Taking the plunge

Author Message   Mike Schukert Senior Member Username: Mike_s Post Number: 533 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 65.122.157.10 Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 01:12 am:    Stephanie: You've certainly got your work cut out for you traveling unaccompanied with four kids in tow! If you elect to drive to NAS Jacksonville to catch the Saturday flight to BWI, be advised that most Navy Gateway Inns, including the inn at NAS Jax, do not allow kids. This could make it rough (and costly) if you plan to arrive the day before and spend the night on base to be in place for the BWI PatEx. What you might save on airline tickets (have you explored this option?) could be eaten up on gas, food and lodging. Good luck!   Karen Yan Advanced Member Username: Karenyan Post Number: 345 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 67.246.180.158 Posted on Friday, June 18, 2010 - 06:31 pm:    Stephanie, I do see from the flight schedule that there's a flight listed Sunday going from Maxwell to Langley; however, there's only 6 seats offered and it could dissapear. Plus it may be difficult to get right back to Maxwell where your car is. The Jacksonville - BWI flight is the closest to a "sure thing" that I have ever known in Space A. Leaves Saturday, returns the following Saturday. I took it round trip a year & a half ago & pax rep told me no one has ever been turned away. Comfortable charter flight, bag lunch provided, and you won't spend a week wondering exactly how you could get back south.   steve mccoy Intermediate Member Username: Nuhusker Post Number: 67 Registered: 04-2009 Posted From: 69.18.53.101 Posted on Friday, June 18, 2010 - 05:48 pm:    referring back to Karen Yan's post on 15 Jun, you might consider making your way back to Jacksonville today and get on the flight to BWI tomorrow. There's still time.   stephanie hayes Member Username: Kodakenai Post Number: 8 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 166.214.173.108 Posted on Friday, June 18, 2010 - 04:13 pm:    Flt out of JAckson going directly to Ramstein, any suggestions to get to east coast   stephanie hayes Member Username: Kodakenai Post Number: 7 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 71.195.156.105 Posted on Friday, June 18, 2010 - 12:01 pm:    Sorry meant to say came down to Jackson, still kinda early!( lol)   stephanie hayes Junior Member Username: Kodakenai Post Number: 6 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 71.195.156.105 Posted on Friday, June 18, 2010 - 12:00 pm:    Okay, came Andrews. Everything was a go, however woke this morning and found out flight not stopping at Andrews. Trying to decide what to do. Maybe wait till Monday out of Maxwell. Any suggestions?   stephanie hayes New member Username: Kodakenai Post Number: 5 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 75.76.10.63 Posted on Thursday, June 17, 2010 - 01:36 pm:    No confusion at all Irwin, thanks everyone for the advice and info. We will be heading down to Jackson today and getting on the flight tomorrow. Prayerfully it will be a good first hop for the family. Will post a report soon. Sooo excited who knows this may just be the first of many! Godspeed!   Irwin Rovner Senior Member Username: Irovner Post Number: 433 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 66.32.73.113 Posted on Thursday, June 17, 2010 - 12:58 pm:    RE: floor space on C17's. No dispute here. I've been on C17's with so much cargo, it was hard to get to a seat holding a carry-on bag -- and there was no floor space. I was specifically referring to two flights I caught with Jackson ANG medevacs outbound to Ramstein. One was virtually empty -- you could have held a volley ball game on the cargo deck with space to spare. The other was lightly loaded -- most of the med detachment aboard found space to "stack Z's" during the flight -- they all came with appropriate sleeping gear and all found space, etc. (I'm sure the situation is different on the return from Ramstein and space A pax are rarely allowed on these return medevacs.) So, I'm assuming anyone flying outbound from Jackson to get off at Andrews on a medevac going on to Ramstein, will likely find little to no cargo. I've never caught their non-medevac flight (which returns from Ramstein on Sunday -- and accordingly has taken pax), so I don't know the sleeping situation on that flight. Sorry, if I caused any confusion.   Nstig8or Member Username: Nstig8or Post Number: 18 Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 209.112.135.56 Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 08:45 pm:    FYI, crew of 172nd tell me the best time to try to get a flight back from Germany with them is Sunday...other days are medevac days and seats are scarce...   Bill Terry Senior Member Username: Bill_terry Post Number: 672 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 72.216.34.240 Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 08:01 pm:    My flight Ramstein/Dover last week. No floor space for sleeping. I finally figured out how to extend the seat...   Martha Fralia Advanced Member Username: Mjfralia Post Number: 395 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 75.141.137.233 Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 06:45 pm:    Irv, the C-17s I've been on don't have webbed seating on a frame but are individual seats with a back rest. Not real comfortable.   