186 replies to this topic

[HiFlyer]

jimbobpow13, on Jul 9 2009, 02:12 PM, said:

Pardon my noob-ness. What books are you talking about? Just basic flight principles?

Thanks

As much basic knowledge as possible (a private pilot ground school course would help if you can swing it and haven't already done it), DA-20 flight manual/operating info, gouge on DA-20 normal and emergency procedures (elsewhere on this site), etc. You should know the bold-face EPs before you walk in the door.

http://dossifs.com/u...20_BOLDFACE.pdf

Edited by HiFlyer, 09 July 2009 - 01:57 PM.

[Jenni]

Has anyone on here attended IFS in November? My boyfriend will be doing just that, and we're wondering if he gets time off for Thanksgiving. He's tried calling the base there for an answer, but they haven't gotten back to him for the past two weeks. If so, how much time do they get, and can they fly home? Thanks so much for any help!

[VFR800]

Jenni, on 11 October 2009 - 04:23 PM, said:

Has anyone on here attended IFS in November? My boyfriend will be doing just that, and we're wondering if he gets time off for Thanksgiving. He's tried calling the base there for an answer, but they haven't gotten back to him for the past two weeks. If so, how much time do they get, and can they fly home? Thanks so much for any help!

Standard AETC is to expect Thurs and Fri off. You should be able to fly home, but don't expect to be able to leave early on Wed, and you should be back Sun afternoon for crew rest. Speculation only, but probably very accurate speculation.

[contraildash]

HiFlyer, on 09 July 2009 - 10:41 AM, said:

I really don't think it matters much what aircraft you fly. The whole point of IFS is to introduce you to the Air Force training system...the way they do things. Much of the stress is on the ground procedures...classroom learning, flight standups and EP exercises, customs and courtesies, etc. Certainly you have to be able to fly to the satisfaction of the civilian instructor corps, but that's only a part of the process, and their standards are pretty much basic FAA PPL standards (with perhaps a little more emphasis on precision).....Books, people...get in the books!!! THAT will make a difference.

Exactly. IFS wasn't hard flying wise for the folks I knew with prior experience. More so it was everything HiFlyer mentions above. We did have a few folks wash out due to their inability to fly, however if you busted your rear and rocked out all the other stuff, they went out of their way to get you through the program. That's just what I saw when I was there. I don't think I knew of anyone that washed out due to non-flying stuff there, however sucking at GK, EPs, ect in UPT will get you booted out the door quicker than swapping ends in the flare for a tail strike will!

[dontshavemyhead]

There was a pilot select at IFS that got washed out fairly late in the program (week 4) because he flat out could not land the airplane.

I've had some rough landings in the Katana, ones that I thought were terrible, but the IP said they were "safe," so this guy must have really been performing some carrier landings with the nose pointing 15 degrees off of center line to get the boot for landings.

People do fail the EPQs and stuff. In fact, I know of someone who has failed the same EPQ 4 times. Yes, there is a test bank of 100 some-odd questions. I know.

[HiFlyer]

onetwopi, on 07 January 2010 - 01:06 AM, said:

Hope I'm not repeating questions here ...
Can anyone confirm that ALL UPT candidates go to IFS? I.e. I am active duty hoping to pick up a spot in the coming board. If selected, would I definitely attend IFS?
And does anyone know the timeline/procedure for active duty guys getting picked up? Board releases results in Feb. Then do you PCS to your UPT base and then TDY to IFS? Or is IFS en route? Any chance for SOS in the mix?

Thanks!

Currently, all active Duty go to IFS...there have been some variations in the past with Guard and Reserve guys. The normal progression is OTS, Brooks, UPT base (or UPT base-Brooks...it varies), then TDY to IFS from your UPT base. If you already have your commission, it will be pretty much the same except no OTS. SOS is a ringer...no clue there. I'd say that would be up to the flesh peddlers at Randolph for an SOS class.

[letsgofast]

Or you could use chair-fly.com or use the high-res picture of the DA20 cockpit found on the WantsCheck Gouge Vault. I've attached it.

Attached File(s)

•  da-20_instrument_panel_photo.jpg (718.79K)
  Number of downloads: 356

[StoleIt]

Wojo, on 25 January 2010 - 12:59 PM, said:

Is this the actual diamond aircraft flown at IFS? Cause it's 60 bucks...! The title says USAFA, but I noticed the layout looks right.

http://www.trainingc...fl_00_11gen.htm

Kinda hard to judge with a picture that small:



But here ya go:


And this looks close:



With the cockpit poster link, it shows "USAFA" on it. I believe their DA-20's were slightly different. I recall because they had those old USAFA cockpit posters in the flight room for stand up and I got sat down because I referenced the wrong engine #'s on the poster instead of the IFS ones...so slight differences from the USAFA to the IFS DA-20's I guess.

