General Discussion

I can’t believe I have to post this, but let this serve as a reminder, do not even think about posting anything close to the line on this site. 1. Declaring your operational background, then using sites like FAS.ORG as a reference for classification is outright dumb and won’t be tolerated. 2. Sending me (someone you don’t know, who could be sitting in Beijing or Pyongyang for all you know), a PM declaring that you fly XXX and that you have a Top Secret Clearance is perhaps the most egregious lack of SA I have ever seen. YGBFSM!!! Bottomline, this is great site and none of us is perfect, but when it comes to no-shit OPSEC, don’t even think about posting on thi…

I know you guys are tired of hearing the "which aircraft are at which base" question so I figured I'd try to help out future pilots and pilot-selects. Black=Operational base Orange=Training base Blue=Operational & Training base F-15E - Seymour Johnson (NC), Mountain Home (ID), Lakenheath (UK); Active force inventory: 217 F-15C - Kadena (Japan), Lakenheath (UK); Active force inventory: ? F-16 - Luke (AZ), Spangdahlem (Germany), Aviano (Italy), Osan (Korea), Kunsan (Korea), Misawa (Japan), Hill (UT), Shaw (SC); Active force inventory: 444 A-10 - Davis Monthan (AZ), Spangdalhem (Germany), Osan (Korea), Moody (GA); Active force inventory: 144 F-22 - Tyndall (FL), Langl…

The War ZoneThunderbirds F-16C Fighting Falcon Crashes in CaliforniaThe jet's pilot safely ejected and was transported to an area hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

I should be leaving the Air Force soon if they process my paperwork right this time. I spent a lot of time stuck in places and airframes I didn't want to be in. It was UPT and AMC. I didn't end up there due to bad performance, it was mostly due to luck and timing. I had a really hard time watching people who failed courses, struggled in UPT, got in trouble, get the assignments I wanted due to missing VMLs, waivers needed for instructor duty, changing rules, or other factors. I feel like my youth was just... wasted and I have little to show for it. I don't have much pride in what I accomplished and I never was truly engaged or challenged. I am angry I spent 15 years of my …

The War ZoneC-17 Will Fly Until 80 Years Old Under New USAF Airlifter...The Air Force does not expect to have fully transitioned to its Next-Generation Airlift aircraft until 2075.Family of systems, new engines for C-17s, etc… lotta ideas in the article. Family of systems is a buzz phrase but probably the best COA. Crewed / Unmanned fleet

I don't think anyone will be surprised by this... Recent Data Shows Significant Spike In US Military Aircraft Accidents The number of major accidents involving military aircraft spiked in 2024, internal Pentagon figures show, and a series of high-profile aviation mishaps with deaths and the loss of aircraft in 2025 suggest the disturbing trend may be continuing. Across the military, the rate of severe accidents per 100,000 flight hours rose 55% in the 2024 budget year compared with four years earlier. The Marine Corps saw the highest increase, nearly tripling its rate over the same period. The statistics cover the full budget years 2020-2023 and then the first 10 months …

C-130.mp4

So in the GA thread a tangent got started and a new thread I think is better Background: Accelerated Copilot Enrichment (ACE) was a program for tanker & bomber copilots to fly and develop Total Flight Time to get guys who sat a lot of Alpha Alert to Aircraft Commander upgrade in a reasonable timeframe, it ended in 91 when Strategic Air Command (SAC) was inactivated. 94/95 when Gen Loh of ACC ended the program It made dollars and sense as the T-37s and 38s were cost effective trainers to develop the aviation skills and airmanship you wanted in your future Aircrew Commanders. The flying was different, no autopilot in a fairly nimble aerobatic aircraft, bu…

For those of you using an Insta360 X5 camera (or similar) in the cockpit, what are you using as a mount? I'm also interested if your mounting setup is good enough for aerobatics.

