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#Las Vegas Aviators
goalhofer · 6 days
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Top 10 MiLB Home Run Leaders: Week 4
10: Michael Capel, Louisville (6) 9: Tyler Soderstrom, Las Vegas (6) 8: Michael Chavis, Tacoma (6) 7: Coby Mayo, Norfolk (7) 6: Alex Jackson, Durham (7) 5: Kyle Garlick, Reno (8) 4: Danny Mendick, Charlotte (8) 3: Tristan Gray, Jacksonville (8) 2: Heston Kjerstad, Norfolk (10) 1: Mario Loperfido, Sugar Land (10)
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subsidystadium · 1 year
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Las Vegas, be careful with Oakland A's owner, John Fisher because he will NOT SPEND MONEY
Get ready, Las Vegas. When John Fisher comes to your town, you better prepare yourself. After reading over some Las Vegas media this week, it does seem that most in the area understand the many financial issues that come along with rooting for a team owned by John Fisher. I have also seen some who are just happy getting a baseball team, while others believe that there is a chance of Las Vegas…
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theartisticendeavor · 6 months
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Vintage Travel Poster - Fly TWA: Las Vegas
Art by David Klein
Trans World Airlines (c.1960's)
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brianfrench1995 · 6 months
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1963 Greetings From McCarran Field - Las Vegas , Nevada Postcard 
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Bonanza F-27 
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@postcardtimemachine
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vivwritesfics · 21 days
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Military Flyover
The dagger squad don't want to do a military flyover of the Las Vegas grand Prix. None of them really knew much about and, those that did only really knew about Nascar.
She hated the Vegas Grand Prix as much as those doing the military flyover. But the cute WSO there to support his friends was making it bearable.
Robert 'Bob' Floyd x F1 driver!reader
5.6K
a/n: yes a military flyover doesn't make sense for vegas buuuut let a girl dream lol - i'm hoping I've managed to write this for an audience that might not really know f1 but idk how confident i am in my abilities lol
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Bob couldn't quite believe what the two time Top Gun graduates were having to do. They had completed an insanely dangerous mission and returned to be permanently stationed in San Diego, except from when they were called away for deployment.
They were a part of the military, why were they doing this?
Well, at least Bob didn't have to actually fly. He was a Weapon Systems Officer, he didn't have to take part in this. But he still went, more to morally support his squad.
Nat wasn't happy about have to do a military flyover of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. She, Bradley and Jake were constantly complaining. None of them knew anything about Formula One, not enough to appreciate doing the flyover.
(May I just say, even if they did know about F1, they still wouldn't appreciate it. They'd train for years to be in the navy and now they were having to waste their time on this.)
The flyover was on the Sunday. Only Natasha, Jake and Bradley were taking part. Bob didn't have to go, didn't have to visit the track on the Friday and the Saturday with the three of them.
But Natasha had begged him. "Drive up with me," she'd said to him. "It's five hours and I could use the company."
So, Bob agreed. His dad had sometimes watched Nascar while he was growing up. He didn't know much of anything about motorsport but, if Nat wanted him there, he'd go.
The navy pilots didn't know they'd been invited to meet the drivers. Bob followed Natasha through the paddock. "Getting to meet the drivers might be the only good thing thing to come from this," Nat mumbled as she led the way.
The paddock was buzzing with life. There were cameras following people around, interviews happening as they walked through the paddock. Fans stopped men in team shirts and hats for pictures before letting them continue.
There was a familiar whistle, just loud enough for Natasha and Bob to hear over the crowd around them. They turned and saw Rooster and Hangman striding towards them.
"Where are we meant to be?" Asked Hangman as Rooster pulled off his aviators and looked around. The three of them (Natasha, Jake and Bradley) were in their overalls, looking proper in their uniform. Bob, though. He was dressed down, wearing jeans and a sweater (Vegas really wasn't that warm this time of year), his military issued glasses sitting on his nose. He looked cute, even if he didn't know it.
"Cyclone said the Ferrari garage, right?" She said as she looked between the other aviators. Bob, who had studied the itinerary, nodded his head and the four of them set off towards the red garage.
***
The Las Vegas Grand Prix was a joke. All of the drivers thought so.
The Ferrari drivers weren't happy about it (just like the rest of the grid). They had spent the season struggling behind the Red Bulls and driving on an unknown track wasn't going to help that.
She needed a lot of mental preparation for this one. Just like the other drivers, before the first practice session her only experience on the track had been through sim racing. She was nervous in a way she hadn't been before.
She donned her red fireproofs, the overalls hanging from from her hips. She pulled her cap onto her head when there was a knock on her driver room door. "Yeah?" She called and the member of Ferrari staff walked in.
"The navy pilots are on their way," she said and went to back out of the drivers room.
"What?" The Ferrari driver called suddenly, her brows furrowed. "What navy pilots?"
The member of staff gulped. "They're doing a military flyover before the Grand Prix," she said. "They're on their way here to meet you and Charles," she said.
The driver let out a huff. She grabbed her drinks bottle and marched out of her drivers room, heading to find her teammate.
Charles was doing an interview for Sky Sports when she walked through the garage. She didn't much care, though. She powered on, her hand on Charles's shoulder as she stood at his side. "Chuck," she said, looking at her teammate.
Lawrence Barretto moved his microphone back to his mouth. "Is that his official name for the Vegas Grand Prix?" He asked and moved the microphone towards her.
"Yes," she said as Charles shook his head, repeatedly saying 'no'.
She stood beside him until the interview was over, answering any question Lawrence sent her way. As soon as they were done she grabbed Charles and pulled him away, pulling him further into the Ferrari garage.
"What's up?" Charles asked. He was a brilliant teammate, one of her best friends. They'd known each other for yeas and were close enough for people to think they were together at one point. Brocedes 2.0, many commented on the pictures of the two of them posted on the Scuderia Ferrari Instagram account, as if they were a disaster waiting to happen.
"Did you know we're having to meet the navy pilots doing the military flyover?" She asked, hands on her hips.
Charles furrowed his brows. And then his face relaxed as he shook his head at her. "Start checking your emails, please," he said.
She gently pushed him as a member of the Ferrari staff, the same girl from before, approached them. "They're here," she said and left them to it.
Charles led the way back through the garage, heading to where the navy pilots were standing around his car. Three of them, the three that looked the part, chatted with Fred while one, one that was dressed down, stood to the side.
Suddenly, she pulled Charles out of sight. "What is it?" He asked quickly, concern written on his face.
She looked back around the corner at the pilots for just a second. "Holy shit, Cha, I think I'm in love," she said and Charles just laughed.
"Do you need a wingman?"
She furiously shook her head. "Don't you bloody dare."
She steadied herself and followed Charles over to the navy pilots. Fred spotted his drivers first. He gestured over to them as he back away from the pilots, letting the drivers take over.
Charles held his hand out towards them introducing himself first. She went next, giving them her name as she reached out to shake the woman's hand.
"Natasha Trace," she said with a smile as she shook her hand. "Callsign Phoenix."
She moved on to the man with the moustache. "Bradley Bradshaw, or Rooster," he said and shook her hand, his grip firm. He wore a smile, but it was respectful.
Unlike the man next to him. She could tell who he was from the moment she looked at him, wearing that flirty smile. "Jake Seresin," he said, pulling her hand up to his lips to kiss the back of it. "You can call me Hangman."
The smile dropped from her face and she pulled her hand away, clearly unimpressed. She looked past him, at the guy in the sweater and the glasses. "How about you?" She asked, completely ignoring Hangman. "Are you in the navy too?"
Bob blushed bright red as he stepped forward. "Robert Floyd," he said and shook her hand. "I'm a weapon systems officer."
"Oh," she said. Just that one word and she sounded incredibly fascinated. "Do tell me more."
She'd asked Charles not to wing man her, but he did it anyway. She might not have been aware as Charles spoke to the other navy pilots, doing the job for both of them. (Charles didn't know if Bob was the one she had fancied, but it was easy to guess. He looked like her type).
They spoke for a good twenty minutes before the drivers were told to wrap up the conversation. "You got a call sign?" She asked Bob as she crossed her arms over her chest and leant against the wall.
Jake had been wrapped up in the conversation he, Rooster and Phoenix were having with Charles until that point. Upon hearing her question, he placed his arm around the WSO's shoulders and grinned at the driver. "This is Baby On Board," he said with a grin, going to pinch Bob's cheeks.
Again, his cheeks were flaming as he stepped away from Jake. "It's Bob," he said. "Just Bob."
"Just Bob," she repeated as she smiled at him, completely ignoring everything Jake had said (something that Bob was grateful for). "It's simple, I like it."
Her engineer called for her. She turned and put her thumbs up before turning back to Bob. "Are you staying for the free practice?" She asked and Charles couldn't stop himself from answering.
"Sorry," he said to the pilots. "She doesn't read her emails."
She sent a glare in Charles's direction. The drivers said a quick goodbye to the navy pilots (although she hoped it wasn't for the last time), and got themselves ready for the first practice session in Las Vegas. They pulled up the red and white overalls and placed the balaclavas over their faces.
Bob watched as she pulled her helmet on, hiding her undeniably pretty face. He really did think she was beautiful, and she seemed interested in him, but he wasn't going to read too much into that.
