Last year after completing my SFAR requirements in the R-22 I took my wife Julia out for her first helicopter flight on the occasion of our 10^th wedding anniversary which included a overnight stay at Barnsley Gardens in Adairsville, GA.  The bar was set for the next adventure.

 

This year I invited a Brigade General SEL John Croley USMCR and his wife Lois with us back to Barnsley Gardens. General Croley is a decorated Cobra Gunship pilot that has been in both Iraq wars and as his civilian job flies a 777 to Latin America for American Airlines. We have flown with each other in Marine Attack Helicopter Squadron-773 located at Dobbins AFB for 11 years.  Our friendship spanks two decades.

 

This was a recap of the milestones on this mission. 1^st time a General Office has flown by Prestige Helicopters, 1^st time General Croley has flown in a civilian helicopter, 1^st time his wife Lois has every flown in a helicopter in her life. For both of them this was a 1^st air tour of Atlanta together with an RON at Barnsley.

 

Without a doubt mother nature was also going to make this an entertaining ride with a cold front moving over North GA bringing with it high wind warnings of 25 kts with gust to 35kts.  After a 2 hour gate hold I tested the waters flying 824AM with Julia who can vocalize the ride in my head set better then the onboard CD player.  Over a year ago Mike Russell did most of my training in this type of weather and this was the pay off.  It was NOT smooth but I adjusted the speed to Julia’s voice meter and we were able to pickup our General at RYY and continue on with the mission.

 

The next day we had time for a loop of downtown and the rock and back to base.  The General and his wife were very impressed.  Afterwards, I asked him for a favor in making a present at one of our AHPA meetings and possibly the next Prestige Open House and he said that he will make every effort to be there.  He has lots and lots of stories to share with us.

 

 

Respectfully,

 

LtCol Robert Cummins USMCR

 

PS – The General was impressed with the helicopter detail and I told him that you personally were in-charge of aircraft maintenance.  His response was, I could sense a military presence about this helicopter.