NAS whiskey had a great air show in the past. Got to watch the Blue Angels with the flight crew and also got an up close and personal pictures next to #1 jet.
I’m a retired corporate pilot who just recently discovered your channel. First, thank you for serving our country. When I was young I dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot, but unfortunately my eyes were not good enough. So I went the civilian route, and had a wonderful 43 year career flying corporate jets and helicopters. My best friend in collage became a Navy pilot, flying the A-4, F-4, and F-14. I got to visit him during his training at Kingsville, as well as at Miramar and Norfolk. Having talked with him and other Navy pilots, I have the upmost respect for carrier operations, and videos such as yours add to that respect. BTW, he just retired from a second career at Delta. Second, your videos are awesome, and like everyone commenting here, love your voice overs. Really puts us in the cockpit with you! Thank you for doing them, and please keep them coming.
Your the coolest pilot I’ve ever. Thanks for your service and great videos. Can’t remember the source of these words, but in essence they say that I and my family can sleep in peace at night because of men like you who stand ready to rain down great harm on my enemies. God bless you for as long as you draw breath.
You can never forget how beautiful Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island is. I would love to go back and see the base. Could have done whole tour there and been happy.
Pail, my hometown, Mount Vernon, WA. Thanks for the air tour of Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island. A-4 Skyhawk driver in the '70s. My father flew PBYs out of NAS Widbey and in the Aleutian Campaign in WWII. Needs of the Navy, I was stuck in Lemoore...
Yeah, Lemoore nice to visit, okay for a tour. Hanford and Lemoore were decent. Spent every weekend not on duty camping/climbing at Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequia, or diving in Monterey. VA-122 Framp, VFA-125 Framp, and VFA-161 Avionics. Lived in Mount Vernon While Stationed at Whidbey. Now in Marysville.
@@williamcody5271 Did pretty much the same when not on cruise. Lived in town before while in the VA-127 RAG and in base housing in between two cruises with VA-212 on the USS Hancock. Lot of scuba diving at Monastery Beach in Carmel and some camping ln Sequia. Now on the East Coast but miss the Skagit Valley!
I came for the aviation content and stayed for the geography and the love of a special part of the world. I can tell that you’re the kind of person who always gets a window seat on a commercial flight and looks at the world below the entire time.
I'm a native Whidbey Islander (five generations born and/or died here). We used to get great sonic booms over our house (Partridge Point) once a week until all the weenies wrote too many letters. My Gpa flew PBYs into the Seaplane Base and lived at Strawberry Point. This was wonderful to listen to and watch. Thank you.
@@Tucum0 I live with an old California woman that still regularly bitches about the SR71 pilot that knocked all the fragile knick-knacks off the windowsill when I was a baby.. they don't seem to let things go well.
I remember you told us in another video that you're an instructor now. I have to say your students are very fortunate to have you teaching them. You make it look so easy and explain everything so well.
Love your videos…never been in military but am fascinated by these cockpit views…makes me feel like a fighter pilot…way cooool!!! Thanks for sharing and thanks for your service!
Cool memories! I used to take my older son out to watch the planes when he was little - loved watching planes come in for the break! My husband flew A-6 Intruders at Whidbey - which, as you know, you left off your list..... Now I listen to you guys fly overhead and occasionally get to see the break! Fun to see the break from inside the plane!
There used to be a Navy Flying Club at Whidbey with two (possibly three) T-34Bs. I'd drive all the way from Ft Lewis (just south of Tacoma) to fly them. It was a long drive there and back, but totally worth it. Cruising up the Straight of Juan de Fuca past Olympic National Park, bopping about in the San Juan Islands, or exploring the greater Puget Sound never failed to amaze me. I knew it well enough to know every nook and cranny. The airplane was great to fly...best flying piston engine light airplane ever made. Too bad all of the clubs are gone now, so far as I know. The Monterey Navy Flying Club was the crown jewel, but Whidbey was a close second.
Agree with another comment that the voiceover brings this to another level. Personally I’m loving the Fly Navy details, and learn something every time…this week it was fascinating to see how your break and approach mirrors that of trapping on the boat, just with velocity set to 0. Awesome stuff and thank you.
