Buffett Performs for Troops on the USS Truman

Post by **SMLCHNG** » January 29, 2008 9:33 pm

flipflopgirl wrote:I LOVE that SH*T eating grin on Jimmy's face in the pic where he is dressed in the flight suit!! Like a kid in the candy store!!!

Made me grin from ear to ear, and so happy for those he performed for!!!

docandjeanie · Post by **docandjeanie** » January 29, 2008 9:36 pm

SMLCHNG wrote:
flipflopgirl wrote:I LOVE that SH*T eating grin on Jimmy's face in the pic where he is dressed in the flight suit!! Like a kid in the candy store!!!
Made me grin from ear to ear, and so happy for those he performed for!!!

Yes, you can see that he loved being there, maybe he went for a cool ride as well.... he does look happy, giving the hang loose sign

conched · Post by **conched** » January 29, 2008 10:38 pm

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
ClevelandMark wrote:I also see that on Jimmy's name tag when he is signing autographs that he has the name "Brillo", or I think that's what it said.....that I would imagine was his call sign when he flew....or maybe just a guess.....
Yep. Call sign.

Call name “Brillo”

Article from Coconut Telegraph July 1986
Volume 2, No. 7

JIMMY BUFFETT CIVILIAN FIGHTER PILOT

(Ed. Note: Lt. Jim (Famous Amos) Anderson reports on Jimmy’s experiences at the Navy’s survival school.)

It all started last winter, when I gave The Margaritaville Store a concert photo of Jimmy. I soon received a short note from him saying he’d sure like to get a flight in a Navy jet. Jimmy ended by saying, “I have a helmet:---a la Jack Nicholson Easy Rider. So with great enthusiasm I set out to make the flight happen.

The Navy, however, is very reluctant to take civilians up in tactical jet aircraft. Finally the project was okayed, provided that Jimmy successfully complete the Naval Aviation survival school in Norfolk, VA.

Jimmy arrived on a Sunday night to start “boot camp” for his week-long hitch in the Navy.

He began by learning the effects of flight on the human body during spins and the high “G” maneuvers of an aerial dogfight—then received instruction on how to eject, maneuver his parachute, and deploy his life raft.

The second day, the real fun began---the water survival test. Jimmy and I got suited up in full flight gear---flight suit, boots, survival equipment, parachute harness, and helmet (about 30 pounds of equipment in all.)

The first event was the 75-yard swim. Now, Jimmy trained hard in Key West for this by swimming daily “laps” in the Atlantic. But he hadn’t counted on his flight gear being so cumbersome or the fact that this was FRESH water which compared to salt water has absolutely NO buoyancy.

His first 65 yards went very well. However, he caught a wave and a mouthful of water which made his last 10 yards very . . . interesting. He made it, though, and did better than most.

We then went on to the drown proofing test, which required us to float unaided for 10 minutes---no life preserver of any kind. We both did exceptionally well until we caught a glimpse of each other struggling to keep our noses above the waterline and started laughing. It’s still not clear to me just how we made it through the rest of the test.

Finally, we came to the last event, which some call the drowning pool…a device designed to teach pilots how to survive a helicopter ditching at sea.

A large, barrel-shaped compartment was suspended high above a deep pool. Each person was strapped to a seat and the “dunker” plunged into the pool, flipped upside down, and quickly sank to the bottom. The trick? Unbuckling and finding the way out and up to the surface. Jimmy had to do it 5 times instead of the required 4, because once he unstrapped and “escaped” too soon. (I think he just wanted to do an encore.)

At day’s end Jimmy was exhausted but exuberant. He had graduated with flying colors from the Navy’s survival training school and was ready for his flight.

(Ed. Note: LCDR Dan Carroll shares with us his observances of Jimmy’s flight.)

Friday, May 16, 1986, Jimmy Buffett donned the flight gear of a U. S. Navy fighter pilot and turned a lifelong dream into the experience of a lifetime. Jimmy teamed up with the pilots of Fighter Squadron Forty-Five at the Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida, and took off seated at the controls of a TA-4 Skyhawk---a plane whose flight characteristics and maneuverability simulate the Third World jets that U. S. forces may someday face in combat.

