Hello! My name is Patrick and I live in Lakewood, Colorado. My first model was a Revell 1/72 Fokker Dr.1 triplane (Werner Voss) my dad and I built in the '60s. Growing up in a small town in Oklahoma I spent my allowance every week on models and built most of the commonly available Lindberg, Aurora, Monogram, and Revell kits of the '60s and '70s. At 17 I joined the USAF and became a 431X1 Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Specialist (more commonly known as a crewchief) and trained on the F-101 Voodoo and F-4 Phantom II. After training I was assigned to the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada on the Northrop F-5E Tiger II. I also worked the AT-38B at Holloman AFB, NM and the F-15A and B. After getting out of the military I went to school and got an FAA A+P license and went on to become an electrican/avionics technician. I worked heavy commercial jets (DC-8, DC-9, DC-10, MD-11, Boeing 707, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777) for awhile and then went to work for Boeing in Seattle, WA on the 737 production line. I thwn worked for Lockheed Martin in Greenville, SC on the USAF KC-10 tanker. the C-130 Hercules, and the Navy P-3 Orion. Eventually I ended up at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB, CA working on the F/A-18A and B(chase planes), several types of drone and UAV aircraft, and some special mission vehicles. I got a ride in the legendary NASA B-52B 0008 before they retired her! Today I work on military versions of the Pilatus PC-12 and the PZL M-28 Skytruck (formerly Anotov AN-28). I have assisted with several warbird restorations, hiked around the jungles of the Phillippines and Papua New Guinea looking for warbird wrecks, and dived in Truk Lagoon. I build all types of models, mostly aircraft and ships, and have about a 500 kit collection at the house. I love collecting old kits and have a lot of Aurora, Lindberg, etc.
[#welcome] to the forums Patrick! SOunds like you have had quite an interesting career in aviation. While you were hiking through the jungles looking for wrecks, did you come across any?
Welcome to the Forums Patrick [#welcome]. Glad you’re here.
Regards, Rick
[#ditto]
Welcome to the forums Patrick!
From one crew chief to another…
Hiya Patrick, and [#welcome]
Hey Pat! Build what you feel! Everyone here is behind you![#welcome]
An awesome background, looking forward to your contributions here! [#welcome]