Ditto for my kiddo. She was at Whidbey many times and we visited her often. Now she's working for a defense contractor at Patuxent NAS near DC doing testing for another Navy plane. Hope your son is doing well with his retirement.
I grew up in Oak Harbor and Coupeville and often watched the planes practice over the fields SUPER close to the ground. I remember an exchange student freaked out because he thought we were under attack.
Love the voice overs. I’m all civilian aviation with 33000+ (yes that’s correct, Thirty Three Thousand hours plus. Retired airline pilot) I’ve flown with pilots from all branches of the military and never had the details of military flying explained in detail like you do. I did get to fly the F-18 simulator at naval air station Norfolk with my First officers help in getting in the door. He was an instructor there. I flew with him for 2 months. Great guy and a great pilot. Very well done. Keep up the good work.
From Seattle myself, you rattling off what's great about WA brought a tear to my eye 😁. As close as I get to aviation is flying original hornets in DCS, favorite line of modern military jets!
I fly my little 172 from Paine Field and see you guys zooming around all the time. Its so cool to see you fly around my home airspace! Thanks for the quality vids.
Thank you for your service. Our son flies a P-8 out of Whidbey Island. He's deployed elsewhere in the world quite often, but when he's home we absolutely treasure our visits to the area. God's country is an accurate description.
This is so interesting and fun to watch. You’ve worked really hard to be able to do this. Your so lucky. I’m really enjoying your videos. It gives us the opportunity to experience what you do. Fabulous. Thank you.
I grew up in Oak Harbor. My dad was Chief with VA 126 which no longer exists( A-6’s). I just want to say thank you for your noise! He lives right next to the OLF and we love watching the touch and goes. Thanks for keeping us Safe
In the early 1970s, I lived on the north side of Dugualla Bay. The A-6 community kept me awake many a night as they did touch and go landings. Thanks for the aerial tour.
I was born in Seattle but never lived up there much. However, I did live about 4-5 miles across I-15 from Miramar Naval Air Station, bettor known to some as "Fighter Town." Top Gun School was there when my family & I lived just across the freeway. Your memories of jets in the night are very familiar. We'd get "serenaded" by the jet engine repair facility where they worked on the F-4 Phantoms and F-14 Tomcats. I was in the Navy at the time and thought it was pretty cool... some of my friends & neighbors had differing opinions. 🤣 As you might imagine, the "Top Gun" movie was very popular with our crowd in San Diego!
I live in La Conner and the Whidbey aircraft are a daily presence. I have watched the Growlers making this approach to Whidbey many times and it is a pleasure to see it from the pilot's perspective.
I can only watch air shows, fly simulators, collect and build Tamiya's plane models hahah but nothing can beat this channel ride alongs. Thank you for bringing us along.
Got to visit Whdby Island for the first time last year, you are so right about it. Your videos are amazing. Thank you for doing this so professionally it makes me proud to be an American.
Your video voice overs are the best, unique insight we don't get to see normally, I'm these days of USA military movement around the world it's good to know we have pilots like you who'll be ready to defend our great country. Thank you.🇺🇸🙏
Pretty awesome! Saw you flies over lake Cavanaugh, Conway, and then JUST south of my family’s farm in LaConner. Further farm directly south of the Rainbow Bridge. Love that sound of freedom! Fly Navy!
During the WW2 my father was a radar and radio tech working on PBYs on Whidbey island. He became an engineer working for Boeing and came up with the patent to use spun fiberglass thread to make radomes on Bomarc missiles.
I've flown GA out to the San Juans a few times and Whidbey has been kind enough to clear me overhead, and we've seen Growlers landing under us more than once. Great to see this from your perspective.
Totally enjoy riding along on your excursions. I have a private pilot license, but haven’t flown in decades, mainly because of the expense. The perspective provided by your cockpit camera brings back some that great feeling that you can only get as PIC. Thanks for the ride and for your service.
Love your content man! In a previous life I was the flight doc for VP-1 and VAQ-136 out of Whidbey; I miss the flying adventures, the PNW lifestyle and beauty, but most of all the people. Fly Navy!!
