Are there any real pilots out there?

[timtomairways]

I have several favorites. the first (and only) time me and my 1st instructor went flying into Cecil field (VQQ).



For reference all airports are in the JAX area. go to skyvector and search for KJAX.



we departed CRG and flew west bound. Stay north of downtown JAX and at about 2000ft keeping clear of both the JAX Class C, and the NAS Class
D. flew over Herlong and into Cecils where tower instructed us to enter the Left Downwind runway 9L. we flew several T&Gs I cant remember witch
on but on one of them a P3 from NAS Jax came right by our little 172. He was doing the pattern 9R. and he was landing at the same time we were
rotating, so when we got about 400ft up my instructor tells me to look out the right side. That was an awesome sight to see that Orion come flying by
only 1000ft or so away. I remember the pilot had his window open and his arm hanging out. all the while helicopters were doing their thing all over
that damn field.



another one was much later. post First Solo X-county. but still with my 1st instructor. If your looking at the VFR Sectional for the JAX area on
skyvector turn your attention to the small bit of class E airspace right in between the JAX class C and Mayport class D. flight schools from CRG love
to fly through their and head up to FHB to do some work at a un-towered field. (Side note for you aspiring pilots out there, don't think for a seconded
that a un-towered field is not busy, you want to be 4th in the pattern with moderately sized aircraft? FHB is the place to do it). anywho we were just
on the other side of that narrow strip of class E climbing throue 1500 when the TIS when off. both me ant the instructor (at the same time) look at the
MFD then look at where it said the conflicting traffic was. 4 o-clock same altitude just passing us was to F-15s from the Florida ANG on their way
back to KJAX. Close formation to they only showed up as 1 plane on TIS. they passed just behind us an I swear to this day I saw toughs pilot waving
at us.



I got more from my time flying around the KJAX Area. 1 of witch involves me wanting to tell the US Navy to watch where they are flying.