Deer, antelope, turkey, boar, but no armadillo!

I’m not sure whether or not I should be disappointed that this year’s Wild Game Dinner didn’t feature any armadillo, but I will admit I halfway expected the roly poly critters to be on the menu. Unlike any fundraiser I’d been to before, the event benefited the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce. It attracted hundreds of people from throughout the county and while I can’t imagine recommending such an event to the organizations I help fund raise for, it seemed to be a success.

Hosted at the civic center, the event kicked off by shuffling the crowds through a chow line where nothing but wild game was served. Attendees ranged from hardcore hunters wearing vintage Wranglers to just about every student pilot training at Laughlin. As for the food, the wild boar and turkey weren’t bad, but I quickly understood why the food isn’t the main attraction. Rather, it’s all about the guns!

This year’s event featured a gun raffle with 100 rifles and shotguns, though if I were to guess I’d say there were probably a few more guns in the room – not to mention the pickups outside.  The guns were said to have a combined value of $50,000 and rumor has it, more than 4,000 one dollar tickets were purchased. While the odds could have been better, one of our friends won two – not a bad return.

This definitely counted as a "y'all" moment and a Texas adventure to add to the baby books. What will Mikayla think when she’s old enough to go through it???

Look who's flying now!

Hat’s off to Laughlin’s Captain Moore duo for a great spouses’ day! They introduced us to what John is going through during pilot training and then sent us soaring with T-6 flying lessons (from the ground that is).



From the control tower you can see the dozens of T-6s lined up on the flight line. Apparently there are 40-50 T-6 flights at Laughlin per day. I'm not sure how many T-1 & T-38 flights come in and out.  



Climbing to the top of the control tower wiped Mikayla right out!
(BTW - Although we're in Texas, it was 37 degrees out when we left the house this morning! Hence the sweaters and blanket.)



Airplanes, airplanes, airplanes! The white ones are T-1s and are what John will move to after the T-6. It looks like a business jet.

 

The three planes pilots train in at Laughlin. From left to right is the T-1, T-6 and T-38. Everyone starts in the T-6 and then they break out to the T-1 or T-38 depending on whether they'll be flying "heavies" (like John's C-17) or fighters.

 

A better view of the T-6s from the catwalk, which is essentially a wraparound porch on the control tower.

 

On the way to the simulators we ran into Daddy and did the great pass of the baby so that Mommy could go flying. (From the look on John's face, you can see that he's intimidated by my incredible flying skills.)

 

Who needs a fancy flight suit anyway....?
Does this thing have a seat warmer?

So, I'm assuming someone is going to tell me how to start this thing...

 

"Mom! I can't believe you just did that, you should really leave the flying to Daddy."

 

Fheew, a co-pilot! But shouldn't he be in the plane?



Hold on, what happened to the runway? Turn the flash back off.