I was running an errand, driving past Naval Air Station Oceana when I got distracted. Many people and most small children get distracted by bright, shiny objects. Me? I get distracted by dark, dull objects...especially when they are the size of a small building and there are two of them!
I saw these two C-17 Globemasters sitting at the end of Runway 23 as two F/A-18 Hornets were taking off from Runway 5 (the element lead is in the air, its wingman is at the far end of the runway with its landing light on). If you know anything about flying, you'll recognize, as I did, that something was not right. You don't take off from both ends of the runway.
I was correct. The C-17s (from Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina) had taxied to the wrong end of the runway. When the Hornets cleared the airfield, the Globemasters maneuvered their way down to the proper end of the runway to take off. But I've gotta say, it was glorious! These beasts, which can carry 102 troops/paratroops; 36 litter and 54 ambulatory patients and attendants; or 170,900 pounds (77,519 kilograms) of cargo flew right over my head! (See today's Eclectica Album picture.)
