One of the good things I liked about travelling when I was in Navy Band was that the band was allowed to take it's gear along with luggage, and we were allowed a carry on in our perspective seating area. We normally flew in a C9 (DC9), P3, or a H130. I think once we flew in a C5 cargo carrier. The gear was put on a palate, inspect it, then put it in the plane, but they never checked your personal carry on items in the terminal.
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Bruce Anthony Royal