Previously Held AFSC/MOS 1045D-Pilot
1925-Flying Safety Officer
Service Years
1952 - 1972
Other Languages
Russian
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
What are you doing now:
I retired from the AF in 1972. I then was hired by the US Coast Guard as a civilian District Safety Manager as a GS 11. I received the Sec. of Transportation's Silver Medal for Mertitorious Achievement two times for my work in safety and I advanced in grade. I transferred to the FAA where I was ultimately Selected for the Senior Executive Service. My last postion with the FAA was Executive Leader of the Product team for GPS and Navigation. I flew FAA airplanes out of National Airport for several years as an adjunct ot my headquarters job. After I retired from the FAA I served as an ad hoc member ot the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board for three years working on air navigation issues. I also served as a member ot the civilian GPS Requirements Review Board sponsored by the Air Force Space Command. While with the FAA I worked closely with DoD on GPS issues involved in civil use of the signal. After I retired for the second time I formed a small photography business and pursued that. One thing that really gratified me was that I served with retired General Bernard Schriever on the the GPS Requirements committee. It was an honor to know him briefly. Great stories. Currently I am involved in local government and competitive age group swimming.
In the COIN role, T-28s saw extensive service during the Vietnam War in VNAF hands, as well as the Secret War in Laos. They were also supplied to Congo by the CIA to support Moise Tshombe's regime. France used locally remanufactured T-28s in close-support and patrol roles in Algeria. In the Philippines, T-28s, known locally as "Tora-toras", figured prominently in a series of coup de etats in the 1980s and were employed as dive bombers by rebel military forces. The T-28 Trojan was the first US attack fixed wing aircraft (non-transport type) lost in SOUTH Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. Capt. Robert L. Simpson, USAF, Detachment 2A, lst Air Commando Group, and Lt. Hoa, SVNAF, were shot down by ground fire on 28 August 1962 while flying Close Air Support (CAS). Neither crewman survived. The USAF lost 23 T-28s to all causes during the war, with the last two losses occurring in 1968. [2]
General characteristics
* Crew: Two * Length: 33 ft 0 in (10.06 m) * Wingspan: 40 ft 1 in (12.22 m) * Height: 12 ft 8 in (3.86 m) * Wing area: 268 ft� (24.9 m�) * Empty weight: 6,424 lb (2,914 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 8,500 lb (3,856 kg) * Powerplant: 1� Wright R-1820-86 Cyclone radial engine, 1,425 hp (1,063 kW)
Performance
* Maximum speed: 343 mph (552 km/h) * Service ceiling 35,500 ft (10,820 m)
