Love this site! I was involved in the design, install and test of the original ARIA at Bendix Radio, Towson, MD, Tulsa, OK and at the Patrick AFB, FL. I was involved in the C-band and VHF system from the receivers forward. Am currently involved with the Bendix Radio Foundation; a group about 1 year old that is trying to save the history of Bendix Radio at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. We have collected some ARIA stuff. Will pick out some good stuff on Thursday and forward those of interest. Bill Mackey wmackey615@aol.com
Great site! Very interesting!! Keep up the good work!
VERY cool site. I was the last Chief Flight Examiner for the Record/Timing section in Stan-Eval. Was also the project NCO during all the Block II upgrades to the Record/Timing system. Man I miss the good ol' days at ARIA a whole bunch. I know I will NEVER be associated with any other program or people any better than what we had going back in the day! SSgt Bob Sanchez 412th Flight Test Squadron Project Speckled Trout Edwards AFB, CA
Sir, this is a great site!Brings back the good ol' days of "SKI" smoking electrolytic caps in TCGs.Wish i could have made the reunion/dedication. 1LT Cabalo, Tim "the gun" SCOUT PLT LDR HHC 3/160th IN "Operation Noble Eagle"
Yo Randy! Guess who? This site is amazing, I love that video. I can't believe all the work done and information you've provided here. I think the crew members you flew with would be very proud of this "living memorial" you've created.
Some time in June of 1962, after my Air Force tech school training, I was assigned to the 1612 Organizational Maintenace Squadron at McGuire AFB in New Jersey. The squadron was receiving the last of it's 1962 "B" model C-135's from Boeing. I was assiged to an older "A" model, Aircraft # 61-0328. Over the next 3-1/2 years, 328 and I became as one. I flew many missions with her including the Cuban missile crisis and the assination of JFK. Ultimately, as an A1C, I became crew chief for this aircraft. One night a few months ago, as I tried to locate 328, I learned of her untimely demise. I was heartbroken. I had lost an old friend. Thank you for this web site and the memorial to 328. Respectfully, Frank J. Donato (AF12646197)
Great page! I have just started looking, and I'm already amazed by the amount of info you have. Keep up the good work! SSgt Scott "Barclavius" Barclay
Awesom site. Thanks so much for keeping the memories alive and for such a great history - WOW!! I intend to spend some time here checking it out. I served with ARIA in the Radio Shop 1978 - 1982. Anyone know the whereabouts of Gil Seifert? Neil Hendricks 7748 Bates Williamsburg, MI 49690 neilh@northlink.net or hendrickspair@yahoo.com Neil
Great site! I came to ARIA in Dec '98 til the end, and was the last trained and qualified Record/Timing operator. I've always been interested in the history behind the ARIA program. Keep up this memorial to one of the best programs in the Air Force. SSgt Tonya Wigger, 452nd Flight Test Squadron, Airborne Laser Program, Edwards AFB, CA
A great tribute to the best job in the Air Force. Thank you for all your efforts in putting this website together and making it something we can all enjoy. It brings back lots of good memories. Randy Cook, ARIA 1982-1994
Fantastic Site! I came to ARIA in Jan 93 and was a Telemetry Flight Examiner, Communications operator, and the last qualified Systems Analyst. Witnessing "LOS" on 24 Aug 01 not only meant Loss of Signal, but the lost of a great program. Keep this site up, it brings back great memories. "Crew, SA, clear to power down!". TSgt Frank Carino, 603rd Air Control Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy francis.carino@aviano.af.mil
I just found this cool site. I worked at Patrick AFB on the ARIA for the APOLLO 9-12 as a radio tech. We used a 1000 watt 4 sideband collins system. I only was there from 68-69, in the 6549 CEMS. It was a great event. I think the smartest people in the world were in just that area, for those missions to the moon. I was only an A1C. at the time. EC-135s and NASA T-38s were the craft, and lots of comm. equip. for our radio shop.
Randy, Thanks for this neat site. I was a ground communications tech for the ARIA APOLLO missions about 1966 through 70. Very much enjoyed the photos and memories here. I've forwarded via email a story or two. Jim White
Great site. I had the pleasure of flying ARIA's as a navigator in the 4950th from Aug 83 to Aug 86. Do I miss those wonderful TDYs. I was in the wing mission planning office and got to plan many of the missions including the ones I really wanted to fly. The fighter guys can brag all they want. As far as I am concerned, the years I spent at the 4950th were the best flying years of my life. Maj. Chuck Davenport, USAF (Ret)
We at the Jet Wash Guys want to thank you for an excellent web site and tell your team to keep up the good work.