He couldn't see as she gave him a smile from beneath her helmet. When she climbed into the red car with the number 53 on it, Bob knew which one he had to look out for.
The track wasn't ready, everybody knew it. But they didn't know how bad it was until they shower of sparks coming out the back of her car. "What the fuck was that?" She said to her engineer down the radio. "I just hit a fucking manhole cover."
The pilots were leaning forward as she stopped the car. The session was stopped, the other drivers coming into the pits. She jumped out of the car, waiting for it to be lifted onto the truck so that she could look at the extent of the damage beneath.
As the car was taken back to the garage and workers surrounded the manhole cover, she climbed into the medical car and was taken back to the pitlane.
Bob watched as she stormed into the garage, pulling off her helmet and balaclava. "Nine fucking minutes!" She heard her say to somebody in a Ferrari shirt. "I officially hate the Vegas Grand Prix."
She looked around the garage, eyes focusing in on the pilots. They were watching her, too, and she forced her expression to soften as she walked over. "Sorry you had to see that," she said, unzipping her race suit.
Bob shook his head. "'s no worries, ma'am," he said before he could stop himself. When his fellow aviators looked at him, his cheeks flushed red.
"We're just glad to know you're okay," Natasha said for him.
The driver smiled at them. But the interaction was short lived as she was called over to her wrecked car. (It looked fine on the top, but everybody knew the damage was beneath, invisible).
The nine minutes of practice wasn't enough to help the aviators get into F1. Rooster, Hangman and Phoenix wanted to head back to their hotels, but Bob wanted to stick around.
"My dad was into Nascar," he explained as the others left. They nodded, but they knew better. Their Baby On Board had a crush.
She hadn't expect him to stay, that much was clear. She'd seen the other aviators leave and had gotten on with what she needed to do, speaking to the mechanics about the parts they needed to replace and speaking to Fred about the potential consequences.
"Oh!" She said when she saw Bob still sitting there. "I thought you would have left."
Bob gave a polite smile and shrugged his shoulders. "I wanted to learn more."
The smile she gave him matched his own. "Well, you're not gonna learn much here," she said. "Let me get changed and we can get dinner."
Bob didn't expect dinner to be in the Ferrari hospitality suite. He'd didn't exactly think he'd be going out to dinner with her, but he didn't expect this.
She sat Bob down at a table and got a selection of food for them to share. "I can't exactly go crazy," she'd said as she sat down opposite him, placing the single plate in between them. "I still have a car to drive later."
Bob grabbed something from the plate. "Why does that mean you can't go crazy?" He asked curiously, innocently.
Every question Bob had, she answered. He told her that his dad watched Nascar while he was going up but he couldn't get into it. Didn't have the time once he joined the navy.
She asked him all about that, just as curious as he was about her job. Bob knew she was meant to be this big celebrity, but she was normal with him, and he really appreciated it.
He hadn't known who she was going into this weekend, but he heard the way the fans screamed her name. She was so famous, and he was just a boy from Montana.
"Are you and your friends watching anything else of the Grand Prix weekend?" She asked as she ate a piece of lettuce (literally just holding a big piece of lettuce to her lips and crunching on it).
Bob shook his head as he looked down at the table in front of him. "'Friad not, ma'am," he said, looking at her over the top of his glasses. Bob didn't know what compelled him to do it, but he took them off.
"Aw," she said with a pout. "I liked them."
"Really?" Bob couldn't hide the surprise in his voice. "I used to have ones with slightly thicker frames, but these are military issued," he explained, putting them back on his face.
She grinned at him. "They're cute," she said, resting her cheek in her hand. It was undeniably flirty, and her grin was only making it worse. Well, that would have been if Bob could have allowed himself to believe that was flirting with him.
"I could get you tickets, if you'd like," she said. "You and your pilot friends. You can come back back to the Ferrari garage, support us for the rest of the weekend."
Bob gave her a gentle smile. "I'd like that," he said.
They continued chatting until she had to head back to the garage. Bob followed her, walking behind her.
She took him back to the garage, leaving him to stand with the rest of the Ferrari guests while she disappeared into her drivers room. Bob couldn't help but think of her as she got herself ready, getting dressed into her fireproofs and race suit. If Nat was here, he could ask her for advice.
Ten minutes before the start of FP2, she walked over to Bob. He'd seen her dressed down in a Ferrari hoodie and cute cargos, seen her in her race suit, and seen her in her fire proofs, race suit sitting low on her hips.
That was how she walked towards him. He'd seen so little of her, but this was his favourite (and he certainly wanted to see more). "Want to sit in the car?" She asked, hands on her hips.
***
The first thing she did after FP2 was give Bob her phone number. He couldn't quite believe it, and made a mental note to recount everything to Natasha as soon as he got back to the hotel.
"Have you got a way back to your hotel?" She asked, her helmet tucked beneath her arm.
"I, uh..." No, he and Natasha had gotten a cab together.
She waved him off before he could give her a proper answer. "I can drive you, if you'd like," she offered.
That was how Bob found himself sitting in an F1 drivers car, telling her about his childhood as she took him back to his hotel. He told her about his big family and the mountains he grew up around. He told her about when he joined the military, about his first time in Top Gun and his permanent stationing in Coronado.
Before very long they were pulling up outside of his hotel. "Well, here we are," he said, patting his legs. He didn't move to leave the car, but she didn't much mind.
"I really liked meeting you today, Bob," she said as she tapped the heel of her hand against the steering wheel.
"It was lovely to meet you, too," he said.
"Promise you'll text me?"
"Promise."
She held out her pinky finger and Bob wrapped his own around it, sealing the deal. He looked at her one last time and climbed out of the car, heading into the hotel.
Bob couldn't hide his smile as he walked through the lobby and into the elevator. Just days ago he'd hated the thought of a military flyover for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Now, he couldn't wait to get back to the track, back to the Ferrari garage.
Nat noticed it the minute he walked through the door of the hotel room they were sharing. "Had a good time watching the rest of it?" She asked as she pushed away from the desk in the room.
Bob nodded as he pulled out his phone, clicking on her contact. But, the moment he was there, he didn't know what to say to her. "Nat," he called, looking up at her. "I need your help."
He only needed Nat's help to get the ball rolling. But soon, she and Bob were sending messages back and forth with just a second long gap between. Sometimes Bob took a little longer to reply, but only because Nat was reading the messages over his shoulder and assuring him that she was flirting.
Bob couldn't believe it. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't.
"I'll go with you tomorrow," Nat said as she climbed into her bed. It was incredibly late and Bob was hyper-aware that they were still texting. "Find out if she really is flirting with you."
"Nat..."
"Goodnight, Bob."
Natasha went to sleep, but Bob stayed up. She was still replying to his messages, and he couldn't bring himself to not respond. At least until she turned around and wished him goodnight.
When Bob woke up, she had already texted him. I don't have to be on track until later - wanna get food?
Who was Bob to say no? Natasha grinned as he got himself ready, including his glasses. (He had brought his contacts to Vegas because of how much he hated wearing his glasses. He didn't have time to put them in before they headed to the track the day before, but Nat didn't expect him to wear them now).
He walked out of the hotel, ignoring Hangman and Rooster as they called after him. They sat in the lobby, do doubt waiting for Natasha as they whistled at him.
Bob kept going. He saw her car before he walked out of the glass doors, and had to stop himself from breaking into a small jog. As he approached, she pushed open the passenger side door. "Hey, Robby!" She called, wearing a grin.
"Hey," Bob said, wearing a smile as he climbed into the passenger side.
As soon as he was buckled in, she began driving. "Have you ever been to Vegas before?" She asked as she headed towards the strip.
Bob shook his head. "No, ma'am," he said. It wasn't in the same way he'd said 'ma'am' before. No, those time he had been nervous saying it. This time, it was so fucking cute and she loved it. "I don't get enough leave for that."
"Why do you call me ma'am?" She asked, but she never wanted it to stop.
Bob couldn't stop his smile. "My momma raised me right."
That much she could tell. She parked the car and climbed out as Bob did the same. "Come on," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him along.
They went to a restaurant. Bob didn't catch the name of it as she pulled him through the doors. Even when sat gave the waiter her name, she was still holding his hand.
They sat down at a table for two. It felt far too intimate, almost like a date. She couldn't order a drink, but insisted that Bob did. He ordered one beer and made sure to make it last through their entire lunch.
She ordered a salad. Bob wanted to do the same, but she could see how conflicted he was. "Have whatever you want," she said, lowering her menu.
So, he did just that. Bob got himself a burger, the cheapest one on the menu (which was still incredibly expensive).
While they ate, Bob couldn't ignore the way her foot touched his knee beneath the table. He gulped as he reached for his beer.
While they waited, she told Bob about how she had grown up. Karting from a young age before moving onto single seaters.
The more she spoke, the more Bob could imagine getting into F1. Watching races, coming to see her in Vegas when he wasn't deployed. He just had to hope she still liked him enough to keep in contact with him.
They spent the entire afternoon together, until she was taking Bob to the track with her. Pictures of the two of them were taken as they walked through the paddock, too close to just be friends.
Once again, Bob stood in the garage while she completed the last practice session. She led, the fastest car until the Red Bulls were released onto the track.
