Monday, October 26, 2009

Things that bite...

Because Kandahar is an Airfied - a full sized airfield - any thing from a prop plane to a 747 and Russian Antinov's can land and take off here, there's always something happening. I've seen F-16's, A-10's, Predator Drones, French Mirages, British Harriers and Tornados and any number of Helicopters from Apaches, Blackhawks, and on down the list of military flying machine - and it's a constant buzz.

There's always a mission being flown or something landing or taking off.

Last night - I was standing outside when I noticed an A-10 Warthog off to the south of the base roll over 90 degrees in what looked like an attack run as he dove to the ground - and then visually I could see smoke come out of the front of the plane, and then about 5 seconds later the unmistakeable sound of him firing his nose cannon which sounds like a big BUZZZZZZ but lower like a BURPPPPP. He did this about 5 times, coming around for another strafing run. Not sure if he was attacking or practicing, but it wasn't far from the camp. Other aircraft were taking off and landing, so I don't know if they'd have a live fire drill with aircraft in the pattern.

Definately some bite, would hate to be on the receiving end there.

That's not the only thing around here that bites though....today in our billeting area known as Camp Hicks, they found and killed a Saw Scaled Viper. An Extremely venomous snake, native to these lands - which is also extremely agressive - probably because if it's small size. I don't have transportation - so I do alot of walking from work to living area, especially at night time...and that has made me take a little pause...

Anyway - apparently there's more than just mortars, rockets and bullets to dodge here.

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