Well Bo, there is not much action on the thread so we might as well write a few OT's
This one kinda long
<<II recall you talking about your career at BA over the years. Sounds like you you had a bunch of very
interesting and rewarding jobs during the 'Right Stuff' days. I read the book, the first part of it about the test pilots was mesmerizing. It looks like BA is getting back into defense in a bigger way, due to the state of commercial aviation and also Airbus. I keep reading about the science fiction stuff being worked on now, like UCAV planes, supposed microwave weapons, and who knows what else. As for the shuttle, an amazing mach >>
Looking back 33 years to when I left Boeing I get a whole new picture of what it was all about. We were always too busy to see anything but a few trees nearby instead of the entire forest. Most of the time sitting at a USAF oak desk. ( serial no 345320 property of usaf) with a few close associates writing, planning, reporting testing, etc
just one more pea in a big pod . Everyone in group makes close to same amount get a 3% COL raise per year.
My problem was I was actually interested in the details and facinated by the capability of the stuff we were building So I assumed the boss and others were also. And was wrong about that- its a defect in someone who wants to advance. Dont be too good at your job, Personnel will make sure you stay there. .
My boss and I had lunch in the Corporate dining room with brother of Wellwood Beall, designer of the Boeing flying boats in the 1930's. Thought I might learn something useful, but no, I just heard him complain he only had 400 people working for him when he used to have 1500.
Later on , a different boss on Minuteman was a prior head of sales at BA. And he was actually interested in what we were doing. I took him along a few times will giving speeches at the Boeing Toastmaster Club.
He once told me I scared the H-- out of people, and I have concluded thats from my resume as most bosses have been at BA for 30 years on a few projects while I had been on many more, in different companies.
Now wish he had told me that earlier, I would have hit them up for a big raise.
Here is a list of where I have worked
Continental motors, Muskegon Mich
Lakey Foundry, Muskegon Mich.
Kurdzel Foundry Rothbury, Mich
Bartletts Mill, Rothbury Mich
White Star boats, Costa Mesa, Ca.
Maremount Muffler Company, Chicago
NAA Ingleword Ca ( f-86, F-100, B45, At-6)
NAA Santa Susana Ca ( XLR 120- 65 Liquid Rocket 120,000 lbs trust for 65 seconds)
MAA Santa Susana, head of experimental analysis of Atlas rocket engine project)
NAA downey, Ca Navaho Booster ( kind do like the Shuttle booster only smaller) ,head of instrumentation requirements
NOC Hawthorne CA, ( 4 year flight test data analysis on F-89 tests and landing gear loads
DAC Long Beach, Ca ( Flight Test project Engg, for C-24, RB-66, C-133) Had to go on company airplane to
EAFB each week and write a weekly report on the malfunctions on those airplanes)
BA Dynasoar Project, Seattle, Wa (4 years Request and shedule all equipment needed for ground tests, study way to move vehicle from Tulalip to Florida for each launch)g
BA Minuteman Project 2 years (still classified, has crypo- secret clearance)
BA Flight Test 1 year (727 , 707 flight tests and SST planning)
Oh yes, and then there was the US AF - Buckley Field Co, Langley Field, CO, Kelly Field Tx, Randolf Field, Tx, Tinker Field OK, Walker Field,Kan Hawaii. Eniwetox, Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Ulithie
And for this I get paid Max $6.25 'hr , and zero retirement benefits
Greg, Greg, Greg. I tell you boy, I got tired of moving around !!! The last job offer I had was from the FAA in Dayton on the Air Safety Board and I finally turned one down. Heck I could have had one of those Grey metal desks with the plastic top , instead of the boring old oaks , but still stamped ( Property Of USAF)
You want any more. or is this enough?
Sig I- gotta leave kinda glued to this chair and there are stocks to pick
( The only guy who has climbed a swaying 60 ft rope ladder up the side of a ship while carrying a Banjo, a 4 ft length of 4 x 4 fir a new Sears crosscut saw, a duffle bag and a rifle )
I gave the Banjo to a teenager on Guam to highten his tribal status. We used the saw to cut posts for
foundations of quanset houses, I carved a model GEE BEE racer out of the board while spending 33 days on the ship, eating Navy food ( good), and we did not have to use the rifle |