As a general aviation pilot of a Cessna 150 from Arlington, WA it was awesome to see your view. I've encountered a few of you guys coming up quick on me a few times. I have always wondered what it would be like to fly into NAS Whidby. Thanks so much for the ride. I'll remember to salute the next time I see ya off my wing...❤🛩
Another great voiceover that shows another talent of Pail: not only is he a great aviator, but could also work as a tourist guide😁. Thanks for taking us with you and explaining all the details for a smooth approach and landing while showing us the great scenery👍. Must be quite the contrast to where you live + fly now😉.
Just saw the air show in seattle at seafair a couple weeks ago with you guys and the blue angels and stuff and the announcer was talking about local whidbey island growlers that were performing. So cool! I live in port townsend by the way so you are just a stones throw away. Thank you for your service!!
Many thanks Pail. I've been following your jams for the past couple of weeks and I am glued to the screen on every single one. I just love your narration. You are clear, descriptive, humorous and informative. Thanks to you, I have a new appreciation for carrier-based aviation and have even used your mantra, meatball, line up, angle of attack to improve my carrier landings on the Microsoft flight sim. Please keep 'em coming, stay safe and thank you for your service. Chris (callsign Chookman) 😆
My dad was almost stationed at Whidbey back around the late 1950's but settled on NAS Alameda. We lived right across the street from the base. We saw EVERY plane the name flew back then from 1960 to 1967 land at that base including sea planes. My brothers and I got so good a recognizing the planes that we could tell what it was just by hearing the engine sound. Fun times, and we always knew when a carrier came in as all the planes would fly off it just outside the Golden Gate and land at the base. Our house was the last one the plane flew over, so our view of the planes was excellent (imagine 20 A-1 skyraiders in the sky at once). I truly miss those days
Love your voiceovers! Living vicariously through you sir. Working on these birds in St Louis for 4 decades & wished i could get a ride b4 retirement. I would have more luck winning the powerball than getting a ride though! Lol
A few years back, I was hunting in a remote area of the North Cascades. I was walking below the crest of a valley looking across the hills below, and mountains in the distance. It was totally silent except a light breeze, until suddenly I heard a rumbling echo off of the hills. Seconds later one of you guys came shooting right over the hill, and dropped down into the valley below. I waved but I was already in your rear view mirror, or whatever you guys have got going on there.. That must be one hell of an area to get to fly a jet through. It made my year to see it up close as a lone man on the ground! Cheers
I was stationed at Whidbey NAS in the late 70's and early 80's and it's still as beautiful as ever. I worked on the A-6 Intruders there but the Growlers are certainly better looking/more capable than the old Skypigs. Love the vids and the VO rocks it!
My son is on the CARL in the Pacific and station there at Whydbey VAQ 136. Your videos bring me closer to him and the pride I feel for him and the choices he's made. Thank you, A Proud Dad FLY NAVY !
I grew up in the okanogan valley watching the ea 18 growlers come screaming through at low levels but most often we would here them pealing around over head. Such a treat to watch and listen to. Cool to hear you mention my home area
My dad moved to Whidbey Island after he retired from the Navy. After he passed some of his things are displayed at the base. He served two tours to Vietnam aboard the USS Kitty Hawk.
@jeffbeck8993 "Plenty freedom." Says the guy in the youtube comments. The time tested and proven metric that is never wrong 😂. You fall right in line. Right where they tell you, huh? Like a good media lap dog. I bet he's all you talk about at family functions. I bet he makes you so angry, and you get all upset and stomp around your little apartment, but quietly, because you don't want to upset your neighbors, because you're only a tough guy on the internet and truth be told, you're a little scared all the time. It's ok little buddy, I'm not going to hurt you.
That was so cool! I live in Sno County, and am a frequent visitor to Whidbey, love it there. The fighter jet noise never bothers me. I enjoy watching the jets zoom by, and so wish I could be a passenger in one! Great job, guys, thank you for your service!
My wife and I were on Whidbey Island about 5 years ago now, and just happened to witness F-18's doing touch and goes on that same runway. We were just driving around aimlessly on the island when I heard the unmistakable sound of fighter aircraft to my left, and saw an F-18 landing through the trees. I followed the road we were on to the end of the runway, and we sat and watched you guys for about 20 minutes. It was an awesome, and unexpected part of our trip!