But still, Bob couldn't stop watching the number 53 car. She came into the pits, had her tyres changed and went out a few minutes later.
Bob couldn't help but smile as he watched her climb the leaderboard. When practice ended, she didn't come in right away, doing a practice start with the other drivers.
When she got out of her car, she pulled off her helmet and balaclava, and spoke to her engineers. She had looked so happy when she climbed out of the car, but Bob watched as her face fell.
She walked over to him, unable to keep herself from sighing. The anger dropped from her face, replaced by sadness. "Wanna come sit in my drivers room?"
So, Bob followed her to her drivers room. She led him inside and shut the door behind him, letting out a breath as she leaned against it.
"Everything okay?" Asked Bob as he pushed his glasses up his nose.
She unzipped her overalls and let them fall to her hips. Bob shuffled over on the couch, giving her space. She sat beside him, shutting her eyes as she leaned back. "Because of the parts they'd had to replace in my car, I'm probably going to get a penalty later," she mumbled.
Her head fell onto his shoulder and Bob didn't move. He hesitated before wrapping his arm around her shoulder. That that, she shuffled slightly closer, which Bob didn't mind one bit.
Suddenly, she let out a weak laugh. "You're kinda making me want to stay in the states a little longer, Robby," she mumbled.
He looked down at her. "Would you? Seriously?" Bob could imagine it then, taking her to stay with him in San Diego, taking her to Montana to meet his mom at Christmas.
She shook her head. "I can't," she said and sighed through her nose. "There's one last race before the end of the season."
After that, Bob wanted to say. But he squeezed her shoulder instead.
When her trainer came in, Bob wished her good luck and headed back out to the garage. While he waited, he pulled out his phone and sent Natasha a text. She hadn't gone to the track with him, instead going with Bradley and Jake to the hangar they would be flying from.
If Nat showed Rooster and Hangman his texts, he'd never hear the end of it. But Bob realised he didn't mind. Let them talk, he was here with her.
The first round of the qualifying session was about to start. Bob sort of knew what to expect, she'd explained it to him while they sat in her drivers room, her head on his shoulder. He watched as she walked towards the car, her red, gold, black and white helmet on her head.
She climbed into the car and somebody strapped her in as somebody else spoke to her. She nodded at whatever they were saying and put her thumbs up.
Admittedly, Bob couldn't tell the difference between the practice sessions and the qualifying session. He watched as she went from having no time on the board to being the quickest car on track. But then she was knocked out of the top spot, down in eighth by the end of that session.
Bob had assumed that she was starting the race in eighth position after the eighteen minute long qualifying session. But then she and fourteen other drivers were going back out onto track.
Again she was at the top of the board, knocked out by the same driver. But she stayed in fourth, unable to get a quicker time in before the end of the session.
She went out for a third and final time. Bob heard her calling down the radio as somebody got in her way. But she put an impressive time on the board, finishing third.
It may have been obvious to everybody else in the garage, but Bob had to ask the girl standing next to him. She pushed her dark hair behind her ear and answered with a thick French accent. Bob thanked her and watched as the 53 car came into the garage.
She hopped out, did what she needed to do and came to find Bob.
It was near midnight and she couldn't quite believe he was still there, watching her. They'd spent the entire day together, and she'd loved every minute of it.
"Want me to drive you home?" She asked and Bob nodded his head.
She did just that, driving Bob back to his hotel. "They haven't confirmed if I've got a penalty or not," she said as she drove him. "So, for now I'm starting in P3." She quickly glanced at him and then looked back at the road. "Think you might be my good luck charm, Robby," she said and he blushed a deep shade of red.
She pulled up outside of the hotel, just as she had done the day before. And, like the day before, Bob was hesitant to climb out of the car.
As Bob reached for the handle of the door, she opened her mouth, ready to say something, and he stopped. But she closed her mouth. Still, Bob didn't move.
She sucked in a breath and tried again. This time, words came out. "Can I come up?"
Bob knew what that meant. How could he not? Some part of him had been wanting her to ask something like this for the last few hours. But still, he shook his head. "I, uh, I can't. I'm sharing my room with Nat."
"Oh," she said and looked down at the centre console between them. "Oh, shit. Are you and Nat- I didn't mean to overstep... I-"
Bob quickly shook his head. "No. No, Nat's my best friend, but only my best friend," he said. "But, her bed is a couple feet away from mine, so..."
She couldn't help but let a smile cross her face at that. "Can I kiss you, Robby?" She asked.
He leaned over the centre console. Her arms went around his neck, fingers playing with the short hair at the back of his neck.
Bob kissed her. He closed the gap between them, his arm awkwardly resting on her shoulders as his lips moved against her own. Her nose bumped the lens of his glasses, but neither of them minded.
If the expensive car left room for it, he would have moved her onto his lap. But he couldn't. He pulled away, staring at her as his eyes opened again. "Holy shit," he whispered and she grinned at him.
"I'll come and get you before the race," she said and Bob climbed out of the car.
***
He didn't wake up to a text from her. Immediately Bob's mind played tricks on him, telling him that, after they had kissed, she didn't want him.
He sat in the hotel for half of the day, in a perpetual state of anxiousness. Part of him didn't want to move until he heard from her, until he knew that everything was okay.
"You coming?" Nat asked him. He checked his phone one last time before following her out of the hotel room.
He didn't know what she was currently dealing with, that she had just found out about her grid place penalty. "This is such shit!" She cried as she and Charles walked through the paddock. She'd woken up to the news and hadn't had time to message Bob.
"Well, there's nothing we can do about it now," Charles said, stopping to sign things for fans (signs, hats, and even a packet of oreos). "How are things going with the navy guy?"
She grinned as they kept walking through the paddock. "We kissed, Cha," she said, suddenly much happier.
"Kissed and..." Charles tried to push.
She shook her head. "Just kissed."
Charles nodded as they walked into the garage. "Just kissed, but you wanted more," he said. "Are you gonna see him before we leave?"
"Yeah," she answered. "I'm gonna go and pick him up before the race."
Through the evening, she and Charles did what they needed to do for the race. When she got a minute, she texted Bob, but she didn't have many opportunities to check her phone.
As soon as she had a chance, she ran out of the paddock. She held her phone to her ear as she went, making her way to her car. Bob picked up on the third ring. "Hey," she said, opening the door of her car. "I'm on my way."
Bob hesitated before he answered. "I'm not at the hotel right now."
"Do you still want to come to the race?" She asked quickly.
"Do you still want me there?"
She let out a laugh. "Of course I do, Robby. Give me the address and I'll pick you up."
That was just what happened. She picked Bob up and took him to the track. She promised the other aviators that she would get him there to watch the military flyover and drove off with him in the passenger seat.
"Have you ever been to San Diego?" Bob asked as she drove. It had been playing on his mind a lot since they kissed, his best case scenario (which was currently happening. He could have laughed at himself for being so worried).
She shook her head. "I haven't had a chance to explore outside of the places we have Grand Prix," she answered.
"So, you haven't been to Montana?"
"Nope."
Bob couldn't help but smile. He sucked in a breath, steadying himself. "I don't know when you're gonna have time off, but I could show you Montana, if you'd like."
She grinned at him as she parked the car. "I'd love that, Robby," she said and climbed out of the car.
She checked the time on her watch, grabbed her hand and began running. "I'm late!" She cried. Bob was only happy to run beside her, heading into the Ferrari garage. He slowed to a walk, but she kept going, running to her drivers room to pull on her fireproofs and overalls.
Bob watched it all. He watched as she stood for the national anthem with her fellow drivers, watched as she completed the formation lap from the back of the grid (something he had to ask about), and watched as she raced.
Bob couldn't help but be impressed as she fought her way across the track, racing past most of the grid. She overtook ten other cars, finishing in 5th.
When she climbed out of the car, Bob could see just how happy she was from her body language alone. She did what she had to do, spoke to the team and was interviewed, before she ran over to Bob and threw her arms around him.
"That was incredible!" He cried, smiling down at her. "I didn't realise racing was so exciting."
She grinned and kissed his cheek. "Think you'll watch next weeks race?"
"Definitely," he said.
He hadn't expected her to kiss him in front of all of the cameras. But Bob didn't mind. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close until she pulled away.
"I leave in the morning," she whispered in his ear. "Stay with me, in my hotel. One last night."
"Until Montana?" Bob asked, his forehead against her own.
"Until Montana."
a/n: ok i loved this and it may need a part two lol
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shakespeareanwannabe · 5 months
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As You Wish: Prologue
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Summary: When arriving at Camp Silver Star, Abby Floyd was anticipating a summer of adventure with an ocean separating her from the three people she loved most: her mom, her Uncle Bob and her Aunt Natasha. But after a run in with Charlie Seresin, an extremely familiar looking and irritating camper in a different cabin, her summer plans take a turn that neither girl ever could have expected.