Irwin Rovner Senior Member Username: Irovner Post Number: 432 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 66.32.73.113 Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 06:35 pm:    C17 seating (with very rare exceptions) are jump seats along the bulkhead. Not the most comfortable, but the price is right. They are fold down with bare webbing on a frame, no padding. Folks bring all kinds of devices -- from blowup seat pads to air mattresses and stretch out on the cargo deck (which on this outbound medevac is relatively little to no cargo). Sleeping on the cargo deck is definitely the most popular option if space allows. Happy travels.   stephanie hayes New member Username: Kodakenai Post Number: 4 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 75.76.10.63 Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 06:04 pm:    Thanks Irwin, Can you tell me what the seating was like. HAven't been on a hop before. Trying to arrange car rental at Andrews, does anyone know about how long the flight from JAckson to Andrews will take?   Irwin Rovner Senior Member Username: Irovner Post Number: 431 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 66.32.73.113 Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 05:48 pm:    The two Jackson ANG flights I took to Ramstein (getting on at Andrews) were both C17's, so I'm confident that's what you can expect.   stephanie hayes New member Username: Kodakenai Post Number: 3 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 75.76.10.63 Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 03:33 pm:    Thinking more along the lines of going to Jackson and taking a flight on Friday, returning possibly next Friday. Dates are flexible. Anyone know what type of plane and seats are used on this particular flight. Trying to figure out the carseat situation. Believe it is a C-17, not sure of seats. Any info would help thanks.   stephanie hayes New member Username: Kodakenai Post Number: 2 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 75.76.10.63 Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 04:35 pm:    Hoping to get a flight out of Maxwell next week to Langley and looking into my planB-D.(lol)Will I be able to rent a vehicle at LAngley? How far is the car rental place from the terminal? My parents are about 3hrs from Langley. Will also sign up for MS as well. Have already signed up for return flights. Thanks for the advice! Total drive time from here to Va is about 11hrs so I did not want to drive six to Jackson. Praying for the best, preparing for everything else!   Bill Mathews Senior Member Username: Bill_mathews Post Number: 1230 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.71.47.192 Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 03:18 pm:    Drive the 4 hrs. West to Jackson, MS for their Midweek flight (almost guaranteed) to Andrews AFB, MD. They return 4 days later from Andrews to Jackson. Two other flights can also return from Andrews to Jackson. So you have 3 chances (days) to get home; and 1 day to get out to Andrews. A piece of cake for a family of 4.   Jim Hunt Intermediate Member Username: Jhunt66 Post Number: 118 Registered: 12-2009 Posted From: 66.31.169.240 Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 02:44 pm:    Stephanie, I agree with Karen. You need 5 seats, so you need a flight with a big aircraft, even with your CAT IV status. Maxwell and Robins flights are too scarce and are all small aircraft. You might get lucky out of Maxwell, but don't be too disappointed if seat counts are less than you need. Have a great trip! Gotta love Space-A...   Richard T. Brown Intermediate Member Username: Dick Post Number: 142 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.242.179.68 Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 02:07 pm:    I know that Bolling AFB does not have ANY flights to anywhere. They stopped flying activities in the late 50's or early 60's. I believe they may have helicopters to and from the Pentagon but that's about all. Andrews AFB is in MD.   Karen Yan Advanced Member Username: Karenyan Post Number: 343 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 67.246.180.158 Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 08:52 am:    Stephanie, If I were you, I would drive to Jacksonville NAS, and take the weekly plane to Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI). It leaves every Saturday & returns the following Saturday. Yes, it is a 6-hour drive from Montgomery, but this flight is the closest to a sure thing that you can get in Space-A. They always have plenty of extra seats & I've never heard of anyone being turned away. It's a chartered aircraft, and this flight does not get cancelled. I really think that would be the best option for getting your family of 5 up there for free.   stephanie hayes New member Username: Kodakenai Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 75.76.10.63 Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 06:01 am:    Okay after reading and rereading this and several other sites for info on taking hops I have decided to try it. Trying to get from Maxwell AFB to VA. Preferably, Bolling AFB, Andrews or Langley AFB. In that order Bolling being closest to family. I and my 4 children, 18,13,4 &3 will be traveling unaccompanied Cat IV since DH is deployed for more than 120 days. Travel days are flexible have a bag already packed just in case. Trying to learn flight patterns. Need much advice or input, just need to be back by July 1st if possible. Please advise! Thanks Stephanie