19 Sep

I was able to go on another day mission yesterday. It was pretty much the same as the previous one except this time we flew out to a small post right next to the Syrian border. It doesn’t look any different – just more of the same land on the other side of a big dirt berm. Since it was out first time out there we had to have a Marine CH-53 pilot on board with us to show us how to get in and out of the landing pad (they fly out there quite a bit). It worked out pretty well since they had a -53 broke down out there and we were able to escort another –53 with parts from Al Asad (no one is allowed to fly single ship). I was really tired at the end of the day and hoping to take today off but at breakfast I learned a bunch of stuff broke the previous night. Only two aircraft were flyable and they were on the day mission. I was pretty much going from 7AM until after sunset. My crew was able to get dinner just before it closed at 8PM. We got a lot fixed but one of the day crews managed to over-torque the aircraft hauling fuel and water sling loads. It just so happens that the aft transmission was one of the old ones limited to 100% so they had to fly it straight back here and it is going to get changed out tonight. The aircraft we got from Balad to replace 171 is giving us fits. It keeps wanting to go into a dive every time you turn and I have no idea why. At least it is getting cooler.
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