Stuttgart

Everyone who was involved in this are either retired or dead. While serving at Hq EUCOM in Stuttgart, Germany I was working in Flight Ops. I had obtained my Private Pilot License in Florida before being stationed in Germany. We had three T-39’s which were used to fly VIP’s around Europe. The unit was needing another Instructor Pilot (IP) to checkout other pilots in the T-39. The pilot being checked out was Cape. Joe Albanese, giving the check ride was Maj John Hurry, they needed someone for Joe to train, ME! We departed Echeterdingen (Stuttgart) airfield with me in the jump seat, once in the air Major Huryy got out of the left seat and I got in (I’m an E-6). We flew to Ramstein, where I made the landing and takeoff, to Bitburg where I made the landing and takeoff and into Rhein-Main where the same occurred, while enroute I did all the flying and navigation and received instruction on power settings, etc. I handled the throttles and the only thing they didn’t want me to use were the brakes. We landed back at Echterdingen (Stuttgart) and I was taxing the T-39 to the ramp, I am having a blast. As were are taxing up Major Hurry said, “do you thing you should get out of the left seat before somebody sees you?” I officially logged two hours and 15 minutes of twin engine jet time, centerline thrust. The greatest time of my entire life!!