Finite!

Ed's last flight in the C-130 was May 30th.  It was also his last active duty flight, and the last C-130 H-model flight for his squadron.

For his last flight he got to fly over something pretty special - recognize that?

(Just in case you don't, that's Niagara Falls)

When Ed left on his trip, I asked if he wanted us to do anything special for his fini-flight.  He said no, he just wanted to kind of sneak away.  But the night before he got nostalgic and asked if I could get the girls out of school to come watch him land.  They had never seen him fly this particular plane.  He told me his friend Adam would be there to escort us to the flight line.

Watching the planes come in from the golf cart.

There he is!

Adam was not about to let Ed sneak away.  It's tradition for fini-flights to hose down the pilot with something - often alcohol.  They were kind and got out the water for Ed.  Each girl got their own fire extinguisher and a lesson in how to use it.

They got him good.

His whole squadron came out to say goodbye.

The girls got the VIP tour of the cockpit and back end.

Goodbye C-130!