BG-CT Edward J. Waitte (RET)

I was stationed at Hahn Air Base, West Germany, in 1978, a 28-year-old Captain. The Air Force wanted me to either go back to the Academy to become a professor or go to the Pentagon to … Read More

A retired Air Force pilot describes how, whether it’s in New England or the Middle East, our extended military families gather to celebrate their blessings. Happy Thanksgiving! Back when I was a cadet at the Air … Read More

How flying an A-10 Warthog from Connecticut to West Germany has aspects you might be able to guess, and some you might not. Many times when we deployed overseas, we would take off from Bradley International … Read More

Sometimes problems with a jet come and go…and those are the most dangerous. On a mission over Norway, we finished the dogfight training, then flew back to base at about a hundred feet over the fjords. … Read More

Online insurance is a great deal…until you need it! People ask me, “Jay, why should I use someone like you, instead of staying home in my puffy pants and using something like Esurance or Progressive?” And … Read More

During the Cold War, the Warsaw Pact would test NATO’s air defense system. NATO’s air defense was set up in four different layers. An air defense identification zone (ADIZ). A buffer zone (BZ). A political border. … Read More

One winter, I was flying as a wingman over the North Sea. Suddenly, my leader’s F-4 jet engine caught on fire. He had enough time to make a Mayday call – or a “Save Our Souls” … Read More

Fighter pilots have a reputation for being cowboys. They even have their own rodeo. The Israelis Air Force reviewed some of their gun camera film from the ’73 war. It was horrific. Their pilots had not … Read More

Continental Flight 1549 has just departed LaGuardia Airport and is climbing over The Bronx. Continental Flight 1549 (calmly): “Mayday mayday mayday. This is Cactus fifteen thirty-nine. Hit birds. We’ve lost thrust on both engines. We’re turning … Read More