retired Msgt USAF Kenneth Dietrich Crewchief and Flight engineer aircraft 60- 0374 Patrick AFB 1967 to 1970 Home address: 6018 hillside drive Backhawk South Dakota 57718 Phone # 605-716-4766
Excellent website! I was at Patrick, Fla. in April 68 til Dec. '73 and was Crew Chief/Flt. Engineer on ARIA #61-0327. They didn't have to ask me twice if I wanted to go on training as a flight-engineer. The TDYs were fantastic and frequent; Hawaii, Austrailia, New Zealand, Guam, Ascension I., Peru, Surinam, Rio de Janero, just name a few. I "re-united" with the ARIAs from '76-80 at Wright-Patt and it was like "old home week" back flying the ARIAs with alot of the old crew members for another 4-1/2 years where I retired. Harold "Ernie" Fernandez edfern@adelphia.net / Harleywla45@hotmail.com Phone 719/846-9436
Hello Randy: This is Gerald R. J. Heuer. Am enjoying your site but am saddened to read that ARIA has passed on but suspected that would happen some day. I was lucky enough to be assigned to the AF Eastern Test Range in September 1973 after my tour in Vietnam as a navigator in AC-119K Gunships and GIB in OV-10 Pave Nails. Prior to that had been a SAC tanker nav and C-141A nav. After a little over two years at Patrick I was part of the cadre that started the 4950th ARIA mission going at WPAFB. Istayed there until going to AFIT in August 1976. In stead of going on in a "hit or miss" fashion, I am wondering if you have some sort of input form you use to capture our experiences from dropping down to 7000 ft running against war heads to flying the TRAP (Terminal Radiation Acquisition Program) photo bird where extreme accuracy was needed or data was lost. Also, I saw a picture of a model of an ARIA. Do you know where to get one? I wish I had been in contact earlier to catch the reunions. Living in Detroit after retirement makes it an easy drive to WPAFB. I can be contacted at g.r.heuer@worldnet.att.net. Waiting for your reply and in the mean time will try to find some old photos at Wake with Col Sams or in Mauritius, Ascension, Rio, or Capetown. Keep up the good work. Yours in ARIA J
Great Site Randy T.Erlandson (ex-Crewchief 0375)
OUTSTANDING site Randy! I left the 4950th in March'85, but the memories are as vivid now as when I was there. The men and women of ARIA are some of the best people I'll ever meet and I'm proud to have served with all of them. Mike Allen, Mission Coordinator Aug '82 - Mar '85
RANDY,GREAT JOB, WELL DONE !! BLAINE GREENWOOD 76-93 ARIA327@YAHOO.COM
Great. I was an ARIA pilot at Patrick 69-72. Also Chief of Aircraft Engineering there. Went back to the F-111 program Office at WPAFB 72-75 as Chief of Test. Joined the 4950th in 75 and flew ARIA again until retiring in 78. IP/FE also. Still working - Chief Engineer, Aircraft Strategic Projects, Federal Express. Art Benjamin
Randy, I like the new look. Thanks for all the effort. Hello to all. Tom Bacon
Hi Randy (You probably don't know me)? I am Joyce Campbell. I worked in the 4950th Test Wing, Stan/Eval office until 1981 (left for a promotion) in the B-1 SPO. Cried all the way out the door! I left one month prior to the crash of ARIA 328. Lt Col Ben Frederick was a good friend of mine. Use to come by Stan/Eval and talk to me all the time and so were all the other crew members. I was there when the 4950th was born. Prior to that, I started out in the old Zero Gravity Office, across the street from Base Ops. That was a very interesting job seeing the astronauts from Houston and the MOL Astronauts from Los Angeles come to our office to fly in the Zero Gravity aircraft (135). It was fascinating. I met celebrities such as Hugh Downs, the real Bozo the Clown, etc. I worked for Donald Griggs. We were across the street from Base Ops. Those were the early days of the beginning of the 4950th Test Wing. From there I went across the street to Cargo Ops. Then I moved up stairs over the hangar to the Stan/Eval Office. It was there that the 4950th Test Wing was born. We moved across the runway to our new home. The "Home of the 4950th Test Wing." I have now worked with the Govt 31 years and I'm still at WPAFB. I have had many jobs but none ever quite as interesting as the 4950th Test Wing. That was where the action was. With the coming of the ARIA fleet from Cocoa Beach, Florida a new world opened up at the wing. That was when the excitement began. Being in Stan/Eval I got to hear all the stories. We all were such a family....very close. Everyone cared about each other....unlike today at the base. We were family! I got to fly on one of those birds...I flew to Florida on orders (down and back) to see a space shot from Cocoa Beach. It was awesome. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Leo Jansens was the pilot on that mission. He let me talk to the tower in Florida. This I will never forget. I also got to go on board every time a new piece of equipment was installed, etc. Being in Stan/Eval we had a lot of the pilots of that aircraft there with us in that office so when something new came up they were always anxious to share it with me. My job was an awesome job....never a dull moment. These were all happy times and happy moments that I will keep in my heart forever. Seeing them come and go on TDY and anxiously awaiting their return was an experience I will never forget. When we heard someone was in trouble on one of our aircraft, we all were in trouble. This group cared about what happened to each other. I can't tell you too much technical stuff about the aircraft but I knew a lot of wonderful folks who flew that aircraft that were probably some of the finest folks I have ever met and I've gone on