Clark Griswold

Probably so as to requirements Requirements and resources are always doing a tango and I’m assuming they are looking for used aircraft but with high mounted engines and it being triple engined, I wonder with a brakes upgrade and some other tweaks (interior mods for weight savings) if you could get better TOLD

I googled Yeager and F-20 with some other key words for sales, nothing came up, but shit happens in sales meetings. Here’s a short write up on Vasu Raja at AA who screwed up buying A350s dirt cheap, could’ve immediately sold them to another airline at market rates and made bank for a quick paper transaction but shit happens View from the WingThe Inside Story: How American Airlines Killed Airbus A35...Usually complex large supplier relationships are handled diplomatically. Not so with Vasu Raja.This would have been awesome but wrong guy in the wrong position at the wrong time

Always thought that was a missed opportunity like the F-20 Modernized A-7 model built by a hobbyist, probably pretty close to what an updated F/A-7 would be https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=9313.0

Really? Seems like a different platform for a different set of requirements. Surprised they are not looking at a CASA 235 or other like aircraft unless they want a lotta range for PACOM.

Just posting to show the speeds these are achieving Father n son team built drone reaching 400+ mph https://www.businessinsider.com/drone-warfare-interceptor-guinness-world-record-bells-fastest-quadcopter-ukraine-2026-1

Yup or builds one or many with a camera, small image recognition system and goes into the engines on final just after the FAF. Other than massive land setbacks to geographically isolate the airport plus several layers of different anti drone systems, how else could you defend against this?

Found this on FB speaking of Crusader, an AI produced F-8 with side intakes Guns / Sidewinders in the wrong spots

First flights scheduled later this year, if it demonstrates consistent vertical takeoff and landing, it’s a big deal. Awww c’mon, I see a bit of F-8 with the chin intake

Only one anecdote, on arrival into DFW maybe a year ago, aircraft ahead of us reported one at about 7000’ MSL and about a mile off his right wing, we both continued arrival to RWY36L, uneventfully. Never saw it. Funny you mention this, I’ve wondered when some idiot, maniac, terrorist, saboteur, etc… was going to fly one into an airliner, or a train, bus, ferry, etc…

Too old (T38) Gotta move on, just for all the decision makers lurking here, hedge, get an interim / second advanced trainer

As to 6 gen probably not, 5+ gen ala the Ferrari F-35 proposal from LM is probably more than enough https://www.twz.com/air/what-we-just-learned-a-more-advanced-ferrari-f-35-could-include

Long form articles on the T-7 woes https://breakingdefense.com/2026/06/t7-red-hawk-air-force-trainer-secret-struggles-investigation/ It’s done, there’s no chance of buying anything else at this point but whatever decision matrix they use for non-operational platforms must increase the weighing of technical / industrial risk in its calculation.

My guess is no.

Yes, I’d recruit CFIs, Army WO pilots, prior rated Es, cast a wide net but be discerning on which fish you throw in the cooler… It would be a reasonable commitment (less than a commissioned officer) but they would have the same aero rating, that’s the kicker. Now while they are instructing they wanna get a degree and at the end of their commitment apply for an ARC or AD billet, more power to them, if they wanna punch and separate, thank you for your service. There would be some commissioned IPs still flying T-6s, supervisors and such, but the bulk of the IP cadre would be WOs. This would solve some manpower issues for the AF and fix the inconsistency in instructional quality described in the UPT Next thread.

This is where I see WOs fitting into the Line well. WOs recruited from aviation programs and with a specific initial career track, along with others. Basic flight instruction handing off to commissioned officer instructor pilots. UPT split into three phases: Flight screening. Contract CFIs and mil check pilots, PPL with INSTM rating, military only program, contract IPs only fly mil students, focused and consistent instructions. Basic phase. USAF WO IPs instruction. T-6 syllabus then a 30 hour ME course in a T-54. Advanced phase. Commissioned IPs in the T-7, track after formation phase. Fighter/bomber on to the T-7 and IFF, Crew/heavy to a 737 type and sim course.