Chip Hamby
The Tiger Photo
Chip Today
What I Did After UPT
by
Miles ‘Chip’ Hamby
Class of 7301, Vance AFB
After Vance, I checked-out in C-130s and went to the 40th Tactical Airlift Squadron at Pope AFB on the same military reservation as Ft. Bragg, headquarters of the 18th Airborne Corps. So, for fun, I joined one of the three sport parachute clubs there, and on my 76th jump, experienced a total malfunction of my main, came down on my reserve (which I had packed as a new parachute rigger), and broke my ankle. That substantially changed my life (haven’t jumped or run since). PCSd to Yokota AB, Japan, where my C-130 excursions took me to Iwo Jima (I’ve been on the top of Mt. Suribachi), Saipan, Truk, Micronesia, Taiwan, spent the night on Marcus Island, and flew a lot into Korea and the Philipines. I recognized I really wasn’t right for the AF and vice-versa, so resigned to the Reserves and started a career in the airlines. I wasn’t right for that either – flew for Air Central (an Oklahoma commuter), B727 and DC8 for Braniff (they went bankrupt), DC9 for Continental (they went bankrupt), DC8 for Capitol Airlines (they went bankrupt), accepted and took the physical for Eastern and then they went bankrupt, taught flight simulator for Pan Am International Flight Academy until they got rid of all their instructors and just leased simulator time (I was actually interviewed by the FAA right after 911).
During the early part of that time, I flew the C-130H for the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Then, one day on a cross-country mission, I buzzed the AF Academy. Flying below the chapel spires (so some allege) wasn’t so bad, but they really go upset when I opened up the ramp and door and dropped a note. The cadets assembled for the noon-meal formation loved it, but the Commandant had a different perspective. Thus, effectively, ended my career as an Air Force pilot. That’s when I started graduate school. After a Master of Public Administration at North Carolina State University, I started a PhD at University of Maryland. It took me 12 years, but I eventually finished. (Yes, you may call me Dr. Hamby.) My first job as a college professor was with Baltimore International College, a culinary art school. It wasn’t aviation, but the food was a lot better. I have since been active in higher education and teaching college serving as Director of Institutional Research for three colleges. They never paid much and I never accrued a retirement, so if you don’t see me at the reunion, it’s because I really can’t afford it. Really!
While at the University of Maryland, I married a knock-out blonde who constantly competed with me for the center of attention, so that ended after a brief four years. But, our wedding was awesome – all 100 guests were in 18th Century costume and the ceremony was in Bruton Parish Church in Colonial Williamsburg, where my parents were living. I even made the bride’s wedding gown. One of the celebrating priests, the Reverend Barney Jackson, was the former rector of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Enid, OK, with whom I became close friends while at UPT.
Over the past 15 years, I have been actively involved in dancing and teaching dance (visit my website http://milesdance.20megsfree.com/index.htm). I was very much into tango until my girlfriend/partner left me. So, I decided that if it takes two to tango, it only takes one to Flamenco, so for the past three years, I’ve been active in Flamenco and Sevillanas and developing fluency in Espanol.
I was never a success in a career. I realize now, I’ve just wanted to enjoy life. A guest of a friend of mine who came to one of my many parties, told him “You can tell right away from looking at his displays in the house, that Miles (you all know me as ‘Chip’) actually lives out his fantasies.” It was one of the highest compliments I have received, especially as I got it second-hand. The downside is, I have never focused on anything for long and thus, have never acceded to distinction in anything except throwing the best parties in DC!