Trigger Warning: references to alcohol, marriage
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Las Vegas, 12 years ago
It was, as many romances claimed to be, a whirlwind. All tan uniforms and a white lace dress against the backdrop of glittering lights and drunken tourists of Las Vegas. An Elvis impersonator and a kiss tinged with the bitter taste of beer and tequila. But, unlike many of those other so-called whirlwind Las Vegas Elvis impersonator marriages, the eyes held not lust, but love. Even ‘Elvis’ (whose real name was Stu and who had stopped believing in true love after his fourth failed marriage) could feel the warmth and love that the young couple had for each other, and the pure joy and excitement that their group of uniformed friends had for the happy newlyweds.
“Hey, Elvis? Before you go, can you take a quick picture for us?” one of the friends called out, camera app already open on a proffered phone.
Ruddy faced and stumbling, Stu took the phone and attempted, bleary eyed, to focus on the group. His thumb clumsily mashed against the round grey button a few times, camera flashing at the smiling group, before he muttered a slurred “Thank you, thank you very much” and skulked back into his office, a bottle of whiskey tucked into his white jumpsuit.
The phone owner adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses as he quickly flicked through the new pictures. “Well, he managed to capture the tops of our heads, our stomachs, and there’s a nice shot here of our shoes,” he scoffed quietly. “Sorry, folks, but there’s no good group shot to share.”
“That’s okay,” the bride giggled, gazing adoringly at her new husband. “You can take some couple photos of us, and then I can take a group photo of the squad, and my extremely handsome husband can take a photo of me with all of you. Does that sound okay?”
Her husband smiled brilliantly down at her. “Not only incredibly sexy, but also a genius. How did I get so lucky?”
She felt her face flush and scooped the phone out of the bespectacled man’s hand. “Go stand with your team, Lieutenant.”
“Yes ma’am.”
The sea of tan uniforms crowded together, the groom squished in between a moustachioed man wearing aviators and a shorter man wearing an ‘I Love Las Vegas’ hat. The bride smiled widely as she snapped a handful of photos of the group, the glittering lights behind them providing the perfect backdrop.
“Okay, now it’s my turn!”
Her groom swept in, relieving her of the phone while placing a passionate peck on her lips. “I love you so much, darlin’,” he murmured against her skin.
“I love you too,” she whispered like a prayer before stepping back and taking her place amongst the uniforms, her white lacey sundress standing out starkly while the bespectacled man and the only other female member of the group shuffled closer and wrapped their arms around her shoulders protectively.
The groom grinned. “Look at my pretty rose, hanging out with all you weeds.” Laughter rippled through the gathered group as the phone clicked happily, capturing the joy on all their faces.
“Alright, alright, now it’s time for you two lovebirds to get some photos taken.”
The groom tossed the phone at its owner and jogged over to meet his bride, sweeping her into his arms and nuzzling his nose against hers.
“Hi, Lieutenant Seresin,” she murmured, her eyes gleaming up at him.
He smiled softly and palmed her cheek. “Hi, Mrs. Seresin…”
She felt her cheeks warm under the weight of his palm and his compliment. “I love being Mrs. Seresin,” she whispered, conscious of the camera clicking away at them and the playful catcalls of their compatriots.
“Good,” he kissed her softly. “Because that’s who you’ll be for the rest of your life.”
“Good,” she echoed. “Because that’s all I want to be for the rest of my life.”
Her groom grinned, his eyes crinkling happily. “As you wish, darlin’. As you wish.”
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Upstate New York, Present Day
Charlie Seresin hopped off the bus at Camp Silver Star, her green eyes hidden behind a pair of aviator sunglasses and her blonde hair tied up in a bun that had become slightly unraveled on the long bus ride from the airport. She sighed and walked across the green field that led to the entrance of the camp. Her dad had been pushing her to go to this camp for kids who had family in the military for months, and she had finally agreed on the condition that, if she hated it, she could come home early, no questions asked.
It’s not that she hated camp. She had been to camps closer to her home in Texas every summer since she could remember, but those were just day camps. She much preferred being able to go home and see her dad and her uncles every night, but her dad had seemed so excited about the prospect that she hadn’t been able to find the strength to say no to him. Of course, she could’ve, and he wouldn’t have been insulted. Her dad was her best friend. It just sucked that she was going to have to spend six weeks of her summer without her best friend.
“Cmon, kiddo. Turn that frown upside down!”
Charlie looked up at the approaching camp councillor and smiled. “Hi Penny.”
Penny Benjamin-Mitchell was the only good thing about coming to Camp Silver Star. The daughter of a respected admiral and widow of Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, the leader of her dad’s old unit, Penny was as tough as they come and cared so wholeheartedly about those in her care, whether they were patrons at her old bar or campers at her camp. Charlie knew Penny from the couple of times she had come to visit the ranch, and from the memorial her dad’s old team had held for the five-year and ten-year anniversaries of Maverick’s death.
“Why so glum, kiddo? You’re about to have an amazing six weeks! I know you’ve got the horses back on the ranch, but we’ve got horseback riding and swimming and flight simulators and…”
Charlie sighed and followed Penny as she led her over to the giant pile of duffle bags and suitcases that sat in the middle of the camp entryway. She only hoped that she hated it enough to convince her dad to pick her up five weeks early.
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At the back of the line of buses sat an airport taxi, idling as they waited for their turn to do the drop off. Abigail Floyd sat with her nose pressed almost against the tinted glass, her green eyes flicking this way and that as she tried to take in everything there was to see.
“Easy, kiddo. We’re almost there.”
She sat back sheepishly in her seat. “Sorry, Uncle Bob. I’m just so excited!”
Bob chuckled, pushing his wire-rimmed glasses up his nose. “I feel like I should be a little insulted that you’re so eager to spend six weeks away from us.”
Abby felt her cheeks flush. “You know I love you, and Auntie Nat, and Mum, obviously, but this is my first time in America ever! This is where you and mum grew up! And it’s a military camp with flight simulators. I’m finally going to get to see what you and Auntie Nat used to do for a living.”
Bob tapped the wings pinned to his uniform. “I still fly, kiddo. Just not for the military.”
“I know, but you fly 747s and passenger aircrafts. You and Auntie Nat used to fly F-16s. That’s inherently cooler.”
“Inherently cooler, huh? Now I’m kinda regretting bringing you here. You’re gonna come back drooling over the US Navy and Top Gun, and you won’t think I’m cool anymore.”
“Uncle Bob, I love you, but I never thought you were cool,” Abby giggled.
Bob shook his head playfully. “Alright then, Miss America, go on. Enjoy yourself.” He nodded his head towards the window and Abby whipped around to see that they had moved up the line and it was her turn to be dropped off.
She bit her lip and turned back to him, her eyes swimming with questions.
Bob chuckled and pulled her into his side. “You know I’ll come and get you early if you want. But give yourself at least a week, okay?”
“Okay,” she murmured quietly, burying her head in her uncle’s chest.
“It’ll be okay, kiddo,” Bob whispered, pressing a kiss to her blond hair. “I promise.”
With that, he opened his door and walked around to the back of the car, pulling her duffle out of the trunk and waiting for her to open her door.
With a deep breath, she exited the car and stood next to her uncle.
“You’ve got this, Abigail,” he told her before pulling her into a warm hug.
“I love you, Uncle Bob,” she grinned bravely at him before taking her duffle bag and walking through the front gate of Camp Silver Star.
Her mum had promised her a summer of kids who understood her, who knew what it was like to have an uncle who used to be in the military, who were like her. Blinking against the strong sunlight, Abby could only hope that her mother had been right.
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Tags List: @mamachasesmayhem @jessicab1991 @waltermis @buckysteveloki-me @allepaula @yuckosworld @seresinsbrat @ahopelessromanticwritersworld @kim-stark @cierra715 @high-speed-r @helpmepleasethanks @starsrfun @tomanyfandomstrash @averyhotchner @the-blueatlas @princessliz86 @dashes-dizzydisaster @a-girl-who-loves-disney @boiolay @djs8891 @torimcc @tgmreader @kmc1989 @landpiranha-blog @sydthekid1518 @lynnevanss @hello7442 @mackenzieblair @minejungwoo @starset21 @ssa-sadboi @tgmavericklover @dempy @rockbottomphilosophies-blog @lovemarvelousfics
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vintagelasvegas · 4 months
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McCarran Field on opening day, December 19, 1948, with an air show of military aircraft. Photo by Las Vegas News Bureau.
Timeline of Las Vegas Airports
• ‘20: First flight. Randall Henderson piloted a Curtiss “Jenny” to Las Vegas, landing south of Las Vegas, 5/7/20.
ANDERSON FIELD-ROCKWELL FIELD ('20-'29)
• '20: Anderson Field. Las Vegas’ first airport, designed by Robert Hausler and named after the property owner, opened 11/25/20. Location: southeast of present Sahara Ave & Paradise Rd. • '25: Leon & Earl Rockwell purchase Anderson Field from Hausler; renamed Rockwell Field. • '26: Western Air Express launches airmail route utilizing Rockwell Field. The air strip is closed in '29 after purchase by Leigh Hunt.
LAS VEGAS AIRPORT-NELLIS AFB ('29-present)
• '29: Las Vegas Airport built by “Pop” Simon, present location of Nellis AFB. • '33: Simon sells Las Vegas Airport to WAE; renamed Western Air Express Field. • '41: City of Las Vegas buys WAE Field Jan. '41; dual use facility becomes McCarran Field, and Las Vegas Army Air Field. • '48: McCarran Field relocates to Alamo Field. • '49: Las Vegas AFB reopened Jan. '49 at the former McCarran Field/Las Vegas Army Air Field site. Renamed Nellis AFB in '50.
