Willow Grove. PA to Tucson

Author Message   Nicholas Fuhs New member Username: Nickfuhs Post Number: 4 Registered: 07-2007 Posted From: 173.151.71.124 Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 03:57 pm:    There is an underscore between Cactus and flight on the email address   Nicholas Fuhs New member Username: Nickfuhs Post Number: 3 Registered: 07-2007 Posted From: 173.151.71.124 Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 03:48 pm:    There is an underscore between Cactus and flight on the email address   Nicholas Fuhs New member Username: Nickfuhs Post Number: 2 Registered: 07-2007 Posted From: 173.151.71.124 Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 03:47 pm:    In the course of researching this flight, I found a cactus flight C17 originating and terminating at March ARB with stops in Phoenix (williams Gateway) and Nellis AFB. Flights depart March Friday and Sunday. Friday reservations can be made via Cactus_Flght@hotmail.com by 2200 of Wednesday before flight while Sundays are made on the Saturday before or on Sunday of flight at the March Pax terminal. Subject to change etc but currently scheduled through end of August 2010. Am advised that Sundays have better availablity for both seats and March billeting. Can be bumped at Nellis for duty pax.   Nicholas Fuhs New member Username: Nickfuhs Post Number: 1 Registered: 07-2007 Posted From: 173.151.71.124 Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 03:36 pm:    First time traveler. Solo. Needed to get to Phoenix, Az from Wilmington, De for family reasons and found a Navy reserve C-9 with 90 seats scheduled for Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, to Davis-Monthan on March 17. Pax terminal initally had no info when called but soon found flight and advised 7:30 showtime. Arrive 7:30 and found Pax terminal room locked but signage saying to check with flight planning room. Soon enough, five sailors showed up to operate the terminal and check me in. Couldn't get Xray machine or scales to work but did fill out manifest and were quite friendly. Checked flight at my request and found takeoff had move back 2.5 hours to 1130. Returned to terminal 9:30, talked to flt planning and one sailor reopened terminal. About 11, asked her to check and she discovered crew was ready for Pax. I was carrying a small backpack only which was never checked. Took off 11:30 with me and 89 empty seats. Plan now Navy Fallon, Pendleton, North Island RON. At Fallon, crew delivered two boxes of parts for broke C9 and departed now for Noth Island to RON. Pendleton Marine Pax will bus to North Island. 0800 departure for Davis- Monthan. Coronado had no rooms at either Navy Lodge or VOQ but found rooms at 32nd street VOQ. Spent night at cost of $87 - 37 for room and rest for cabs to and from North Island . Called pax terminal to verify show time and advised flight now leaving at 1630. I failed to leave a contact number but they tracked me down about 45 minutes later to say it really was an 0800 and to be there at 0600. Note - insure cab has access pass for North Island. Cabs can not come on 32nd street naval base so must meet outside gate, North island will search cab so expect a delay entering. Coronado cab took me to 32nd street but can not pick up there. Used Yellow cab in the morning. I arranged with dispatcher to meet cab at gate and asked them to insure cab had base access at North island. Marine Pax proved to be a two star and his staff. Met him in the pax terminal vending machine area as the Navy VIP lounge has no coffee!! Marine Pax lunches were deliverd to Plane and ditributed by one of the general's colonels! Crew showed at airplane about 7:45 and we made a 8:30 departure. Less than an hour later wew were on the ground at Tucson International executive terminal - Davis-Monthan closed for this weekend's airshow!!! Would have been nice to know as rental car reservation (Enterprise) was at DM. Let pilot know that I was leaving flight - Got ride to main terminal where Enterprise could not access reservation DM on different computer system even though the DM enterprise folks would have driven me to Tucson Intl to pick up car. Called brother in Phoenix who came and collected me. Another Note - I had a complete laryngectomy(removal of voicebox) in 1994 so I speak by placing a hand held sound generator to my throat to produce speech- Only issue with this was trying to communicate via a poor cell phone connection with 32nd street VOQ as I wandered about looking for their office. It is in Donnelly Hall. No real place to eat that I could find that night on base. Will probably use commercial back as I can get a flight for about $150 if I book enough in advance of my early April return.