The Modern Day Vance
If you lived in the old dorms you will have a hard time figuring out where they were. The old Officer's Club is long demolished. Actually there is no officer's club any more. It's now an "all-ranks" club and it has been moved. Vance has a new, modern BX and commissary. It has new simulator buildings, all new bachelor's dorms and new on-base housing for families. The gym is still there, as well as the familiar squadron buildings, hangars and the tower. All aircraft now are parked under shelters. Vance acquired hundreds of acres of land on the north side and moved its main gate a quarter mile north. The parade ground is studded with beautiful aircraft mounted on pedistals. More are on display in a public area outside the main gate. A public viewing area of runway operations has been added with an ATC feed to the loudspeaker.
"North long, cleared."
"Final, go around."
"Initial, carry through."
"Moxx 53, cleared closed."
Remember the radio chatter?
We rode the majestic Talons. They will soon be replaced
with something that looks like an insect.
This thing
Our beloved Tweet is gone, replaced by this egg beater, the T-6 Texan II.
A third airframe got added into the mix, The T-1 Beech Jet.
The "north long" taxiway is still there, but the things that go down it have these spinning gizmos on their noses.
Vance is the biggest employer in Enid. They don't complain about jet noise (or prop noise). Airmen and sergeants don't work on these jewels. Career civilians do it.
The only C-141 still in service is the Vance fire trainer dummy.
Vance still has plenty of weather stand-downs.
Remember these?
And these?
And these?
Remember the hours serving as the RSU officer's stenographer? (RSU = Runway Supervisory Unit, aka "Mobile.") This picture was taken during the 1998 reunion.
The billeting office is located about where the old officer's club was.
The Predator pays a visit.
They have added aircraft exhibits. These are just outside the new main gate.
This A-10 exhibit was reportedly placed inside the base for fear Enid recycling would haul it away.
This old war horse sits where some 73-06 student once lived.
They let the Navy and Marine Corps train here also these days.
There goes the neighborhood.
We used to go off base for breakfast at the Wagon Wheel on Van Buren St. That place is long gone. Now they go to the "WeeToo" in north Enid.