BOULDER CITY AIRPORT ('33-'88)
• '33: Boulder City Airport, dedicated 12/10/33. Later replaced by nearby Boulder City Municipal Airport ('90).
SKY HAVEN-NLV AIRPORT ('41-present)
• '41: Sky Haven Airport. From '59-65 known as Thunderbird Field. Since '66, North Las Vegas Airport.
ALAMO FIELD-LAS AIRPORT ('42-present)
• '42: Alamo Field est. by George Crockett south of Las Vegas, present site of Harry Reid International (LAS Airport). • '48: The new McCarran Field. Clark County purchases Alamo Field, opening new airport 12/19/48. Alamo Field and Alamo Airways continue operation at McCarran Field. • '63: Field terminal (T1) opens at McCarran, 3/15/63. Airport gateway relocated to Paradise Rd. Alamo Airways continues operating at the original Las Vegas Blvd location. • '67: Hughes Terminal at McCarran. Howard Hughes buys Alamo (airport and airline) in '67, and Air West in '70. • '68: McCarran renamed McCarran International Airport (LAS). Renamed Harry Ried International Airport in 2021.
SKY CORRAL AIRPORT ('46-'49)
• '46: Sky Corral Airport. Located west of Last Frontier Hotel; air strip approximately the path of present Interstate 15 at Desert Inn Rd. Closed by '49. • Note: Another airstrip at D-4-C ranch southwest of Sky Corral, circa '46-49.
SKY HARBOR-HENDERSON EXECUTIVE AIRPORT ('70-present)
• '70: Sky Harbor Airport. Founded by Arby Alper. Present site of Henderson Executive Airport.
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Sources: D. Lamb. “North Vegas Seeks Thunderbird Field.” Review-Journal, 8/25/65; “Southern Nevada Enjoys Long Aviation History.” Review-Journal, 6/11/98; J. Przybys. “Airport Museum.” Review-Journal, 10/1/2000; “History of Nellis and Creech.” Aerotech News, 12/21/2018.
Below: Senator Pat McCarran at the gateway of the original McCarran field in North Las Vegas, dedicated 3/15/41. The 25-ton pillars were moved to the new McCarran field in 1948. (Nellis Air Force Base Photograph Collection, PH-00028, UNLV Special Collections.
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lovelytsunoda · 3 months
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take my breath away // tom 'iceman' kazansky
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a traffic jam on the interstate and a diamond ring in a glovebox compartment
temporarily stationed in nevada, tom and heather decide to take a weekend in las vegas to see their favourite new wave band. all the while, all tom can think about when to ask heather to be his wife.
part of the heather and tommy universe started in 'tell me something girl'
pairing: tom kazansky x female oc (named heather)
warnings: fluff overload, marriage proposals, traffic jams.
author's note: guys i know that 'kick' didn't come out until 1987, but bear with me on this one, i was trying to make all of the dates work without the wedding feeling rushed (you'll know what i mean if you check the date headings on 'tell me something girl')
October 25th, 1986. Just outside Las Vegas, Nevada.
the weak air conditioning system in her boyfriend's hummer did nothing to block out the nevada heat as they sat idle, listening to the sounds of engines humming and horns honking. heather schneider held a small camcorder in her hands, the viewfinder trained on her boyfriend's face as he raked his hands through is hair, aviator glasses hiding his eyes. duran duran played on the radio, a tree shaped air freshener dangling in front of the windshield.
"babe, i’m so sorry. i had no idea traffic would be this bad." tom sighed, pushing up his glasses so he could run his hands over his face.
the move to nevada had been sudden. back home in virginia after graduating top gun, tom wasn't expecting to get marching orders so fast after coming back from a mission. the two harrowing weeks in the ocean after the academy had rattled him a little, and he was looking forward to finally spending time with heather again. now, he was scared about what nevada would to do his relationship with heather, until heather dropped a bombshell of her own.
she was quitting her job.
working in a law firm that did work closely with the us military did things to a person. and one day, heather just snapped. she came home in tears and told him that she couldn't do it any more.
and then she quit.
and now she was in nevada with no idea what she was going to do with her life. tom was stationed at the nellis air force base, which was very near to the las vegas motor speedway, a place they spent many a weekend watching stock car racing. tom was easing into his role at nellis quickly, seamlessly and with his trusty backseater ron kerner at his side.
heather was still lost. deployment was only for five months, part of a training program for a plane that most people in the military weren't even aware of yet. and after that five months? would they go back to virginia? stay in nevada? where would she work?
"kaz, stop worrying. the concert isn't until tomorrow night anyways." she soothed, running her thumb over his knuckles. the hummer eased forward, but traffic was still at a crawl.
"nellis is eight fucking miles outside of vegas, why can't we get into the city on a friday?"
"because everybody else is also trying to get into the city on a friday."
in the three months they had already lived in nevada, despite only living eight miles outside sin city, heather had still never been to vegas. never walked down the strip, never seen a show.
until tom surprised her with tickets to watch australian new wave band INXS play at ceasers palace. the band meant so much to heather, and she had been waiting for this weekend for the last six weeks.
tom, on the other hand, knowing the significance of the weekend had something bigger planned. the ring was burning a hole in his glove box, right next to his service weapon.
all that time away had taught him one big thing: he wanted heather in his life, by his side, for the rest of his life.
"hey, heath, do you remember that blue bungalow in miramar? the one that was on the water, with the backyard that walked out onto that small square of beach?"
"yeah, why?" heather hummed, panning the camera over at the traffic in front of her. the pair never went anywhere without their cameras, digital or video. there were envelopes full of negatives in their apartment, shoeboxes bursting at the seams with pictures they'd taken since they started dating in the spring of 1985.
tom tapped his slender fingers against the steering wheel, easing the hummer forward another few feet as traffic picked up, and then promptly slowed. he moved to roll down a window due to the heat, but then reversed his decision after smelling the latent gasoline exhaust in the air and hearing the noise of the jam.
"it's for sale. has been for a while, miramar isn't a hot area for us young people." he stopped to take a breath, looking over at heather. her eyes sparkled as she turned to look at him, popping a small pretzel into her mouth. her large, round prescription sunglasses made her look like an owl.
he adored every part of her.
"i want to put a deposit down. with your permission, of course. i know your life is in virginia, and we can go back if that's what you want. but i see a life for us in that house. kids, a dog. at some point, i want to teach at top gun. that's where maverick is, where slider is going to go. but none of that means anything if you aren't with me, heath."
heather closed the camcorder, dropping it into her lap as she reached for tom's hand, clasping it between both of hers. "tom, i'd love to. let's do it. let's move to california."
tom's heart swelled with love as he brought heather's knuckles up to give her a gentle kiss. everything was finally coming together. they were ready to start their life together.
and he knew he needed to ask. he had planned to wait until they were in the city, planned to get down on one knee underneath the false eiffel tower and present heather with his grandmother's ring.
but, as impulsive as it may be, he knew he needed to ask her. in the middle of stalled traffic on a nevada freeway. his hair had grown out since he'd come home from top gun, bangs curling into his eyes and sticking up in all ways after he pushes his glasses up.
"babe, pass me the camcorder and take a look in the glove box." tom said, putting the hummer in park. he would have turned the engine off to save gas, but who knew if traffic would pick up again and he'd have to drive off the freeway?
after heather passed him the small metal camera, he popped it open, discreetly recording as she opened the glove box. her sunglasses held her long, brunette hair back like a headband as she rooted around the compartment.
"behind the service weapon, sweetheart. it's a small pink box."
"found it." she hummed, her manicured fingers clutching the small cardboard box. (tom had been insistent that she go get her nails done with slider's girlfriend maria before they left nellis, but she had no idea why).
she pulled the lid off the box, a gasp getting caught in her throat when she saw the stunning sterling silver ring, and the large blue stone in the middle, framed by diamonds.
"this is your grandmother's ring."
tom's parents were polish immigrants. when his parents left poland with nothing, they brought his father's mother with them (his mother's parents would follow later). angela kazanzky was classically trained ballerina with the warsaw ballet corps, but had left poland with almost nothing after her husband was killed. all she brought with her was a suitcase of clothes, and that sapphire engagement ring.
"heather, the time i spent at top gun taught me a lot of things. how to be a better man, a better soldier and a better pilot. but it also taught me that i hate being away from you. i hate waking up at the crack of dawn and you aren't there next to me." tom began, reaching for heather's hand. she turned to look at him, eyes wide and hands shaky as the gravity what this was set in. "i hate coming home at the end of the day to an empty dorm without you there. yeah, i love the guys, and i love this job. but none of that holds a candle to the way that i love you, heather anne schneider. i was going to wait until we actually got to vegas to do this, but now's as good a time as any."
he smiled nervously, a shock of giddy, pure love shooting through her veins when she looked at him, an equally wide smile breaking out across her face.
"heather, will you marry me?"
"yes! yes, tom, of course i'm gonna marry you. is this what that house talk was all about? yes, of course i'll do it!"
