Kaman

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/08/29/officials-plan-identify-mass-pilot-killed-virginia-crash/YFSPmqBdd0r9WinLk7XkSJ/story.html

All I can say...Is that I am very sad about this...A bit of a connection with Mass and the F-15s at Otis that moved to Barnes...My sister was good friends with one of the last 101st FS CCs

http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/plane-reportedly-crashes-in-augusta-county/27752976 I am stunned..Grew-up next to Otis and the pilot had been a pilot with the 102nd before the BRAC moved them to the 104th and Barnes ANGB...I live about 50 miles away, and found it so frustrating that I couldn't go out and look for him...God bless his family and squadron mates... "Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence. Hovering there I've chased the shouting wind along and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air "Up, up the long delirious burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace, where never lark, or even eagle, flew; and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of God

The report is in the public domain if you do a search for it. Some of it is redacted, but it paints a picture that really is embarrassing to the reputation of the military and the Navy in particular. Very sad. And, it does reinforce the point in my mind that people serving in the military are not "super-human". Perhaps the public wants to see us that way, and that we are above the vulnerabilities inherent in the human condition. Military people are held to a higher standard by society and our leaders. However, it seems that press takes great interest in the negative vs. the positive things that people in the military every day.

Disproportionate number of personnel not engaged or trained as war-fighters.

Heroes in most cases are unsung, unnamed and known only to God...I served, but was no hero. I just did what I was trained to do. Duty is really the more appropriate characterization for the average "Joe" like myself. Contractors? They can quit and go home anytime, and they have no obligation fulfill a duty.

The problem is the Air Force has moved into a fiscally and politically environment with the same dogma that has always plagued it..."Bigger, Faster, Higher, Technologically superior, Next-generation, etc...When you put yourself in the position where you have a massive amount of spending and infrastructure to support 21 airplanes like the B-2 for example...You have a serious problem moving forward...This goes for the F-22, F-35 too...These airplanes are amazing, but we need to have an Air Force that NEEDS airframes, not a small fleet of expensive "silver bullets"...Just an observation from the lower deck...

Fair winds and Blue skies...R.I.P.

Well, I fly a 25-year old turboprop in the Northeast in crap weather, congested airspace in a jacked up industry...So what? There is a BIG difference between GA and military flying...Whether you want admit it or not...So, get your ego under control, and lighten up a bit, demonstrate that you have a sense of humor. I was just teasing you guys...US military pilots, are the best in the world at what they do...No question.

You guys are funny...

I have to respectfully disagree to the statement about the experience of civilian CFIs...Flying 7-engine approaches in a BUFF doesn't transfer very well to either flying or teaching in a Seminole...

Too many good people lost over the history of the USAF to ever trivialize the service of today's Airmen.

What's an E-6B?

In the Navy we would take microwave popcorn and shake some Tabasco in and shake it up...good stuff, but not nearly as good as this jalapeño stuff you guys are talking about! Gotta try and make that!

You can do much better than Dynamic Aviation, especially if you are a former military or Guard/Reserve pilot...