I am a weather geek and always wondered what it would be like to be a Hurricane Hunter. For those who followed Hurricane Melissa which is the third strongest hurricane on record (892MB and still intensifying at landfall), the NOAA and USAFR Hurricane Hunters had a constant presence as the storm built and hit Jamaica and Cuba. USAFR flies a fleet of 10 WC-130Js and NOAA operates two PC-3's. One of the P-3s (named Kermit), was flying a mission during the rapid intensification. As they departed the eye and flew into the eyewall they encountered what looks to me like extreme turbulence. Ultimately they elected to depart the storm because of the turbulence ..somethi…

US Navy helicopter and fighter jet crash in separate incidents in the South China Sea Blackhawk and Hornet down within 30 minutes. Possibly bad fuel...

OA-1K crash landing, luckily no injuries due in no part to the rugged airframe. https://www.twz.com/air/air-forces-crop-duster-converted-into-attack-plane-crash-lands-in-field

Bothe the War Zone and the Mover and Gronky show report an A-10 sporting two drone kills on its nose. The kills were allegedly performed by APKWS II 2.75” (70mm) laser guided rockets. If true this offers a much more cost effective alternative to shooting down drones.

If anyone was wondering why the U.S. Army plans to cut 6,500 aviation jobs from the active duty ranks over the next two years, here's your answer! UH-60 Black Hawk Cargo Drone With Clamshell Nose Breaks Cover The new U-Hawk can lug thousands of pounds of cargo internally that would never fit in a standard Black Hawk, and launch scores of its own drones and munitions. Sikorsky has unveiled a new, fully uncrewed version of the Black Hawk helicopter with a completely transformed front end that swaps out the cockpit for clamshell doors. Depending on how it is configured, what has been dubbed the U-Hawk can move thousands of pounds of outsized cargo intern…

I have been watching this development over the last few days with many European News outlets calling these drones over airports “attacks” since they are disrupting critical airspace. It’s hard to judge the size but they appear to be much larger than the typical quadcopter size of hobby drones! https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g96gvql99o.amp

Military helicopter crash investigation underway in Washington state | https://www.wisn.com/article/helicopter-crash-near-joint-base-lewis-mcchord/67946788

I didn't see any posts related to DIC.. but I'm currently paying a SBP which would net a surviving spouse 50% of my retired pay. I just read up on DIC which I'm not sure I even knew existed. From what I stand, DIC will pay $1653.06 to a surviving spouse if the cause of death was a service-connected condition. Previously they were offset, but now a spouse can receive both benefits in full...? I was going to get rid of SBP and use the $400 to put into other term life insurance something else and hope for DIC if it came to that. But it seems like if something (service-connected) were to happen to me my wife could get close to $4600/month with SDB and DIC? Is this corre…

Air Force to Field Autonomous Cessna Caravan Supposedly the system will eventually be airframe agnostic. Guess those side jobs flying Caravans for FEDEX to the Carribean days are numbered.

what's up y'all! I am in the process of getting my PPL and I absolutely love flying, and will be continuing after I finish college; however, I am stuck between the two options listed above in the title. Ive heard so many different stories of how having time before going to UPT is good because you have a good idea of how to do things, or how it can also be bad due to unlearning civilian flying habits. it seems to me like most of our guys at the 199th FS had time before going to UPT such as Skywest, HA pilot, CFI, charter airline, and I definitely think i'm gonna jump on that train. I understand that Uncle Sam would be paying for those ratings and it would be a waste …

Just saw a video on Facebook, Mass ANG F-15D had a backseater depart the jet on the ground via the ACES II. Heard it was a incentive or FAM flight. Not 100% sure on details. https://www.facebook.com/reel/4192170774392209/?app=fbl

This is incredible if it really happens this fast and if it’s really possible to do without doing a BRAC.

howzit going guys and gals, I have a question on the rushing process and was curious if anyone had some answers. how long is too long, and you've started to overstay your welcome? Being a DSG, I usually just head upstairs after drill and cruise with everyone, and they usually have roll call which, obviously, rushees aren't allowed in so we hang around outside until it's done. Anecdotally speaking, hanging around that late to just talk story with the pilots after is good faceTime and shows your eagerness for lack of better words. However, this drill, most of the rushees dipped out before the roll call and it was just me and a couple dudes waiting until lat…

The services always hold the cards and play them anyway they see fit.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMvkYxBymK1/?img_index=4&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/snowball-express Lt Dan is the Man!