[yzl337]

the posters have some differences from the actual aircraft, but its close enough, all the training posters in the Doss facility are different from the aircraft anyway

[HiFlyer]

CombatDescent, on 23 March 2010 - 01:01 PM, said:

Is there any sort of posted schedule for IFS? I've looked around, but have come up empty handed. I have the list of upcomeing OTS dates, so I am trying to see how much time I will have inbetween OTS and IFS. Recently a guy from my old squadron was farting around his new Ops Squadron for about 1.5 months inbetween.

You're probably out of luck. There is no real "schedule" for IFS...it could be within weeks of OTS, or months down the road. The only thing you can assume is that after OTS you will do MFS at Brooks (if you are a pilot and haven't already done it), then sit at your UPT/UNT base for some period of time, then do IFS for about 3-4 weeks, then go back to your base, then eventually start training. I've seen guys go to IFS within a few weeks of reporting, and other guys sit on casual for four or five months before going. The only relationship I know of is the sooner the start date for your class, the sooner you go to IFS.

[JBueno]

Anyone know how much free time students have during non-duty days or if we're allowed to stay off-campus overnight? I'm thinking of bringing some fishing/camping gear on the off-chance I can get away for a night.

[HerkNav]

JBueno, on 27 April 2010 - 10:47 PM, said:

Anyone know how much free time students have during non-duty days or if we're allowed to stay off-campus overnight? I'm thinking of bringing some fishing/camping gear on the off-chance I can get away for a night.

As long as you aren't flying on the weekends you can go up to Denver, C-Springs, or pretty much wherever (within reason) for the weekend. The non-duty days are yours to do whatever with. I usually studied or was recovering from the Friday nights downtown, which isn't the greatest, but fun nonetheless.

[HiFlyer]

Use caution. It isn't a vacation. While the weekend off-duty time is yours, you will be expected to arrive Monday morning with lots of new knowledge. My son spent a significant percentage of his weekends in the books and said it was pretty obvious during the week who had used the time wisely and who hadn't! It isn't about flying, its about learning flight info and the local procedures. He had his PPL and over 60 hours in the DA-20 and still had to work his rear end off to do well!!!

[jice]

I know guys who got out of there in 2 weeks. I also know guys who stayed much longer due to weather or other circumstances. Your best bet for getting out early: Know your stuff when you show up, study really hard and figure out a way to influence the weather. I wouldn't plan any trips during the period that you're supposed to stay there, but if the weather's nice and you don't have a difficult time with the program you should get out early. I don't think they are double turning the nav types, so if that's the boat you're in plan to stay the entire time. Weather is the biggest factor, being able to PA is a close second.

[HiFlyer]

I wouldn't plan on two weeks in any case. The academics takes much of the first week alone. The syllabus is built to the average guy...about four weeks. If you do well and have some flying time (PPL or close) you may get out after about three weeks with good performance. I'm not saying it hasn't been done in two weeks, but that is really on the edge of reality. Plan for four, hope for three.

[JBueno]

Falco, on 05 July 2010 - 03:18 PM, said:

I am waiting to go on active duty and trying to get as prepared as possible for IFS. Those of you that have gone already, from a zero hour point, how many hours should I get in general aviation aircraft before I go? I cannot afford to go the distance and get a PPL, and that seems pointless anyway. On top of the hours question, what should I focus on in the aircraft (its a C-150) to get ready for Pueblo? Thanks guys.

Cheers

You're probably anxious and wanting to be well-prepared, which is good. Honestly, I wouldn't fly at all. If you insist on it, I would only take one or two flights, just to get past the motion sickness (if you even wind up with it) and learn how to use coordinated rudder and aileron maybe. There were plenty of zero-time guys when I was there who did just fine. From my experience, it seems like the guard guys (who generally have more hours, some up in the thousands) got got wrapped around the axle about proficiency advancing (PA'ing)and getting out of Pueblo, while the lower/zero-time guys didn't worry too much about it, took all the flights in the syllabus, and graduated just fine without problems. PM me if you have any questions.

Edited by JBueno, 05 July 2010 - 07:13 PM.

[135ASelect]

I got out of IFS after 3 1/2 weeks. 1 week academics, and 2 1/2 in the airplane. It is definitely a good program, and I'm glad I got the experience there rather than going straight to UPT. I have no PPL, but I have flying time, and the biggest thing I had to work on was breaking bad habits, go into with a clear head, accept the fact that you know nothing and learn from your buds and the IPs, they were all top-notch as far as I'm concerned. I was not proficiency advanced, but they double turned me as often as they could! Great time there, I can't wait to get into something with 10 times the power of the DA-20 though.