First Step Accomplished!

Hi Everyone,

   We made it to Travis Air Force Base in California, the first step on our way to Australia!  The flight we took had plenty of seats and we got in early this morning at around 1 am. Tonight we hope to take a flight to Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, and from there we hope to catch the Australia flight as it comes through. We are trying this route instead of getting on the Australia flight in Travis because we were told that it is very rare for passengers to board the Australia flight in Travis (where we are right now).   Usually any tentative seats are taken up at the last minute with cargo. On Air Force planes, it is not so much room that counts, as it is weight. So while there may actually be room for passengers, the cargo usually takes up all the weight that is allowed.
   
 One of the best parts about traveling is meeting new people. Most of our fellow passengers from last night's flight are also trying to get to Hawaii. Luckily, the flight that is suppose to go out tonight also is suppose to have a large number of seats, so we will probably get to share a ride with our travel companions again. Hawaii is the final destination for most of our fellow travelers, but at least one of them is traveling farther, on to Japan. Hickam is often the jump off point for flights across the Pacific.
   
There are a few differences between commercial flights, and riding Space Available on Military flights. I have already mentioned a few of these differences, such as the loud noise, and the cold. After proceeding through security, passengers board a blue school bus out on the tarmac and are driven right out to the plane. No hats are allowed because normally the plane is already warming up and the engines are running. Passengers climb up stairs and into the main cargo hold. In the plane we took last night, a C-17, there are canvas jump seats folded down along the length of the plane. Passengers sit in these seats facing their fellow passengers along the other wall. Each seat has a seat belt, but not much else. These seats do not have any extra padding, and the metal parts are usually very cold. But the crew on the plane does hand out small pillows and blankets in vacuum sealed packs for the passengers.  Ear plugs are also handed out to help protect against the noise. After everyone is seated, a member of the crew goes through the safety review about oxygen masks etc.. Then the crew finishes the final pre-flight check and the plane takes off.  The ride last night was a pretty smooth one, and, as you can see in this delightful picture Mom took, I managed to catch a nap. 

More news soon,

Hana