Slow Buzz Job

I thoroughly enjoyed the “Buzz Job” article (February 2018 issue) and thought of a story that might be of interest to your readers.

It’s the early 1970s at the U.S. Coast Guard (CG) Air Station in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with the CG tower controllers. Due to our relatively remote location, other services frequently sent jets to practice various procedures with little traffic in the pattern. One day, two such jets, each in turn, requested permission for a low-level, high-speed flyby over the field, which was granted. The first jet “zoomed” down the runway. The second jet “zoomed” down the runway. Then the pilot of the CG HU-16E “Albatross” amphib that was in the pattern requested permission for a low-level, high-speed pass (140 knots being considered high speed). Permission granted. Just abreast of the tower, the pilot got on the radio and called out, “Boom, boom.” The pilot got the expected laughs and earned a permanent nickname. Bwahahahaha! Perfect! A true sonic (or would it be “verbal”?) boom!—BD