Ed Rasimus wrote:

Radio discipline is important. It's an absolute, even when it isn't
necessary--as in modern ops where you've got secure comm. It still
demonstrates professionalism if the radio chatter is eliminated.

Speaking of radio chatter, I'll never forget October 29, 1998. For it
was on that special day I flew my first homebuilt trike to watch
77-year-old John Glenn return to space -- 36 years, 8 months and
nine days after he became the first American to orbit the Earth.

Approaching Launch Pad LC-39B after a 90-minute west to east flight
across the Florida peninsula, it was time to turn on the radio. I was
astounded at how busy the Patrick AFB controller was! Obviously,
countless Cessnas, Pipers and other general aviation pilots had also
taken the day off from work and flew to the Cape for exactly the same
reason I did.

I decided not to bother Patrick's approach controller after monitoring
the conversation and hearing the controller barking out instructions
non-stop:

Patrick Controller: "Shuttle delay, intruder VFR aircraft in the
restricted launch zone..." [static]

"Patrick this is Cessna Five Niner Zero Charlie...what's the uhh,
status with the shuttle lau..." [static]

Patrick Controller: "Sir, no advisories today! Please, all VFR traffic
look at your charts. The reason for the shuttle delay is stray VFR
traffic in the launch zone!" [static]

"Patrick [static] this is, ahh...Beech Six Three Seven Kilo requesting
traffic adv..."

Patrick Controller: "Three Seven Kilo [static] NO advisories today,
squawk VFR and stay clear of the restricted zone!"

"Ahh [static] G'day Patrick this is Cessna Oh Four Niner reques..."

Patrick Controller: "OK, all VFR aircraft turn OFF your transponders,
you're overloading [static] my scope. Repeat, all VFR traffic turn OFF
your transponders!" [static]

"Patrick, Beech Triple Five Alpha Tango could you give us a status
rep..."

Patrick Controller: "Beech Triple Fiver Alpha Tango NO advisories
today, launch has been delayed, check transponder OFF, stay clear of
the restricted airspace!" [static]

"Patrick this is Warrior Six Three...." [static]

Patrick Controller: "ALL VFR traffic...DO NOT contact Patrick for
Shuttle Advisories!" [screeeech] "We will advise you one-minute
liftoff!" [static]

"Uhh, Patrick...cessna Zero Three Three requesting shuttle
advisories...." [static]

Patrick Controller: [GASP]

I turned the volume down a bit on the radio and focused on flying the
trike and avoiding the other airplanes whizzing by in all directions.
With one hand on the control bar and the other holding onto my
ever-ready camera, I circled around on the edge of the restricted
airspace wondering what was going to happen to the pilot who
inadvertantly strayed into the Shuttle's airspace, holding up the
launch in front of a world wide audience!

Finally, the controller announced the countdown sequence had begun.
Immediately, I wheeled the trike around into the best possible camera
position...

Composed of a winged orbiter and utilizing three extremely powerful,
reusable main engines and two reusable solid rocket boosters, the
largest solid-propellant motors ever flown and a disposable external
centerline fuel tank, the Shuttle lifted up and away from its vertical
position on the launch pad and into orbit in just under eight minutes.
Accelerating past mach three in a matter of a few minutes, I lost
sight of the Shuttle before it left the troposphere. In a few seconds,
all that could be seen of the Discovery was its humongous white smoke
plume, drifting southward in the sparkling blue, Florida sky.

Leaving the poor Patrick AFB controller to his woes, I saluted John
Glenn and the entire crew of STS-95 then turned my humble yet
very capable craft westward towards home.