Possible. Pay careful attention to that word.
I applied for a job just like I have in another location. It is at McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas.
Why Wichita? We still have a house there and three of our grandchildren are there.
Good enough reasons.
I was referred to the hiring supervisor there by the Air Force Personnel Center after doing the online application process.
There is a possibility of getting to go home to Kansas. Possibility only. I was simply referred to the position in question.
I worked for Cessna Aircraft in Wichita in the early 80s – moved from San Diego to get the job. Was there all of 6 months. Interest rates were something like 20%, companies that paid a $90K deposit to secure a production slot on a Citation jet- were walking away from the deposits.
So after getting there not a month/2 later the layoff rumors started.
But along the way, I learned the following being in Wichita.
1. When flying and you find yourself a bit disoriented as to your position, just drop down to see the nearest water tower. The town’s name is always on them. And they are all over the place.
2. Wichita is 2 populations. The aerospace people and everyone else.
3. They don’t know how to drive in heavy snow. At least, one of the year’s first snowfalls. Couldn’t believe how “well” I drove in blizzards. I had to tell them that Calif isn’t all palm trees but 20′ snow drifts in the Sierras.
4. They treat summer differently. One hot, muggy September day I came home to my apt (by Mid Continent Airport) – ready for a swim, I noticed that they drained the pool water.
Because they always drained the pool in Sept.
Working at Cessna was interesting. Cessna had 2 divisions, the Wallace Division (making the Citations and twins) and the Pawnee Division, making the singles. I was with the Wallace Division.
Every day for lunch going to the cafeteria I would walk though the hanger where they did the experiments – like flexing the (then new) Citation 3 wing on hydraulic jigs simulating 1000s of ho0urs of flight time – all for the FAA’s certification process.
Stuff I’d read about in aviation magazines was right in that hanger.
My desk was right next to a small room where these engineers – about 5-10 – would go in and close the door. Some of them would bring parts like a prop part to a Cessna 441 Conquest.
Finally, curiosity got the best of me and I asked one of them what they were doing.
“I can’t tell you but you will hear about it this April”
It was the new Cessna Caravan, flown all over the world today.
The good thing for me is that this position is with the Air Force.
I did a stretch at Bombardier-Learjet with a four month lay off at one point.
The most recent was Hawker Beechcraft. Got it after seven months.
ORPO1 – I remember working for the General Aviation plants could be like musical chairs. Get laid off at Learjet? Try Piper – Beech – or Cessna.
I forgot to mention the wind in my Wichita write-up – always wind!
And the extreme temperature variations day to day. Is Wichita in the middle of different weather fronts?
I remember one day it would be -20 – with a 30 mph wind – next day + 50.
I think Stearmans were made there too – at the Boeing plant? (since sold, so I hear).
Had a character out here with a Stearman – got a “vanity” N-Number of 747 – so he could say ‘Boeing 747″ to the tower at the small airports