since then to work with 4-star generals such as General Charles McDonald, General Ron Yates (I worked for him at the Test Wing when he was a colonel), General Viccellio, Lt Gen Dale Thompson, Maj Gen Searock, Maj Gen Bracken, and many, many more. I worked in the HQ AFMC Protocol Office for 7 years working directly with these folks. They were fine people but no one will ever come close to the caliber of people that worked in the 4950th Test Wing. They stand out! I now work for a general as a GS-12 Logistics Mgt Specialist and on the 13 list. I've come a long way since that GS-6 job in the test wing but I wouldn't trade my time in the wing as a GS-6 for any of the times I've had any where else. Those were the happy times. Moments to remember forever! It was the people that made that aircraft what it was. It was not just the pilots but the whole crew who was behind the scene keeping it flying. I was the lady who tried to promote morale and had all the parties at the American Legion. Such as Swing Into Summer and the Fall Into Autumn and many more. Hal Shimek was a Captain in the Stan/Eval Office and he always go the legion for me free of charge. He went on to become a Lt Col. Up until he died he and I would get together for lunch sometimes and talk about the good old days. Good man! I miss him in this town. An asset to the community and the Air Force. Made lots of things happen at the Legion. He loved that Test Wing. He was among the many fine people to come and go in the wing. Those 4950th Test Wing memories will live with a lot of us forever. The coming of the fleet: I will never forget this. We heard it was happening and then as the aircraft started arriving it was awesome and breath taking. The new aircraft with all the high tech equipment and the top-notch folks who came with that aircraft to the wing were awesome. They seemed to walk so tall, proud of their job and they loved that bird like their own children. You could see it in their style, mannerisms, and walk. They had a mission and it was to keep'em flying and they did this well. When I retire in a few years (2/3) these memories will be my fondest ones and the people who touched my life in that wing will never leave my heart. We were family! A lot I will never see again but their memories will live with me forever. Some of these are: Lt Col John Park; Lt Col Dave Hartsock; Lt Col Ron Franzen; Lt Col Lynn Wolfe (who brought the fleet from Florida); and the many flight crew members such as Sgt Merritt; Sgt Corsbie; Sgt Roby; SMSgt Orr and many, many more. They all are to be commended. That last ARIA sits proudly at the USAF Museum and every time I have to go to the museum for something....I salute her as I pass by....my heart and memories are still there with her. There's so many lives that were touched by this aircraft and we are proud of all of you who kept her flying and made us troops on the ground proud to be a part of such a great "ALL AMERICAN TEAM." This was truly an ALL AMERICAN TEAM. More should be said somewhere about this group. If I can ever help you in any way keep this going, please contact me. My e-mail address is Joyceacampbell@aol.com. It has been a pleasure to tell you how a GS-6 SECRETARY FROM THE OLD 4950TH TEST WING FELT ABOUT THE ARIA FLEET! MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP ALL THESE TROOPS SAFE AND FOR THOSE GONE ON...I'M SURE THEY ARE FLYING UP THERE IN HEAVEN WITH GOD BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD ALL THE EXPERIENCE IT TAKES TO FLY. He was right there on many missions with them and he has their numbers. God Bless you .....you have done an awesome job with this web-site. I'm happy I heard about it. Quite impressive! I will tell everyone I know to go review it. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS! Joyce A. Campell
Great site! Of course I'm biased though .. Bob Guere (noseart artist - ARIA at WPAFB Museum) .. is my son! One suggestion .. it would be good if the latest comments were at the beginning of the guestbook rather than at the end, don't you think?
Randy...awesome site! Keep it going! I love the history behind the best Air Force Program ever! I worked in Mission Development Shop from 1991-1993; WPAFB to EDW transition. Something that was not published, but my name was flown on the side of "The Beast; 81-0892" for a few months in 1992...not bad for a Navigator! 0892 had the best maintenance chiefs: MSgt Chuck Thompson and Dennis Duzzy to mention a few!! Cheers!!
Randy, GREAT SITE. May it fly forever. “AOS” Marge & I just finished unpacking our new home. The last room we put together was our computer room. The walls are covered with ARIA pictures and memorabilia. The memories they represent are of long gone times, but as unforgettable as if they were yesterday. We live close enough to the Las Vegas McCarran airport to see large aircraft taking off, I can’t tell you how often I look up and expect to see that Gray, beautiful big nose, black smoke trailing, bird, jumping off the runway going to some part of the world that most people only heard of or can only dream of. I can’t tell you how often I recall some funny story/experience about some place that ARIA went or some mission we performed. Midway, Wake, Guam, Australia, Africa, Ascension Island, Mauritius, Spain, Tahiti, Hawaii, South America, Barbados, Then the less exotic places, Edwards, Dyess, Hill, March, to name a few. What A life. What a job. What fabulous people to work with. Keep ARIA flying in our hearts and minds forever Randy. Those of us who lived it will never forget. Rick Aker (1970 - 1988) RF / TELEMETRY, First Sergeant. rakerjr@lvcm.com.