Thursday, August 22, 2013 was Nick's Soft Patch Ceremony. We all gathered in Sike's Hall's bar, Ace's for this very casual ceremony. Each student took turns sitting in a chair and having their instructor tell a (usually very exaggerated) story about their student. Afterwards, their soft patch, which is the leather patch on their flight suit, that contains the Navy crest and their name embossed on it, is ripped off and replaced with a patch with their name and aviator wings on it.
Pretty simple ceremony and almost always very funny.
Here is the video of Nick and his awesome instructor (Coast Guard) Lt. Lawson.
(You can click the box looking icon on the bottom right corner to enlarge the video).
For those of you that needed some clarifying (because I sure did), during Nick's third flight, (obviously still VERY new), they simulated an engine failure. Where Nick should have "cushioned", meaning slowly raising the bar (for lack of better terms, but actually called a "collective"), it would have slowly lowered the helo for an emergency landing with no engine. But he didn't, and his instructor, who also has a set of controls, tried to do so, but couldn't. Not even with two arms. Nick was holding his collective in one position, so strongly, that Lt. Lawson couldn't move it all to cushion the fall. Thus, they dropped hard from 5 feet.
After Nick's story, his partner, Dallas (standing next to Nick) took his turn. Then Lt. Lawson ripped off their old patch and put on their new ones.
And then the boys presented him with a bottle of liquor (customary...aviation is all about the booze!) and a picture frame with Nick and Dallas in front of their helo after their first solo (Lt. Lawson flew almost all their flights with them prior to their solo). They were also his first ever students. He really liked the gift and told me to give him our new address when we get one because he too has a gift for Nick.
Afterwards, we all sat around drinking (free!) beer and eating pizza while socializing with his classmates, instructors, and CO.
Nick's classmates
Nick's CO, Lieutenant Colonel White, telling us all how awesome Nick is ;)
Nick and his CO (the "head" guy of his squadron)
Nick and I with his partner, Dallas, and his wife Megan.
Nick is one amazingly lucky guy. He was blessed with the best sponsor parents while at the Academy. Kel and Lisa quickly became like second parents to him and we could not have been more happy that they made the trip down to Florida for Nick's winging.
Nick's Aunt Debbie and cousin, Megan (the rest of his family arrived in town late this night).
Nicholas with his ridiculously proud wife!
Lt. Lawson with his students, Dallas and Nick.
We're pretty cute if I do say so myself ;)
Cheesin' so big. Someone is pretty proud of himself...as he should be!!!
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