that was on my Facebook news feed this morning from Disciples of Flight.

Captain Eddie Rickenbacker Consider it luck, skill, or just plain determination: Captain Eddie Rickenbacker survived, by his own count, 135 brushes with death before finally succumbing at the respectable age of 82. He flew numerous combat missions in World War 1 and survived multiple serious airplane crashes after the war. Learn more about the dangerous,

Source: Eddie Rickenbacker – His Life and Accomplishments

These Stunning Photos Capture Night Ops Aboard The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

America’s second oldest operational aircraft carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) is hard at work in the Atlantic training with its escorts and air wing for its next deployment. Part of this training includes executing night operations, just as they would in combat. These photos capture this colorful but dangerous world in awesome detail.

I have worked the Flight Deck on three ships, Independence, Ranger and Kitty Hawk. I was a Fly 1 Blueshirt(Aircraft Handler) and an Elevator Operator/Sound Powered Phone Talker on my first year plus on Independence and in squadrons in the Air Wing of Ranger and The Hawk.

The first time I went up on deck at the age of 19, I was absolutely terrified. One learns to keep one’s head on a swivel. I still have a few scars left on me from a bounce down the deck when I didn’t turn fast enough.

Source: These Stunning Photos Capture Night Ops Aboard The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

Islamic State Unveils Doomsday Weapon

A good one from The People’s Cube. I figured, why not?

A funny look at a serious thing happening, I would guess. The People’s Cube has a satircal look at pretty much everything going on these days.

“Source: Islamic State Unveils Doomsday Weapon

1 December 1984 – This Day in Aviation

After four years of planning and preparation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) intentionally crashed a Boeing 720 airliner to test an experimental fuel additive intended to reduce post-crash fires, and to assess passenger survivability. An anti-misting agent was added to standard commercial JP-5 jet fuel to create AMK, or “Anti-Misting … Continue reading 1 December 1984 →

The full article with pictures is at the link………………………….

Source: 1 December 1984 – This Day in Aviation

Quick Pics: Hangin’ out on the outskirts – Havre Daily News

Some good pictures of deer from my hometown newspaper.

Source: Quick Pics: Hangin’ out on the outskirts – Havre Daily News

‘Best Painted Aircraft‘ at Tigermeet: Eurofighter Typhoon: theBrigade

This was in the Sunday Surfing today. This is one awesome looking Typhoon. They have the winner at this year’s Tiger Meet(Bucket List Item).

The stunning ‘Tiger Typhoon’ clinched the international award at the event in Schleswig, North Germany. In total over 60 aircraft from 12 different nations attended the Tigermeet which is a regular event aimed at encouraging nations to freely explore interoperability and joint operations in a informal and flexible environment.
The Typhoon Tiger is one of several Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft in the Luftwaffe’s 74th Tactical Fighter Wing, formerly known as JG 74. The Bavarian Tigers first formed in March 2013 following the restructuring of the Luftwaffe that year. The Fighter Wing is based at Neuburg and Lechfeld Air Base in Bavaria. The tiger tradition was handed over from former Fighter Bomber Wing 32 in Lechfeld to Fighter Wing 74.
Kommodore Frank Graefe, who heads the Fighter Wing, said: “Everywhere we go the Tiger Typhoon has been getting a fantastic reaction. There is no doubt that it is an incredible looking aircraft. We were honoured to have been awarded this prize – especially since we were competing against the world’s best.”
“Although the award may have its light-hearted side, the NATO Tigermeets serve a serious purpose in ensuring pilots from across the organisation can hone their skills to perfection as they practice a number of scenarios in testing and demanding operational exercises. We were delighted with the way the event went and we were proud to represent a continuing and strong tradition.”