A final flight for an aerial firefighting colonel

Col. Bob Chapman takes in the sights of the San Isabel National Forest Aug. 8 during his final flight in the skies above southern Colorado. The colonel culminated his career with the final flight while being assigned to the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing. The flight capped off his military flying career with more than 5,200 hours of flight, including flights over combat zones. Colonel Chapman, who relinquished his position as the wing's vice commander during the August unit training assembly, has served in the Air Force since 1978 when he joined as an enlisted member. The colonel left Active Duty in 1992, becoming an Air Force Reserve member with the 302nd AW. The colonel is projected to retire in March 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Ken Valdez)

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A final flight for an aerial firefighting colonel

Col. Bob Chapman is "sprayed down" by fellow Air Force Reserve aviators after his final flight Aug. 8 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. This was the colonel's final flight with the 302nd AW, which culminated his military flying career with more than 5,200 hours of flight, including over combat zones. Colonel Chapman, who relinquished his position as the wing's vice commander during the August unit training assembly, has served in the Air Force since 1978 when he joined as an enlisted member. The colonel left Active Duty in 1992, becoming an Air Force Reserve member with the 302nd AW. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ann Skarban)

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A final flight for an aerial firefighting colonel

Col. Bob Chapman (right) is congratulated by Lt. Col. Harold Treffeisen, a C-130 Hercules pilot assigned to the 731st Airlift Squadron, after completing his final flight Aug. 8 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. This was the Air Force Reserve colonel's final flight with the 302nd AW, which culminated his military flying career with more than 5,200 hours of flight, including over combat zones. Colonel Chapman, who relinquished his position as the wing's vice commander during the August unit training assembly, has served in the Air Force since 1978 when he joined as an enlisted member. The colonel left Active Duty in 1992, becoming an Air Force Reserve member with the 302nd AW. During that time, he commanded the 731st AS during a deployment to the Middle East and during numerous aerial firefighting activations. The colonel is projected to retire in March 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ann Skarban)

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A final flight for an aerial firefighting colonel

Col. Bob Chapman stands tall in the face of a congratulatory water spray while protecting himself with a plastic chemical bag Aug. 8 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The colonel's spraying, a tradition conducted when a pilot has his or her final flight with the unit they're assigned to, culminated his flying career with the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing. The flight capped off his military flying career with more than 5,200 hours of flight, including over combat zones. Colonel Chapman, who relinquished his position as the wing's vice commander during the August unit training assembly, has served in the Air Force since 1978 when he joined as an enlisted member. The colonel left Active Duty in 1992, becoming an Air Force Reserve member with the 302nd AW. The colonel is projected to retire in March 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Kallece Quinn)

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A final flight for an aerial firefighting colonel

Col. Bob Chapman pilots a 302nd Airlift Wing C-130 Hercules on final approach Aug. 8 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. This was the colonel's final flight with the 302nd AW, which culminated his military flying career of more than 5,200 hours of flight, including over combat zones. Colonel Chapman, who relinquished his position as the wing's vice commander during the August unit training assembly, has served in the Air Force since 1978 when he joined as an enlisted member. The colonel left Active Duty in 1992, becoming an Air Force Reserve member with the 302nd AW. The colonel is projected to retire in March 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ann Skarban)

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A final flight for an aerial firefighting colonel

Col. Bob Chapman goes through C-130 Hercules pre-flight procedures Aug. 8 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., before his final flight in the skies above southern Colorado. The colonel culminated his career with this final flight while being assigned to the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing. The flight capped off his military flying career with more than 5,200 hours of flight, including over combat zones. Colonel Chapman, who relinquished his position as the wing's vice commander during the August unit training assembly, has served in the Air Force since 1978 when he joined as an enlisted member. The colonel left Active Duty in 1992, becoming an Air Force Reserve member with the 302nd AW. The colonel is projected to retire in March 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Ken Valdez)

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A final flight for an aerial firefighting colonel

Published Aug. 16, 2010
By Ann Skarban
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Col. Bob Chapman flew his final flight as an Air Force Reservist and member of the 302nd Airlift Wing Aug. 8 here. The flight capped off the colonel's military flying career with more than 5,200 hours of flight, including over combat zones and in both the C-130 Hercules and UV-18 Twin Otter. Colonel Chapman, who relinquished his position as the wing's vice commander during the August unit training assembly, has served in the Air Force since 1978 when he joined as an enlisted member. The colonel left Active Duty in 1992, becoming an Air Force Reserve member with the 302nd AW and, during that time, commanded the 302nd AW's flying organization, the 731st Airlift Squadron. The colonel is projected to retire from the AF Reserve in March 2011.