Farewell and goodbye, my aluminum mistress Published Aug. 7, 2007 By Tech. Sgt. Bob Barko Jr. 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Master Sgt. Michael J. Klodt has been carrying on a love affair with the same "lady" for about 16 years. His wife, Karen has known about this "mistress" for all of the time and has been understanding and even very supportive of the situation. Perhaps it helps Mrs. Klodt to know that Master Sgt. Klodt's relationship with this "lady" arises from a strong sense of duty. Perhaps the fact that this "mistress" has a metal skin, is over 38 feet tall and weighs about 155,000 pounds helps her feel comfortable about the situation as well. Yet, in the end, it is probably that Mrs. Klodt is a military spouse and Master Sgt. Klodt's "mistress" is the C-130H aircraft, tail number 9107, that he has been the crew chief of since May 1991 that keeps the balance in this unique love triangle. However, this affair recently ended as Master Sgt. Klodt retired from the Air Force Reserve and has returned home to his wife, Karen for good. Master Sgt. Klodt's love for his C-130 has spanned more than 36 years of service. It started when he enlisted for active duty in 1967. After leaving active duty in 1971, he became a Traditional Reservist until 1975. Following a three year break in service, he returned to the Reserves in 1979 and became an Active Reserve Technician in 1981. He has been the dedicated crew chief on only two C-130's during his career. The first was a 1957 model year C-130B, tail number 0527. Master Sgt. Klodt said it was the third C-130B to roll off of the assembly line. He said the plane had also been modified during it's lifespan to recover space capsules while being based out of Hawaii. This plane gained its moniker due to one of the crew chief's civilian activities. "In the 80's, I had a herd of 17 goats at home. I had a goat who we named "Michael," he said. "It was Michael the billy goat." Master Sgt. Klodt's Air Force Reserve flight crew picked up on the crew chief's unusual pastime and promptly nicknamed 0527, "The Goat." Not that he minded, his daughter even designed an image for the plane to represent the new name. "It's great nose art, a good drawing, it's clean, not sexist and," he adds with a laugh, "the goat is fully clothed and has a hat too." Even after Aircraft 0527 was retired, the "The Goat" lived on. Well, at least its "offspring" did. On May 2, 1991, Master Sgt, Klodt traveled to the factory with the flight crew to pick up a brand-new 1990 model year C-130H. The plane had been assigned to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station on April 28, 1991 with the tail number of 9107. The aircraft had only 10.2 flying hours logged and it would soon be christened, "Baaad to the Bone," in honor of Aircraft 0527. He stands near the crew door of the C-130H, tail number 9107, as it sits in Hangar 305. He waves a hand towards the dark gray fuselage. "It smelled like a new car," said Master Sgt. Klodt. Within a few months, the factory-new C-130 would undergo modifications to become the first of only four fixed-wing aerial spray aircraft in the Department of Defense. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, 9107 would cover more than 1.3 million acres of affected area with insecticides to control mosquitoes and other pests for relief from the largest natural disaster in U.S. history. The Katrina mission was one of many examples of the results of Master Sgt. Klodt's dedication as a crew chief to his "lady," 9107 and those who fly aboard her. "Every time we preflight this plane - in the end, (at least) five lives depend on everything we do, every time this plane leaves the ground," he said. Master Sgt. Klodt is not only dedicated to his job as crew chief and his "mistress" but he truly loves what he does and it shows. "I cannot describe the feeling of flying somewhere on your own airplane - your own machine," he said with a huge grin. Those who work with Master Sgt. Klodt can't help but notice his dedication and and love for his job. But it is especially noticeable to his assistant crew chief, Tech. Sgt. Less Parkey. Tech. Sgt. Parkey has been Master Sgt. Klodt's right hand man since 1995. He said he, like many others, has learned many things from his crew chief about the job and perhaps life in general. "(He taught me) you have to like what you see in the mirror every morning, I'm talking about who you are and what you see inside," said Tech. Sgt. Parkey. Perhaps it is the basis of these words of wisdom that allowed the crew chief to excel at his job for so many years or maybe it was Master Sgt. Klodt's philosophy for starting off each day on the right foot in regards to his co-workers. "Regardless of what's going on in his personal life, it's amazing how he comes through that gate, throws the switch and it's the same every day, he starts the day with a 'good morning' to everyone he sees," Tech. Sgt. Parkey said. Tech. Sgt. Parkey said Master Sgt. Klodt has left an indelible mark on the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (AMXS) during his time here. In fact, the general consensus in maintenance shop is the crew chief is well respected among his peers, has left a history and a legacy at the 910th and has been a mentor to his crew and all of AMXS. "He has been a 'father' to many people who have moved on to other jobs or higher positions along the way," said Tech. Sgt. Parkey. Tech. Sgt. Parkey said he will miss his crew chief but also is prepared to carry on in Master Sgt. Klodt's footsteps into the future. "We've been together, almost like a marriage, for 16 years now. Now he's moving on... I just want to keep the kids and the house, and the address is 9107," he said, referring to the crew and the planes they call home. "If it was up to me, Less would be it (the next crew chief of 9107), he's worked hard for it and he deserves it, she would be in very good hands," said Master Sgt. Klodt, motioning to the huge aircraft behind him. Tech. Sgt. Parkey is not the only member of the maintenance squadron who will have to try to fill the shoes left by Master Sgt. Klodt after his retirement. Chief Master Sgt. Dave Prokop, the AMXS Superintendent reflects on what it means to the team as this particular crew chief hangs up his Air Force uniform. "When somebody like Michael retires, the bad part is the people that are left behind, that's an awfully big void to fill - it's like saying goodbye to a family member - it's hard to do," said Chief Master Sgt. Prokop. He said over 16 years, like with any family, there have been bumps in the road when working with a crew chief so dedicated to his "mistress." "We're like a big family. Sure, we have problems, but we don't hold grudges. We fix things and move on," Chief Master Sgt. Prokop said. The superintendent said part of the legacy that Master Sgt. Klodt's gives to AMXS is his creation of the coveted "Screwdriver Award." The award, consisting of a large screwdriver and a brass plate mounted on a wooden plaque, is given to retirees from the maintenance squadron. Only six had been awarded prior to the crew chief receiving his on June 11. "We renamed it 'The Michael J. Klodt Award' in his honor," said Chief Master Sgt. Prokop. He thought for a moment about the crew chief who dedicated so many years to Aircraft 9107, its crew and the family of Airmen that make up the aircraft maintenance squadron. "We're not only losing a friend but also 36 years of experience," said Chief Master Sgt. Prokop. However, the maintenance squadron's loss is the crew chief's family's gain. Master Sgt. Klodt has been grateful for the support his family, especially his daughters and his wife, has given him over the years when it came to his "mistress." For him, the future is going to be time spent with family, mostly his wife, Karen. "This is her time now - she has always stood back for this mistress," he said motioning to the aircraft with tail number 9107. "I said to Karen, 'Come grow old with me, the best is yet to come," said Master Sgt. Klodt. In the end, he sums up his long-term relationship as a crew chief to his plane, 9107, in the words of a loosely-translated ancient Chinese proverb that says, "A man's wife and children make him who he is but it is his mistress that brings a smile to his face everyday." While looking forward to much deserved time with his wife, children and grandchildren, he looks back over his shoulder at the massive machine of steel, rivets, tubes, wires, cables, tires, propellers and more that has held his attention for so many years. He pauses for a long moment as if to have a final conversation with his "lady." Slowly, he looks back ahead and with a wistful smile says, "I've said goodbye to my aluminum mistress, we've had fun but now it's time to go home to my wife."