What do we Have Here?
 

Saw this heading up the river while I was riding below the airport. Just thought it was really cool that I could identify it. DDG-84 the USS Bulkeley.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...hStreet016.jpg

I also rode over toward Media and the Ridley Creek State Park/Tyler Arboretum. Very pretty over there. Only put about 50 miles on, but it felt damned good to get away from the land of stop signs every ten feet. Made sure to keep an eye on that tire, and it didn't do anything strange.

I always wished I joined the Navy. They get some kick ass toys.

seriously, they should give me one of those carriers they have laying around at pier 4

Buddy of mine spent his entire time on a carrier as a diesel mechanic. He said being on the carrier was the graviest and sweetest job he ever had.

Apparently, the US is going to build a lot more of the Arleigh Burkes. The super-special "Next Generation" DDG-1000 is such a PITA, Congress decided to build something that actually works right, right now. I don't blame them, listening to people talk about that thing at work. And it's supposed to have an aluminum hull and composite superstructure... Fail. It's no stealth bomber, it's a freaking 600ft long, 15,000lb warship.

Working in the guts of a ship all the time would suck. It's loud, hot, noisy, and there are no windows. You get no say in what it does or where it goes, and share a closet with 4-6 other guys. Is it any wonder those guys go bananas when they actually get OFF their tin can?

Me and my dad had quite the spirited argument the other day as to whether or not he could safely do an emergency landing on the forrestal. He didn't think it was possible without it moving until I pointed out the axial deck length is 900ft and cessnas have 60* of flaps ;)

That's exactly what I do. And I enjoy it most of the time. It's great exercise, and I'm alone the majority of the time.

Yer making me miss driving tanks. I never wanted to get out of the hole

What did you do? On what hulls? Sooner or later, I'll be making house calls :lol:


Now tanks I could see! You or one of your 2-3 close buddies gets to drive and shoot shit!

There's no feeling quite like it in the world. You know the mechanical bond you feel with your bike when you get everything right? Imagine that on a far more massive scale. An addictive godlike feeling