Jimmy had received extensive briefings on the aircraft and its systems (including ejection seat operation.) Just as he was about to take off in his jet wearing his flight suit, anti “G” suit, and torso harness, who should show up but Jimmy’s daughter Savannah Jane with his business associate Sunshine Smith. A prouder father could not be found as Jimmy asked his daughter to “take a look at your daddy, Savannah Jane.”

Jimmy then taxied out and took off for a mock air battle performed over the Gulf of Mexico near the Dry Tortugas.

That day, Jimmy gained the deepest respect and appreciation for the men he was flying with and for their job. Upon his return to Earth he was the portrait of pleasure.

Jimmy Buffett will always know the unique satisfaction that accompanies the rush of performing live for 50,000 people. But the next time you see him in concert and he flashes that knowing smile mid-song, be advised that at least part of it is fueled from having pulled 6 “Gs” with a big grin on his face.

The photo with the story shows Jimmy getting into the plane with JIMMY BUFFETT “BRILLO” on the side.

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » January 29, 2008 10:55 pm

Dang Nancy!!! NICE! Thanks for digging that up for us!!

Migration Michelle · Post by **Migration Michelle** » January 30, 2008 12:01 am

Nancy...you are the research queen!!!! Thanks for the great info!
Loved the story!

docandjeanie · Post by **docandjeanie** » January 30, 2008 12:18 am

Great job Nancy, thanks

flipflopgirl · Post by **flipflopgirl** » January 30, 2008 12:40 am

docandjeanie wrote:
SMLCHNG wrote:
flipflopgirl wrote:I LOVE that SH*T eating grin on Jimmy's face in the pic where he is dressed in the flight suit!! Like a kid in the candy store!!!
Made me grin from ear to ear, and so happy for those he performed for!!!
Yes, you can see that he loved being there, maybe he went for a cool ride as well.... he does look happy, giving the hang loose sign

I hope he did! and i really hope those who got to see him enjoyed it!!!!

Thanks for digging up the old telegraph Nancy!!!

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » January 30, 2008 8:40 am

flipflopgirl wrote:
docandjeanie wrote:
SMLCHNG wrote:
flipflopgirl wrote:I LOVE that SH*T eating grin on Jimmy's face in the pic where he is dressed in the flight suit!! Like a kid in the candy store!!!
Made me grin from ear to ear, and so happy for those he performed for!!!
Yes, you can see that he loved being there, maybe he went for a cool ride as well.... he does look happy, giving the hang loose sign
I hope he did! and i really hope those who got to see him enjoyed it!!!!

Thanks for digging up the old telegraph Nancy!!!

According to http://www.navy.mil they got a helo ride out to the carrier on an SH-60 Seahawk helo. I've been helo'd to a ship. It's not as cool as the F-14 ride he got in '86 but still a *very* fun time!

OystersandBeer · Post by **OystersandBeer** » January 30, 2008 9:02 am

Well, what was the set list?

dnw · Post by **dnw** » January 30, 2008 9:06 am

Nancy - Thanks for the article.

pgr17 · Post by **pgr17** » January 30, 2008 11:28 am

cool read - thanks!

Bfan53 · Post by **Bfan53** » January 30, 2008 3:45 pm

JB & Mac performing on an aircraft carrier.......talk about a tough ticket to get!!!!!

I knew he was searching out more unsual and exotic locations!!

Seriously, kudos to both gentlemen for their continued support of our men and women in the armed forces everywhere "on the far side of the world".

docandjeanie · Post by **docandjeanie** » January 30, 2008 3:52 pm

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
flipflopgirl wrote:
docandjeanie wrote:
SMLCHNG wrote:
flipflopgirl wrote:I LOVE that SH*T eating grin on Jimmy's face in the pic where he is dressed in the flight suit!! Like a kid in the candy store!!!
Made me grin from ear to ear, and so happy for those he performed for!!!
Yes, you can see that he loved being there, maybe he went for a cool ride as well.... he does look happy, giving the hang loose sign
I hope he did! and i really hope those who got to see him enjoyed it!!!!

