VP-26 Flying where?

Flight crews get to go to many places in addition to flying in your local area. Local flights occur day and night three or four times a week. Most flights are classified as training flights because the crew is training/practicing using the aircraft equipment and techniques. Frequently we travel to other locations to train in those areas and along the way we are training at navigating in areas we aren't familiar with. These are TAD flights. Temporary Additional Duty flights.

Crew LK-10 traveled in the United States to Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA which we referred to as NoFuck, VA, Naval Air Station Boca Chica, Key West, Florida, Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, and we spent a month at Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads in The U.S.Territory of Puerto Rico. The tropical weather and atmosphere of Puerto Rico was a fantastic island experience. Especially the difference in culture compared to being raised in New England. Thus began my fascination with islands. Key West is an island with a different laidback atmosphere. Mellow seems a good word to describe the Key West residents. NAS Norfolk was a Navy seaplane base. It was fun to work on one of their aircraft and to watch one land at sea, deploy the landing gear and assist in bringing it up the seaplane ramp to its tie down location.

We also traveled across the United States on long distance training flights. All these flights were interesting because the P2V isn't a pressurized aircraft. Non-pressurized aircraft generally fly at altitudes under 10,000 feet. Over 10,000 feet the crew has to wear oxygen masks. We practice that too. And you take the mask off to learn what oxygen deprivation does to you. Always with a crew member who keeps his mask on. Flying at low altitudes is fun because you can really see what the territory you're flying over looks like. The farms, cities, highways, lakes, rivers, mountains, the millions of miles of dirt roads. More dirt roads than paved roads. Those dirt roads seemed like a wondrous thing! We get paid extra to do this! This photo is the after station area of the aircraft. The only place you can stand fully erect in. It's also where the two burner stove and coffee pot outlet is located. All Crew members wear headsets so we can hear each other talk  using a small handheld microphone. That window you see on the left opens inward. There's one on each side of the after station. Those are the only two windows that can be opened while in flight.