"thank you." tom exhaled, speaking so softly that she almost didn't hear it. he extended his open palm, waiting for her to press the ring into his palm. she was a giggling mess, trying to hold her hand steady while tom slid the cold metal band onto her ring finger. "i'm so in love with you, and i hope we stay this happy forever."
god, she loved that man.
"i love you more, lieutenant."
stretching as far as her seatbelt would allow, heather leaned over the hummer's center console, kissing her fiancé with an intensity that was out of place on the freeway. she couldn't stop staring at the rock on her finger, and thinking about the promise that it represented.
they were forehead to forehead, full of giddy smiles, the camcorder resting on tom's lap still recording as the pickup truck behind them began to honk.
traffic was flowing normally, and they hadn't even noticed.
they broke apart, laughing as they stowed away the camcorder and the now-empty ring box. tom put the car in drive, throwing his middle finger up at the driver behind them.
they were both still smiling, daydreaming about what their new life together would bring them. heather reached for the radio, turning up the volume as they began to play INXS' 'never tear us apart'.
tom smiled fondly, looking over at her as she began to sing.
"this is going to be our wedding song." she smiled to herself.
the following year, they would get married in monterrey, and they would have their first dance to that same song, heather in a simple white dress, and tom in his navy dress whites. and two years after that, they would welcome their first of three children.
and when mitchell kazansky got married? he used that same sapphire ring to propose to his now-wife amelia.
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TAGS:
@magnummagnussen @libraryofloveletters @sidcrosbyspuck @diorleclerc @lorarri @cartierre @userlando @thatsdemko
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reasonsforhope · 3 months
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There was recently a video I saw explaining that the list that puts TSwift outside of the top 30 goes off of self-reported data only, and can not be considered a reliable indicator that her usage is going down, only that she is reporting it less
Hmm, so I looked into it and it's kind of unclear, because the website that The Tab used, My Climate Tracker...literally contradicts itself when they talk about their methods.
If you scroll down on the website's main page, it says this:
"The myclimate Carbon Tracker uses public domain flight trackers and social media posts from influencers and celebrities to list flights, collect emissions data and also post critical, direct queries on social media. The results are made visible in a large carbon ranking. "We only use data that celebrities themselves publish. When someone’s tagged in a picture drinking champagne in Las Vegas one day and then posts from Lloret de Mar the next, the myclimate Carbon Tracker springs into action. Our ‘service’ consists of an automated post on their Twitter or Instagram profile. This draws attention to the account’s CO₂ emissions and includes a link to our emissions calculator. There they find a critical look at their travel habits, as well as a suggestion that they donate to climate protection projects," says myclimate’s Head of Marketing Daniel Aregger."
The problem is that those two paragraphs say very different things!!! Because "public domain flight trackers," which are the main source for these things, are definitely not data the celebrities self-report! Which blatantly contradicts the first paragraph!
So do they use flight trackers, or don't they? And if so, how heavily do they weigh those??
Would love to hear from aviation nerds and hobbyists on what is more likely.
I am tentatively inclined to say that they probably mostly use flight trackers (which like. my understanding is that most or all of these include the departure and arrival location, so I'm not sure why the Instagram data is necessary anyway) and possibly added the paragraph about "We only use data that celebrities themselves publish" in response to the whole cease-and-desist thing. I say this partly because I'm not sure how else they could promise any degree of accuracy with their numbers, otherwise?
Would love a link to the video if you can find it. (Just changed my ask settings to allow media). And again, would love asks or comments from any aviation hobbyists and/or professionals with info about this!
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peteneems · 10 days
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Good Boy Alert: Finn the Bat Dog of the Las Vegas Aviators is working his final game tonight.
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goalhofer · 15 days
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Top 10 MiLB Home Run Leaders: Week 3
10: Coby Mayo, Norfolk (5) 9: Andy Pages, Oklahoma City (5) 8: Alex Jackson, Durham (5) 7: Tyler Soderstrom, Las Vegas (5) 6: Kyle Stowers, Norfolk (6) 5: Tristan Gray, Jacksonville (6) 4: Michael Capel, Louisville (6) 3: Heston Kjerstad, Norfolk (7) 2: Kyle Garlick, Reno (7) 1: Mario Loperfido, Sugar Land (10)
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usafphantom2 · 4 months
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A-12 pilot tells the story of when to keep the Oxcart project secret CIA stored in boxes A-12 spy planes and moved them from Skunk Works production site to Area 51
The A-12 Oxcart at Area 51
Since 1955, America’s most secret aircraft projects have been tested at Area 51, a top-secret military installation hidden in the desert northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. The location is Groom Lake, known among crews and workers of the time as “The Ranch.”
SR-71 T-Shirts
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CLICK HERE to see The Aviation Geek Club contributor Linda Sheffield’s T-shirt designs! Linda has a personal relationship with the SR-71 because her father Butch Sheffield flew the Blackbird from test flight in 1965 until 1973. Butch’s Granddaughter’s Lisa Burroughs and Susan Miller are graphic designers. They designed most of the merchandise that is for sale on Threadless. A percentage of the profits go to Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base. This nonprofit charity is personal to the Sheffield family because they are raising money to house SR-71, #955. This was the first Blackbird that Butch Sheffield flew on Oct. 4, 1965.
The Lockheed U-2 had been flown and tested there. But in 1961, preparations were being made for the arrival of an aircraft promising mind-boggling capabilities. Commissioned by the CIA and designed by the “Skunk Works” division of Lockheed, the A-12 was developed to fly reconnaissance missions over any target at speeds in excess of Mach 3 at altitudes over 80,000 feet. raft, Its combination of speed and altitude, if it could be shown to work, would make the A-12 practically invulnerable to interception. This was the first airplane to carry what would become the famous name “Blackbird.”
A-12 project
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A-12 Oxcart stored in boxes
To go to Area 51 the A-12 had to be moved from its Skunk Works production site in Burbank to Area 51. Sometimes during the trip, they had to dig around the road to make a wide enough space for the aircraft.
Some unique details are provided by Frank Murray, A-12 Pilot and Roadrunners Internationale Historian, who wrote in his extensive and beautiful article (CLICK HERE to read the full piece) GROOM LAKE – AREA 51 A-12 ARCHANGEL CIA PROJECT OXCART, HOW THEY GOT HERE: On-The-Road:
A-12 CIA
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‘The pictures show the varied nature of the trip from Burbank to Area 51. A couple of pictures show what can only be described as a “revolting development,” getting the big box wheels sunk in soft soil. Wonder how they got it jacked up and going again. No pictures of these steps. Several photographs show how close the box comes to signs, bridge abutments, etc. Travel was allowed on mid-week days, with no movement on the weekends or Holidays. During one of the movements, a Greyhound bus nicked the big box. The bus driver was paid cash for the bus repairs without any resultant attention to the details. The end of the road was the main hangar complex at Area 51, where the airplane was off-loaded into the hangar for re-assembly.
Did you know? To keep the A-12 project secret CIA stored in boxes Oxcart spy planes and moved them from Skunk Works production site to Area 51
A-12 Oxcart Arriving at Area 51
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‘The first convoy departed Burbank on 26 February 1962 and arrived three days later. The second convoy carrying Article 122 departed for Area 51 on 26 June 1962, followed by Article 123 in August 1962. The two-seat Article 124 got to the Area in November 1962. The rest of the A-12s and the three YF-12s arrived by mid-1964.’
A-12 stored in boxes
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Murray’s article continues with an eyewitness account:
‘To whom it may concern:
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Did you know? To keep the A-12 project secret CIA stored in boxes Oxcart spy planes and moved them from Skunk Works production site to Area 51
‘My name is Jim Noce, and I recall being on those moves from the “Skunk Works” to the ranch. We left the Area early in the morning, taking turns driving until we reached Burbank. When we arrived, the Article was concealed in a large crate and covered with a tarp on the semi, ready to travel. We headed East on the Freeway, and the California State Police gave escort.
Did you know? To keep the A-12 project secret CIA stored in boxes Oxcart spy planes and moved them from Skunk Works production site to Area 51
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‘The CSP had long poles along the route to clear hanging power lines or unpin road signs hinged for clearance purposes. When we reached the CA/NV border, we pulled to the side of the road and ate sack ‘lunches made up by the mess hall in the Area. We also had igloo coolers of lemonade and thermos of hot coffee or chocolate. We also had soda pop. Not bad for the ’60s.
Did you know? To keep the A-12 project secret CIA stored in boxes Oxcart spy planes and moved them from Skunk Works production site to Area 51
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Greyhound Bus barely scraping the side of the A-12 Oxcart box
Did you know? To keep the A-12 project secret CIA stored in boxes Oxcart spy planes and moved them from Skunk Works production site to Area 51
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‘After we had lunch, we headed up Highway 95 until we reached Mercury, that had our security clearance for entering the Atomic Proving Grounds. I may be wrong, but I think that once we reached the Ranch, the Article was uncrated and put on a cart by something like a cherry picker and I do believe the box was broken down and loaded back on the trailer, and sent back to Burbank. I never knew of anyone taking pictures from our group and I do recall the incident where a Greyhound Bus barely scraped the side of the box, and the driver was given cash to fix the few scratches avoiding insurance claims.
