I finally had the opportunity to visit South America. It was not airline travel, but it was an Air Force Reserve mission that took me there.

The mode of transportation was the military version of the DC-10-30CF..the KC-10A.

We departed Travis AFB, CA on Thursday evening, August 31st, at around 1700. A little over 10 hours later, we arrived at Diego Aracena, A.B. which is a joint use airfield at Iquique.

The place was one of the most barren I have ever seen. Saudi Arabia looks lush compared to this portion of Chile. Almost no vegetation except the occasional tree near a dwelling. We were told that it rains, on average, only twice per year. Average rainfall is 3/10" per year.

Our driver, Leo, took us to town and provided an excellent running monologue about the area.

Iquique is primarily a resort town that lies next to the Pacific Ocean just north of the Tropic of Capricorn.

We had reservations for Best Western Hotel Gavina, but ended up at the Terrado Club Hotel. Both hotels have ocean views, but I believe the former has the superior view.

The crew of eleven, which included a 4-man maintenance team arrived at the hotel to find our luggage had not. It had gone ahead of us on a truck. We also found that our rooms were not ready. We sent Leo for beer and he returned with a local brew called "Cristal".

The rooms were ready around 11 a.m. We took 90 minute "combat naps" and then Leo gave us a tour of the town to include shopping for wine. I sampled a cabernet and a merlot that were to my liking and bought a bottle of each. There was another cabernet that we were not allowed to sample, so the pilot and I deduced that it must be one of the best and each purchased a bottle. It was a 1995 Cabernet Reserva - "Miguel Torres". I am anxious to share this with my bride sometime soon! She fancies the Merlot, but that is another story.

After shopping, Leo took us to the local EKONO for more beer. We retired to the suite that the pilot and I were sharing and enjoyed the beers whilst watching Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion with subtitles in Spanish.

Then Leo and his backup driver, Luis, drove us to Taberna Barracuda for steak dinner. The price was reasonable (6,000 pesos. I exchanged $40 for 22,500 pesos, you do the math) and the quality was outstanding. Luis explained that the beef was either Argentinian or Hawaiian.

After dinner, two of us were deposited at the seaside casino, two at the Aloha Club on the beach near the hotel. The remainder went to the hotel and retired.

The next morning we had an 0430 "show time". We arrived at the aircraft to load cargo. 16 pallets of support equipment to include a spare engine for an F-16 as well as various aerospace ground equipment. We were tasked with bringing 6-F-16C/D aircraft back to Albuquerque, NM. This unit was attached to the New Mexico Air National Guard. So we loaded the 16 pallets and 63 personnel and refueled the F-16's inflight enroute to Macdill AFB in Tampa Florida.

We spent the night there at the Doubletree near the civilian airport. We had steaks at Charly's right next door. Outstanding beef.

We launched at noon the next day with about a dozen Domino's Pizzas that were delivered to base operations 20 minutes prior to takeoff.

We refueled the fighters twice and then landed to deliver the people and equipment.

After that, back to Travis AFB, CA. I caught a ride to Sacramento Airport to get a rental car, stopped in Woodland on the way back for a Mexican dinner at Jody's Cafe; try it sometime! Then I drove back to the base and found there was no room at the Westwind Inn (government billeting facility on the base). They provided me with contract quarters offbase in Concord at the Hilton. Woke up early the next morning (0330) and drove to San Jose to catch flight 2729 to SNA and drove home 65 miles to arrive by 0900 Sunday Morning, September 4.

The trip was short and grueling and not enough time was spent in Chile, but I now have a pin in the map!

End of report!

[This message has been edited by FlyAAway (edited 09-05-2000).]

[This message has been edited by FlyAAway (edited 09-11-2000).]

Interesting and very different report! Where are the inflight refuelling fuel tanks in a KC-10? In the "hold" on where the pax would be in a DC-10? Does it have a cargo door on the main deck?

Just a pity about the miles.....

Question. Did they charge you a US$50 cash visa fee to get into the country? Yes, it sure is bleak and barren up in that part of the country. But the beef in Chile and Argentina certainly does give one pause to think about what we consider prime up in this part of the hemisphere. And at a fraction of the price.

All fuel is below deck, with the exception of the wing tanks, of course. There are six tanks, #1 (left wing), #2 (center wing), #3 (right wing), Forward body tank, Center body tank, and Aft body tank. The capacity is 356,000 pounds of fuel or approximately 52,000 gallons.

I had not even thought about the miles! Thanks for reminding me.
I have approximately 5000 hours logged in the KC-10; if I had miles for all of that flying. I should not torture myself thinking about it.

Thanks for your enthusiatic post. I was not certain folks would be interested. I had originally intended to post photos, but had technical difficulties witht the digital camera.

Cheers.

Yes, there is a cargo door on the main deck.

There was no visa fee. I do not know if that was a good deal for military only, or what. I had read about that fee here on the board and had brought plenty o'cash. Our passports were held for the duration of our stay. I found that somewhat alarming. It was returned with 2 stamps just prior to our departure. When traveling with the military, we use red "official" passports. This was the first time I had ever been asked to present it, and the first time it was ever stamped.

For the price, it was the best beef I have had. Where price is no consideration, my choice has to be the Metropolitan Grill, in Seattle. They don't give it away, but it sure is tasty.

Thanks for your post!

Really great report. By the way how often do you go on trips like that?

I have a currency requirement to load cargo, fly to the destination, and unload the cargo once every 120 days. I typically try not to let it exceed 90 days, so I go no less than 4 times per year.

If there is a good trip over a weekend, I go more often.

I was in the United Arab Emirates for two weeks earlier this year.

I am in an Air Force Reserve squadron, so it is not my full time occupation. I participate as often as I can. It is quite a juggling act between family and my 9 to 5 job.

For an example of aerial refueling pictures, please guide your browser to the following URL:
http://www.intellisys.net/users/altusboom

I have gotten myself in a jam with long URL's here, so I broke this one up. The rest of it follows:

/arphoto.html

Good luck.

I'd say my most memorable steaks have been in Buenos Aires (or Buenos Carnes ), in all budget ranges at that too.

I remember when I was in BA in '74 you could get bife a caballo, with wine and desert for about a buck!

A fresh new kind of report, at least as interesting as the normal variety. Thank you.

Great report! I love Iquique (and the Chilean desert in general): the contrast between the blue sea and the redish/brown barren coastline is spectacular.

Next time, you need to aim for Antofagasta (about 200 miles south of Iquique), and make your way to San Pedro de Atacama, which is up close to the Bolivian border...

BTW, and totally off-topic, there is a price war going on here in Chile, with most domestic fares below $100 round trip, including SCL - PUQ (Punta Arenas), which is a four hour flight.

Ah, since you surrendered your passports -- and they were a form of diplomatic/military passport -- that would explain why you did not have to pay the usual visa fee.

A good trip and I enjoyed the report.It brought back many fond memories of my Air Force days in Air Transport Command. However, I was not as fortunate to use jets. The long hauls were all on Hercules C130's. Many long boring hours at flight levels 230-280... and no miles !

Interesting, but I'm curious. Didn't you sign in blood stating you wouldn't reveal details of your missions? Or is the reserve exempt from such things?

Sir, I have never signed in blood. I have taken an oath that would govern my handling of classified material; this oath makes no distinction between our Active Duty brethern and the Reserve.

This mission was not exactly cloak and dagger stuff; I don't believe any of our intelligence data have been compromised. I assume you posted tongue-in-cheek, but if there is a specific detail that concerns you, please point it out.