On occasion I'll see one or two Growlers flying northeast in Port Angeles as they were rtb to NAS Whidbey Island. Back in high school (2001 and 2002) I took NJROTC during my junior and senior year. One of my instructors flew EA-6B Prowlers for VAQ-139 (Go Cougs). I don't recall which building it was, but the group of students I was with walked up a flight of stairs, on the face of each step was the names of pilots. One of the names stenciled on the step said Captain Jack Flanagan. My senior year I received an opportunity to sit in the backseat of a T-34 Navy trainer. All seniors receive this opportunity, I almost missed out because I suddenly wasn't feeling well. But thankfully I felt better by then. William P.S. Thank you for your service! Great voice-over, well done 👏
Respect you guys! I worked for 9 months on NAS whibey island. The pilots for the most part were awesome I loved getting a wave from you all. It made the work bearable. God speed and may jesus protect you all!
We lived on the Olympic Peninsula (west side of Puget Sound) for many years. Several times we had the pleasure of hearing and seeing Growlers fly over. Thrilling.
Thanks! Great video! I was Zapper Doc ‘78-’81 VAQ-130 (EA-6B), did a MED on the INDEPENDENCE, and lived in Coupeville… Truly God’s Country & I loved the “Sound of Our Freedom”…
@@g3pdhbelonis447 I missed Forrestal but caught Indy. Almost got two but my replacement met the Squadron in Norfolk and I got some time at NAVHOSP WHIDBEY, great time!!
It’s used in the Navy and Air Force as a way to get the aircraft over the field quickly and with as few radio calls as possible. A long slow straight in approach in a war time situation in the AOR is risky as it allows more time for the enemy to knock planes out of the sky. Keep the formation tight, low and fast, then break into the landing pattern over the safety of the airfield. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, please.
@@heythere135if you have enemy fighters penetrating that far into your territory, especially uncontested to the point they can undertake offensive action, you have way bigger problems than landing procedures. Problems like an ineffective air defence system. “The safety of the airfield” should be a several hundred mile bubble of layered ground and air based air defence around it.
I would just like to say that watching this gives me so much confidence in our air power, in the men and some women who are flying it's so encouraging. The way the armchair quarterbacks at the White House the house in the Senate operate and supposedly do the best they can for you but don't. It's amazing you can keep your skills so high. Thank you for your service I mean that.
Pail thank you for your videos and bringing us along for the rides! Was only on Whidbey Island back in the late 70s, visiting some of my Ole' Navy friends, really enjoy your narrative voiceovers!☺👍
Sumas, Wa. native and 4 yrs in the Navy, (USS Ranger '84-'88). Whidbey Island is a beautiful place. We go there when we don't feel like going up in to the mountains. Really enjoy your videos. Stay safe out there.
Thanks for posting this video. My sister and her husband live on Whidbey Island. I’ve driven by the main gate where the static display of Prowlers show the ALQ-99 under the wings. I built 99s for a couple of years. It’s nice to see the island from a different perspective.
At about 2:30 you're flying almost directly over my house, up the hill from Conway. Been here a little over a year and I love seeing you guys fly over.
Love your videos, you landed on the island I live on. I really enjoy watching the F18s practice, they really do growl, what I'd do to fly in one of those! I'd buy you a beer any time!
God’s Country Indeed. Born and raised on the Olympic Peninsula and spent many summers working Ft Casey State Park while doing college. Love your voice overs. Missed a pair of your wingmen scooting through Snoqualmie Pass today. Friends said it was a sight to behold. You all stay safe out there and up there!
Fighter maintainer here of 32 years, 21 of which on the Scooters. Love your videos Pail, especially the ones with the voiceovers. Keep rockin’em out and I’m subscribed. 🤘🏽
father was Operations officer NAS Whidbey 1956-57. I later as crew member of A-3 EM flew and landed on NAS . family lived on only residence on NAS. A log mansion , later the officers club. just on right after runway stops. We also lived on Seaplane base as we waited for qts.
