Reserve pilot spends over 400 days in air Published Feb. 28, 2011 By Senior Airman Damon Kasberg 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- One Air Force Reserve pilot recently reached 10,000 flying hours in his career, an accomplishment few achieve. The 10,000 flying hours is the equivilent of more than one full year in the air. Lt. Col Patrick Reed, 72nd Air Refueling Squadron pilot, grew up in Chicago near the Midway International Airport, which is where his dreams of being a pilot began. In 1983 he graduated from the University of Illinois and received a bachelor's degree in aviation. "I wanted to be a commercial pilot, but I didn't have enough experience," he said. "I joined the Air Force to get the experience I needed." It was in 1984, when he joined the Air Force and earned his wings in 1985. From 1985 to 1999 Colonel Reed flew the E-3 Sentry and accumulated 7,000 flying hours. During that time he was stationed in many different bases, including those in Japan and Germany. "Germany was my best assignment I had," he said. "I stayed there for six years at a NATO base. The entire crew was made up of people from all the different NATO countries." In 1999 Colonel Reed joined the Air Force Reserve. At the same time he fulfilled his dream of becoming a commercial pilot. Colonel Reed achieved the remaining 3,000 hours flying the KC-135R Stratotanker. That calculates out to over 416 days spent in the air. With more than 20 years in the Air Force, one thing above all Colonel Reed said kept him motivated to continue serving; his fellow airmen. "There's an awful lot of camaraderie," he said "Whenever I thought about leaving, they would talk me into staying; there are a lot of good people." Colonel Reed said he plans on putting in his 25 years of service and then retiring and has never looked back on his decision to join the Air Force. "I have no regrets," he said. "If I did, I wouldn't still be wearing my uniform." The 72nd ARS is part of the 434th Air Refueling Wing, home of the largest KC-135R unit in the AFRC. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
