And the countdown begins.....

[jslugman]

Seems my lovely wife has gone and gotten herself selected as the next Commander of the 374th Surgical Operations Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Guessing the ballpark for reporting is June meaning we leave 2-4 weeks before that.

Now to create a "holy crap I leave in 6 months" bucket list. 

[Joe Copalman]

Bucket list suggestions:
-WTI 2-11
-Evening recoveries at Luke (May should be good)
-Marana/Silver Bell/WAATS.  
-Huachuca/Sierra Vista
-Some kind of air-to-air something or other.
-Luke show arrivals
-A few good afternoons at Willie
-Pray that the F-104 flies once before you leave.  Hell, pray it flies a bunch of times.
-CONA
-One more El Centro photocall
-LAX(?)
-A day out at Holloman?
-Pray that one of the C-54s at Falcon flies before you leave.  Several times.
-PHX Holiday cargo traffic.

[Jay Beckman]

Congrats to your Mrs.   

No intention of wishing away the next six months but I personally hate to see you physically leave us.   

I know you won't leave electronically though, right!?

[Dave S.]

I'm guessing we should start planning AzAP meetings pretty far in advance, for James' sake.  He can then buy his airplane tickets early enough to get one hell of a good deal!

One more bucket list item: a night shoot in your neck of the woods,

[Dave S.]

...but once you get to Yokota, what are the chances of hooking up an AzAP photocall? 

A(nother) side trip to the top of Mt. Fuji, since we'll be in the neighborhood, would be quite spectacular too!

[Joe Copalman]

Dave's idea is great.  A three-day photocall shooting F-4s at Hyakuri and P-3s, US-1As, US-2s, P-1s, and everything else at Atsugi, and F-2s up at Misawa. 

[Jay Beckman]

James won't need an airline ticket...

Just strap wings to Joe and he's good to go!

[Joe Copalman]

Don't think I haven't been tempted to follow Google Maps' "jet ski across the Pacific Ocean" turn-by-turn directions to Hyakuri before.

[Bubak]

James.....

[jslugman]

Lol... you guys crack me up.

[scottcolbath]

James, hopefully I get to meet you before your departure.

And I think these guys have it all figured out for you between now and when you leave.

S.C.

[jslugman]

Lots of chances to cross paths between now and then and yes, my pals have it all figured out for me.