30 Sep 2024 Pilot for a day
By Stefanie W. Brazile
It was one of the most interesting afternoons I’ve experienced in 2024! In August, Judy Riley and I climbed into a C-130 jet, and I flew us away from the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, circled Little Rock, came back and landed smoothly—well, that’s my fishing story about flying!
In truth, with Lt. Col. Henry Reed III (Trae) on my right, I was invited to sit in the pilot’s seat and operate a C-130 simulator at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville. It was invigorating! The C-130s are known as the workhorses of the Air Force. These giant planes can transport up to 100 troops and even large all-terrain vehicles.
I was joined by Judy, a 501 LIFE contributor and friend who was responsible for our day in the military. Soon after arriving, we were escorted to an elevated area with a steel catwalk out to one of several simulators that are fixed at about the second-story level. With great interest, Judy and I entered a true-to-life cockpit, and I strapped myself into the pilot’s seat. In front of me was an array of dials, instrument panels, navigation tools and screens. It was overwhelming!
Reed kindly acted as co-pilot, which meant I had to taxi the plane to the runway using a circular dial with my left hand. Of course, I took us in a perfect line! Judy sat slightly behind us, and, after takeoff, another pilot trainer created simulations that mimicked real-world issues. The windows are actually screens that make you believe you are experiencing a sunny day, flying through clouds or complete darkness with lightning in the distance—you name it, they simulate it. How helpful to future pilots!
Judy and I learned so much from interviewing the soldiers. For me, the seriousness of their work and the importance of intense training for all possible circumstances became real. All of the pilot instructors we met had served in war zones and survived. It was clear that the experiences have created deep friendships and trust among them.
I especially appreciate Lt. Col. Reed, a former mayor of Lonoke, who was on active duty in the past and then decided he wanted to be in the States with his family. He is enlisted with the Arkansas Air National Guard (AR ANG). Besides instructing new pilots, he also oversees recruiting and retention for AR ANG, seeking people ages 17-42 to work part-time, serving state and national defense purposes.
After the hours we spent on base, I think the AR ANG offers Arkansans a great opportunity to serve their country and gain experience that easily translates into real-world positions, all while receiving a salary and benefits.
The excitement I experienced when I flew (well, kind of) a C-130 is something I think many young adults would love. And if flying isn’t your jam, the bases in Little Rock and Fort Smith also specialize in cyber warfare, where your feet are safely planted on the ground.
If you have the chance to fly a C-130 like I did, I hope you have Reed in the co-pilot seat to help when you overshoot the runway. What can I say? It happens to the best of us!