Did you know? To keep the A-12 project secret CIA stored in boxes Oxcart spy planes and moved them from Skunk Works production site to Area 51
‘Sincerely, Jim Noce Former CIA agent Area 51.’
Did you know? To keep the A-12 project secret CIA stored in boxes Oxcart spy planes and moved them from Skunk Works production site to Area 51
Be sure to check out Linda Sheffield Miller (Col Richard (Butch) Sheffield’s daughter, Col. Sheffield was an SR-71 Reconnaissance Systems Officer) Twitter Page Habubrats SR-71 and Facebook Page Born into the Wilde Blue Yonder for awesome Blackbird’s photos and stories.
Photo credit: Roadrunners Internationale
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desert-fern · 2 months
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Welcome to the moodboard Masterlist!
Here are the completed boards, so feel free to peruse!
Part 2 link here!
Hockey Player Jake for @goldenseresinretriever
Surfer Mickey for @startrekfangirl2233
Scout Master Bob for @a-reader-and-a-writer
Art Museum Date w/ Bob for @teacupsandtopgun
Orpheus!Bradley - Hadestown for @horseshoegirl
The Great Bradsby for @roosterforme
Suavy, Dark Academia Javy for @beyondthesefourwalls
Johnny Storm!Jake for @startrekfangirl2233
Retro diner date with Bradley for @roosterforme
Robin Hood!Bradley X Maid Marian!Reader for @sailor-aviator
SWAT Officer Phoenix for @dakotakazansky
Dog and Plant Dad Bob for @footprintsinthesxnd
Zeus!Bob for @auroralightsthesky
Desert Road Trip with Jake for @roosterforme
Rooster and Hades Wedding (False God chapter 14) for @cherrycola27
Green Eomer board for @aviatorobsessed
Dark Fae Prince!Jake X Human!Reader for @sailor-aviator
Flight Paramedic Iceman for @dakotakazansky
F1 Jake for @bradleybeachbabe
Children’s Librarian Mickey for @fanboyswhore9
Little Shop of Horrors - Seymour!Bob for @horseshoegirl
Valentines Day with Mickey for @shinzowosasageyoooo
Bob takes his daughter to get her first glasses for @roosterforme
High school Swimmer!Jake for @downbadfortomcruise
Old Money Wedding with Jake for @chiaraanatra
CEO!Jake X Private Chef!Reader for @daughterofautumn
High Tea with Jake for @teacupsandtopgun
Hiking with Nat for @sylviebell
Arwen!Nat for @startrekfangirl2233
Airline Pilot!Coyote for @startrekfangirl2233
Comic Con w/ Bob and Mickey for @ryebecca
1960s Country Star Jake for @sarahsmi13s
Florist!Bob for @bobgasm
Vintage Dance Date with Bob for @footprintsinthesxnd
Werewolf!Frank Castle for a sweet Nonny
Wesley!Mickey for @fanboyswhore9
Mamma Mia!Jake for @goldenseresinretriever
Las Vegas Trip with Jake for @ryebecca
Paradise by the Rooster Light for @horseshoegirl
Soft, Spring Bob for @briseisgone
Firefighter!Jake for @dakotakazansky
Satine!Phoenix - Moulin Rouge for @horseshoegirl
Stargazing date w/ Mickey for @teacupsandtopgun
Summer hike w/ Jake for @footprintsinthesxnd
Hockey Player!Bradley for @goldenseresinretriever
Jean Grey!Natasha for @startrekfangirl2233
Aragorn!Bradley for @startrekfangirl2233
Spy X Pilot WIP for @djs8891
Bradley fixing up a Bronco for @roosterforme
Vet Nurse!Bob for @footprintsinthesxnd
Daddy-Daughter Dance w/ Mickey for @sarahsmi13s
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William Cooper's Project Redlight 2
If you have an insatiable curiosity about UFOs, black budget projects, Area 51, advanced technology, or just love to watch rare & unusual videos, you will truly enjoy Project Redlight & Project Redlight 2. Redlight is the name of the Top-Secret project that develops & tests anti-gravity & other far-out aviation & space technology in the barren desert of Nevada at a facility known as Area-51, Groom Dry Lake, about 135 miles north north-west of Las Vegas.
Despite what you might have heard from the many fakes, frauds, and disinformation agents, it was William Cooper who disclosed the existence of Area-51, its location, and the true nature of the testing that is conducted at the site. Cooper discovered this information in the early 70s while a member of the Intelligence Briefing Team of Admiral Bernard Clarey (CINCPACFLT) made many trips to the area over the years to watch the flight of the most advanced aircraft in the world. In 1988, William Cooper went public with his knowledge of what was really going on behind the veil of "National Security." He told the world about "Area-51," or "Dreamland", its radio call sign, on the Billy Goodman Happening, KVEG, Las Vegas, in early 1989. In January 1990, over 3,000 people gathered at the Show Boat Hotel in Las Vegas to hear William Cooper & see his slide photographs of the secret military base. It was the 1st time the public had ever seen photographs that proved there actually was a top secret government test site at the location known as "Groom Dry Lake".
William Cooper made his first video covering these subjects called Project Redlight in 1991. Project Redlight 2 was produced in 1992. The videos include footage never seen by anyone prior to its release. The shots of the secret technology in flight are actually a composite of footage taken over several years. The videos include tips on how to get there, what to wear, where to stay & interviews with several visitors & local residents.
The videos are not professional productions but are more than adequate considering the amateur status of the producer & the information that the videos contain. Both are close to 2 hours in length and must absolutely be viewed only in a completely dark room during the night shots of the technology in flight. The night footage was taped with a .5 lux rated camera and is astounding, to say the least.
"Listen to EVERYONE, read EVERYTHING, believe absolutely NOTHING… unless you can prove it in your OWN research." -Milton William Cooper
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unhappycylinder · 1 year
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Gonna Be Trouble (Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x F!Reader) Part 1
Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x Female Reader
Word Count: 3049
Warnings: none really, just some anxiety about school ig (reader is in college), flirty hangman, awkward reader, fluff and flirting to a concerningly self-indulgent point
Summary: Y/n goes back to her hometown airshow to escape the stress of school for a weekend and reconnect with her childhood passion. Hangman just happens to be a demo pilot at this same air show and falls for y/n instantly. Part 1 of idk how many but this will be ongoing and will move beyond the airshow pretty quickly. Strangers to lovers arc. Hangman is a sucker for a smart woman what can I say...
Part 2 Part 3
The sun was just setting under the desert horizon and you still had an hour and a half before you were back in Las Vegas. You had moved away to go to college three years ago and were looking for literally any excuse to escape the hell-hole that was university and reconnect with yourself. Years of books, essays, exams, and frat parties had taken their toll on you and your health (and your liver but we don’t have to unpack that yet because you literally turned 21 a month ago). 
Anyway…even though planes weren’t your main thing anymore, you still loved them. Everyone has a soft spot for their childhood obsession. Most kids loved dinosaurs or the Titanic or horses, but not you, no…the American military’s aviation department really tickled your fancy when you were in elementary school. You even wanted to be a pilot for a while, contemplated joining the Navy and everything, but your family’s academic goals put a stop to that pretty quickly.
There was a quaint hotel within a few miles of base that you opted for instead, deciding to take the shuttle to and from the air show each day.
As your music played quietly over the car radio you finally got some time alone with your thoughts. Time to unpack all the crazy shit that had happened to you since college started, and time to think about what was next for you after you graduated next year. You decided that you were going to focus on yourself this weekend and nobody else. You’d silence your phone, try not to take pictures and post much on Instagram, and for the love of God you’d leave your barren dating apps alone cause lord knows nothing was gonna happen there. 
“Love Me Tonight” came on the radio and you turned up the volume, swaying to one of your favorite songs as you passed the final mountain and saw Las Vegas in the distance, sighing in relief that your 15 hour day had finally come to an end.
–The Next Morning–
You only heard two gunshots outside your hotel last night, which to be fair was pretty chill for a night in Vegas, and the sunrise indicated that it was time for you to start getting ready for your day on base. You wanted to beat the crowd so you could have time to check out all the static displays before trying to find a seat in front of the runway.
Throwing on an outfit of leggings and a tight black long-sleeve with a denim bomber jacket on top, you finished getting ready before leaving your hotel room.
Hopping on the shuttle, you realized the only open seat was next to a man in his 70s wearing a Vietnam War Veteran ball cap who was blankly staring out the window with a slight frown on his face.
“Excuse me sir,” you said, “can I sit here?”
He perked up almost instantly and shuffled lightly towards the window, patting the seat gently and smiling up at you.
“Of course honey, it’d be a pleasure”
“Are you here with your family, or is it just you today?” You asked, leaning in to make sure he heard you
“Just me I’m afraid. My grandkids all live out of state and well my wife passed not too long ago. It’s just me now, and I haven’t missed one of these shows in years” he nodded
You smiled at him and nodded, “Me too. I used to come every year as a kid and this is my first time back since starting college”
“Oh how wonderful! What do you study?”
