Graduated!
Just a quick note to those who read and/or responded to my thread on Wichita Falls last autumn; We had the privilege of travelling to Wichita Falls last week (via United and rental car, not RV) for my son's wings grad and promotion. What a great weekend; the Canadian students and their families had a couple of separate events with senior officers in attendance (including Gen. Foster, Chief of Air Staff), as well as the full Red Carpet day tour, grad and reception with the whole class and their families. Just a great experience, and one we will never forget. We were treated very well by our own (RCAF) people, by USAF, and by the people of Wichita Falls, who were warm and hospitable everywhere we went.
Special mention has to be made of Dennis and Peg Marquardt, the sponsor family who mother henned the Canadian students while they were at Sheppard; Dennis is a semi-retired USAF Colonel who is an administrator at the base health center, and the two of them are without a doubt a couple of the nicest, warmest people I have ever met, and their efforts to make the Canadian students feel at home were both very successful and very much appreciated. We now have a third group of students at ENJJPTP, and I know Dennis and Peg will look after them as well as they have the first two groups, and I also know that their hospitality will never be forgotten by any of these young pilots. Awesome, awesome people.
Anyway, my son will be driving back to Moose Jaw next week to start training as an instructor on the T6, so his (and our) time at Sheppard is likely over. I would have liked to try flying the 6A down at some point and meeting some of you local RV'ers, but that likely won't happen now (unless he gets posted back there some time to instruct!)
Thanks again to all those who provided info on this thread, and to the people of North Texas for their hospitality.