Thanks for digging up the old telegraph Nancy!!!
According to http://www.navy.mil they got a helo ride out to the carrier on an SH-60 Seahawk helo. I've been helo'd to a ship. It's not as cool as the F-14 ride he got in '86 but still a *very* fun time!

Yeah, I was married to a Navy man in a former life, and he used to Helo to a from the ship sometimes. After re-reading Nancy article, they probably couldn't take him up in a jet, just for the fun of it this time, but I am sure he enjoyed whatever went on there. He looks so happy

That had to be cool, Jen

surfpirate · Post by **surfpirate** » January 30, 2008 4:00 pm

I wonder where the call name "Brillo" came from? Did Jimmy choose that, and if so why? Or was it just a random flight suit in the hanger that fit him?

~~~~ surfpirate

Mango Picker · Post by **Mango Picker** » January 30, 2008 4:05 pm

US Navy website
older story on Jimmy at Guantanamo (more time for the troops)

show was Dec 7 2002

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=5090

Good recall on Jimmy's A4 flight as callsign Brillo!!!!!!!

surfpirate · Post by **surfpirate** » January 30, 2008 4:55 pm

For some reason this reminds me of the scene in Top Gun after "Maverick" (Tom Cruise) and "Charlie" (Kelly McGillis) were finished butchering a karaoke version of "Great Balls of Fire".

Charlie: Listen, can I ask you a personal question?
Maverick: That depends.
Charlie: Are you a good pilot?
Maverick: I can hold my own.
Charlie: Great, then I won't have to worry about you making your living as a singer.

Maybe "Brillo" could star in Top Gun II.

~~~~ surfpirate

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » January 30, 2008 10:22 pm

surfpirate wrote:I wonder where the call name "Brillo" came from? Did Jimmy choose that, and if so why? Or was it just a random flight suit in the hanger that fit him?

~~~~ surfpirate

Normally you don't choose your own callsign; it's chosen for you.

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » January 30, 2008 10:30 pm

surfpirate wrote:For some reason this reminds me of the scene in Top Gun after "Maverick" (Tom Cruise) and "Charlie" (Kelly McGillis) were finished butchering a karaoke version of "Great Balls of Fire".
Charlie: Listen, can I ask you a personal question?
Maverick: That depends.
Charlie: Are you a good pilot?
Maverick: I can hold my own.
Charlie: Great, then I won't have to worry about you making your living as a singer.
Maybe "Brillo" could star in Top Gun II.

~~~~ surfpirate

Please God, no shirtless volleyball scene of Jimmy & Mac all oiled up and flexing on each other.

popcornjack · Post by **popcornjack** » January 30, 2008 10:32 pm

chippewa wrote:
surfpirate wrote:For some reason this reminds me of the scene in Top Gun after "Maverick" (Tom Cruise) and "Charlie" (Kelly McGillis) were finished butchering a karaoke version of "Great Balls of Fire".
Charlie: Listen, can I ask you a personal question?
Maverick: That depends.
Charlie: Are you a good pilot?
Maverick: I can hold my own.
Charlie: Great, then I won't have to worry about you making your living as a singer.
Maybe "Brillo" could star in Top Gun II.

~~~~ surfpirate
Please God, no shirtless volleyball scene of Jimmy & Mac all oiled up and flexing on each other.

That would be awesome. And by awesome, I mean trainwreck.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » January 30, 2008 10:39 pm

Another great pic posted by a fellow PH who was there (you'll have to click; flickr won't play nice):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkmorose/2226316499/

Thank you Jimmy! During a visit to the UAE, Jimmy and Mac McAnally
stopped by the sandbox to perform a 2 hour set of my favorite songs and
even tossed in a few good jokes. Even the ever popular "Why Don't We
Get Drunk", which isn't supposed to be played live since 2007, made the
list and Mac sang Alan Jackson's part of "Five O'clock Somewhere". It
would have been nice to have a margarita with Karen and my friends while
watching them perform! Wish you could have been here LOL

parrothead

The Sandbox is a liberty facility, so sounds like Jimmy and Mac played they show on land right next to where the carrier was berthed.

BuffettNews.com

Buffett Performs for Troops on the USS Truman

Re: Truman Pics