You and the old man chatted for what felt like half an hour but was really only the 10 minute ride to base. His name was Hank and he served two tours of Vietnam when he was 19. He met his wife, Marlee, a couple months after the war at an air show in California where he was promoting a veterans organization and they were married for forty-five years. He asked you about college, family, your interest in planes, and complimented you any chance he got. When the bus parked he struggled to get up, pulling out a cane from in between the seats and trying his best to wiggle his way out of the bus until you grabbed ahold of his other arm and helped him off the vehicle and through the air show gates.
“You know y/n you remind me an awful lot of my wife when I first met her. She looked just like you…” he paused, studying your face, “did her hair the same way, talked the same way you do”
“Aw thank you Hank that’s really kind,” you brought your hand to your chest and smiled at him, he beamed back.
“You know I hope you get to experience a life like me and my Marlee did, I just know it’ll happen for you”
You thanked him again and smiled, it was a sweet thing for him to say and you didn’t have the heart to tell him your only romantic endeavors thus far had been one-night-stands off of bumble. He smiled once again and shook your hand, hobbling off with his cane towards a C-5 parked right in front of the gate.
“And y/n,” he said while walking away, “enjoy the air show”
A-10s, F-15s, F-16s, F-35s, a B-1, and so many more aircraft that defined your childhood lined the runway along with the frequent hot dog and pretzel vendors. You wandered past each plane, circling them to check out their engines and empennages, taking special note of all the specs and features you used to obsess over as a kid. 
“Any questions over here ma’am?” a tall brunette in camo and aviators asked you from beneath the wing of the A-10.
“Oh god, I don’t think so. This was my favorite plane as a kid and I’m just kinda reminiscing about it now,” you responded, squinting from the sun which was over the plane right now
“She’s my favorite too, I mean I’d hope she was cause I fly her, but y’a know”
“What’s it like to fly ‘em?”
“Magnificent ma’am, truly indescribable,” he said while walking closer to you
“I’ll ask you a question about them then if they were your favorite as a kid, how’s that sound ma’am?” He asked, you laughed
“Jeez okay go ahead, hit me with it”
“Alright, how many pounds-” he was cut off by a little kid running up and playing with the ‘remove before flight’ tags on the aircraft
“Excuse me miss” he said in a hurry as he ran to the child and politely but sternly asked him to stop fiddling with the aircraft. You chuckled and shook your head as you walked quickly behind the plane.
It was then that your eye was caught by the most magnificent thing you had ever seen in your entire life. You must have skipped over this part in the brochure online, because nothing would have enticed you more than the U.S. Navy’s very own F/A-18 Super Hornet. If the A-10 was your favorite plane as a kid, the F/A-18 might as well have been the reason you considered a career in the military or pursued anything aviation related at all. This plane was your absolute dream, and you had zero clue one was going to be here.
Completely forgetting your trivia game with the A-10 pilot, you practically ran over to the jet, shedding your jacket in the process. It was still early in the day and this bird was the last display on the lot, so nobody else was in sight. You dropped your jacket to the ground as you approached the jet, scanning every single inch of it, especially the name painted on the side below the cockpit:
Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin 
Your eyes were wide as you walked the length of the wing, hovering your hand over the grey metal, being afraid to touch it and damage it. As you got behind the wing however you noticed the beautiful dark blue Navy logo and simply couldn’t resist reaching out to trace your fingers along the gold ribboning which encircled the logo. Just as you made contact with the jet a voice erupted from behind you, making you jump.
“Scuse me ma’am,” it was said in the most delectable Southern drawl you’d ever heard
“Jesus Christ!” You yelled, turning around and immediately shrinking into yourself.
Standing before you was God’s very own favorite creation…literally the most beautiful man you had ever seen. He was in a dark green flight suit and aviators with his dark blonde hair slicked back from a side part. He twirled a toothpick in his mouth, which was twitched into a seductive smile as he peered down at you.
“Sorry,” you struggled to get out, turning red in the face, “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking,” you turned back towards the wing and started walking to pick up your jacket from the nasty ground. A strong hand grabbed a hold of your upper arm before you could take more than a step.
“Darlin’ it's okay, sorry I startled you, didn’t realize you didn’t see me coming up behind you”
He pulled you back in front of him and kept his hand gently on your shoulder, you almost combusted from his touch.
“I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to yell, or to touch the jet, I seriously don’t know what got into me. I mean I just watched a kid get yelled at for doing basically the same thing and now here I am, a grown woman, doing the same exact thing, feeling up the aircraft.” You rambled and he just smiled, letting out a little chuckle here and there, “I don’t mean feeling it up, not like that. Sorry. I mean touching it. I shouldn’t touch government property, that’s a lawsuit waiting to happen…”
“I’m gonna cut you off now darlin’,” he interjected while rubbing your shoulder, “no need to apologize for feeling up my jet, I get it, I feel her up all the time” he winced at his comment.
“...your jet. You’re the pilot?”
“I’d hope so, last I checked that was my name up there on her cockpit”
You both glanced up to the name then down to his name patch on his suit…they did indeed match.
“Lieutenant Jake Seresin ma’am, callsign Hangman,” he removed his hand from your shoulder and held it out for you to shake it
“Y/n Y/l/n” you responded, placing your smaller hand in his and giving it a firm shake. He glanced down at your hands as you shook them.
“You got a strong handshake there miss y/l/n, you sure you’re not in the military?”
You chuckled, “no sir, thought about it, but no. I guess I just have big hands?”
You held your hands up in front of you and wiggled your fingers, making Jake laugh. 
“C’mere,” Jake said as he stepped towards the jet where you had been looking earlier, motioning for you to follow.
“She’s an F/A-18E Super Hornet, but we like to call them-”
“The Rhino,” you cut him off, looking up at him with wide eyes
“So you’re a plane nerd, huh?” Jake asked, leaning against the fuselage of his jet
“Sorry. I used to be. These were my dream plane, I always wanted to fly them”
“You can touch it,” Jake smiled at you, you were still standing a good 2 feet from the jet, afraid to get any closer.
“No really it's okay, I don’t need to-”
“Come here,” Jake grabbed your right hand and pulled you towards him as he rested against the plane. You two stood there face to face for a second, inches from each other, hands interlocked, before Jake stood behind you and lifted your hands to touch the Navy logo together. His large calloused hand rested on top of yours as he guided your hands in a circle around the logo, his chest bumping into your back when you had to reach a little farther to touch the top of it.
“It’s a beautiful jet lieutenant” you said as you touched the plane, you felt his breath hitch when you said that last word. You looked over your shoulder to face him, his face inches from yours, his eyes more visible now through his sunglasses.
“You sticking around for the whole day?” He asked, removing his hand from yours and resting it against the jet so you were between him and the jet, enclosed by his arm.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m here both days all day” you said, looking up at him, blushing beyond belief. How you were functioning right now was beyond you.
“Good. I’m gonna be taking her up in a few hours and I’d love for you to watch me. Maybe after I land we could go out for a drink,” he smirked, twirling the toothpick with his tongue to the other side of his mouth. God this man was doing unspeakable things to you.
“Are you asking me on a date?” You said with absolute disbelief, chuckling as if it was a joke. No part of you could believe that an actual in-person man was asking you out for the first time, and it was even more unfathomable that that man was the sexiest fighter pilot in the entire U.S. Navy.
“I suppose I am miss y/l/n, if you’d have me,” he said, his confidence wavering the slightest bit after your response.
“I can’t believe it. There’s no way! Look at you!” You gestured up and down to him
“Look at me? Darlin’ you must not have a mirror cause all I’m seeing in front of me is pure beauty. You’re gorgeous sweetheart, and damn smart too” Jake brought his hand off the plane to fix a stray hair that had stuck to your lip gloss, tucking it behind your ear.
“I-” you began but you couldn’t seem to form the words, “Yeah, yes. You’re perfect. Drinks after you fly, I’ll be there.” That was apparently the most coherent thing you could come up with.
Jake smiled a million dollar smile and took his sunglasses off his face, resting them on the zipper of his suit. His eyes were a gorgeous light green and they creased at the sides when he smiled, making you absolutely melt. He bent down until his mouth was right next to your ear, his warm breath sending chills down your neck.
“I’m looking forward to it Y/n,” he practically growled, “meet me back here after the demo,” he planted a soft kiss on your cheekbone as he pulled his head back, winking at you once you finally got the courage to make eye contact with him.
All you could do was smile and nod as Jake walked away and returned with your jacket,
“Don’t want you forgetting this darlin’, gotta stay warm, don’t want you catching a cold before our date,” he beamed.
You smiled up at him as you took your jacket, intentionally running your hand down his as you took the fabric, making his eyes widen and stare deeper into yours.
“You’re gonna be trouble for me, I can already tell,” he smirked and spun on his heels, walking over to a family approaching the nose of the aircraft. You stood behind the wing clasping your jacket in front of you, too shocked to move or think.
“What the actual fuck,” you whispered as you shook your head and started walking towards the stratotanker to the left of the jet. You fixed your hair as you walked, fiddling with the strands to alleviate your anxiety about whatever just occurred. Jake focused on the way your ass moved under those leggings as you walked away from his jet, completely ignoring the kid in front of him asking him a gazillion questions about his plane. He was right, you were definitely going to be trouble for him.
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This is just part 1!! Let me know what y’all think. This is my first time posting a fic to tumblr so pls drop suggestions below!! Part 2 coming soon
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