XBradTC

The McPeak Flight.

Gen Tony McPeak was CSAF while I was doing the ‘Russian job’.

One of the side benefits of doing the ‘Russian job’ is that I had to maintain a flight instructor qualification.

So the Andrews AFB C-21 unit got blessed with my presence. I flew a lot when I had some slow weeks from my Intel job.

Got a call out of the blue one day from the SQ/CC.

‘Phat, we need a pilot to fly with McPeak tomorrow, can you do it?

Hold on, let me check with my boss.

I worked in an intel unit, my boss had plausibly never seen an airplane in his career.

Sir, The Chief of Staff needs Phat to fly with him tomorrow. Is that Ok?

My boss: ‘Squeee!’.

I’d heard rumors that flying with Tony McPeak was a massive pain in the ass, but I had a secret weapon.

He shows up to the jet and I have everything done, he straps in and off we go. McPeak was notorious for being a dick, so pilots didn’t talk to him unless forced.

As soon as we leveled off I looked over at him and said, ‘My Dad says Hi’.

backstory: My Dad flew F-100’s out of Tuy Hua with McPeak

McPeak looks at my nametag and says, ‘So, you’re Butch’s kid?’

Yes sir.

McPeak: Great! How’s Butch doing! He was the best guy I ever flew with.

We proceed to have a great flight and he actually talks a bit. As his aide leaves the airplane he make a note to record my name.

Congratulations, you are are now McPeak’s personal pilot.

I call my dad, now a Delta Captain.

Hey Dad, guess who I flew with today….

…Tony McPeak.

My Dad: That FUCKING COCKSUCKER! We hated that SOB in Vietnam!

He showed up into the unit as a Major right from the Thunderbirds. Yeah, he did NOT fit in.

Have a lot of my Dad’s stories to share later. This one popped up in my head for some reason.