I keep my hand in aviation with occasional ATP exam prep seminars, where I do enjoy a certain word-of-mouth reputation as the “go-to-guy” to get through the FAA exam in the shortest time with the least stress. (Visit my other website http://milesflight.com ). Politically, I made a substantial change a few years ago. I now support anyone who promises to preserve my anticipated Social Security and Medicare! It’s going to be my only income for a long time. So, not having children of my own, for all my classmates who have children, please encourage them to keep working!
by
Miles ‘Chip’ Hamby
Class of 7301, Vance AFB
After Vance, I checked-out in C-130s and went to the 40th Tactical Airlift Squadron at Pope AFB on the same military reservation as Ft. Bragg, headquarters of the 18th Airborne Corps. So, for fun, I joined one of the three sport parachute clubs there, and on my 76th jump, experienced a total malfunction of my main, came down on my reserve (which I had packed as a new parachute rigger), and broke my ankle. That substantially changed my life (haven’t jumped or run since). PCSd to Yokota AB, Japan, where my C-130 excursions took me to Iwo Jima (I’ve been on the top of Mt. Suribachi), Saipan, Truk, Micronesia, Taiwan, spent the night on Marcus Island, and flew a lot into Korea and the Philipines. I recognized I really wasn’t right for the AF and vice-versa, so resigned to the Reserves and started a career in the airlines. I wasn’t right for that either – flew for Air Central (an Oklahoma commuter), B727 and DC8 for Braniff (they went bankrupt), DC9 for Continental (they went bankrupt), DC8 for Capitol Airlines (they went bankrupt), accepted and took the physical for Eastern and then they went bankrupt, taught flight simulator for Pan Am International Flight Academy until they got rid of all their instructors and just leased simulator time (I was actually interviewed by the FAA right after 911).
During the early part of that time, I flew the C-130H for the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Then, one day on a cross-country mission, I buzzed the AF Academy. Flying below the chapel spires (so some allege) wasn’t so bad, but they really go upset when I opened up the ramp and door and dropped a note. The cadets assembled for the noon-meal formation loved it, but the Commandant had a different perspective. Thus, effectively, ended my career as an Air Force pilot. That’s when I started graduate school. After a Master of Public Administration at North Carolina State University, I started a PhD at University of Maryland. It took me 12 years, but I eventually finished. (Yes, you may call me Dr. Hamby.) My first job as a college professor was with Baltimore International College, a culinary art school. It wasn’t aviation, but the food was a lot better. I have since been active in higher education and teaching college serving as Director of Institutional Research for three colleges. They never paid much and I never accrued a retirement, so if you don’t see me at the reunion, it’s because I really can’t afford it. Really!
While at the University of Maryland, I married a knock-out blonde who constantly competed with me for the center of attention, so that ended after a brief four years. But, our wedding was awesome – all 100 guests were in 18th Century costume and the ceremony was in Bruton Parish Church in Colonial Williamsburg, where my parents were living. I even made the bride’s wedding gown. One of the celebrating priests, the Reverend Barney Jackson, was the former rector of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Enid, OK, with whom I became close friends while at UPT.
Over the past 15 years, I have been actively involved in dancing and teaching dance (visit my website http://milesdance.20megsfree.com/index.htm). I was very much into tango until my girlfriend/partner left me. So, I decided that if it takes two to tango, it only takes one to Flamenco, so for the past three years, I’ve been active in Flamenco and Sevillanas and developing fluency in Espanol.
I was never a success in a career. I realize now, I’ve just wanted to enjoy life. A guest of a friend of mine who came to one of my many parties, told him “You can tell right away from looking at his displays in the house, that Miles (you all know me as ‘Chip’) actually lives out his fantasies.” It was one of the highest compliments I have received, especially as I got it second-hand. The downside is, I have never focused on anything for long and thus, have never acceded to distinction in anything except throwing the best parties in DC!
I keep my hand in aviation with occasional ATP exam prep seminars, where I do enjoy a certain word-of-mouth reputation as the “go-to-guy” to get through the FAA exam in the shortest time with the least stress. (Visit my other website http://milesflight.com ). Politically, I made a substantial change a few years ago. I now support anyone who promises to preserve my anticipated Social Security and Medicare! It’s going to be my only income for a long time. So, not having children of my own, for all my classmates who have children, please encourage them to keep working!