General Discussion

i know, picture doesn't really tell much (other than TR violation - guns inside 1000') ... still amuses me though. anybody know the details behind this pic? i've seen it floating around the net over the last week, if it's been posted here, i'll move along ...

Does anyone have any stories of buds they know being a single parent going through UPT? Please provide details on what the flight commander's thought, tactics they used to be approved for it, etc. I know that some may say it is going to be impossible, but I think it would be much harder if my wife leaves me and takes my daughter away from me. I hope this is not too personal...I am just desperate for information regarding this. Money is not an option and I would be willing to pay for the best of the best as far as a Nanny is concerned. If anyone can do this, it is me. I appreciate all of the advice I can get, I know it is bad timing expecially since I am supposed t…

Looks like the pilot is playing a DB Cooper....lol https://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/3754767.html

Ok so about four of us were in uniform at Jimmy Johns in Madison, WI, and as we were eating, some regular looking guy was at the counter, staring at us. Typically when they do this, you expect questions like "Do you know Jim Jimson, he's in the Air Force," or "what jets do you fly?" etc. Instead: Weird Dude: "Did you know your jets cause memory loss in children?" Us: "What?" Weird Dude: "Your low passes over the neighborhoods cause memory loss in children. My children look up at the jets and get a blank face for about 4 seconds (then proceeded to have a dumb blank look for four seconds to show us what he means)." I start laughing so hard I almost cry. …

I ran a search and didn't find quite what I was looking for. I'll be entering UPT soon, and while I know that it's not entirely up to me what I end up flying, I've been giving the various options a lot of thought. Unlike some, who are "definitely gonna go fighters", I have been looking for other options that might also provide an exciting and rewarding career. I keep being drawn back to the aircraft of the special ops community, mainly helos and the specops herc's. I'm getting married in a few months and am also concerned about keeping a happy and funcitonal family life. Is it true what they say about Special Ops pilots NEVER being home, or having to leave in t…

Anyone know the training time length at altus for C17s and KC135s?

Was anybody on the ground for the fly-bys tonight? I was wondering how it looked from a spectator's point of view.

I'm a recent pilot-select waiting on a class date. I know I have a while before I even set foot into a UPT classroom but I'd like to get ahead if possible. From what I have read on here, the biggest obstacle to UPT studs is formation flying (correct me if I'm wrong). I have access to a couple T-28s and have the opportunity to do some practice formation work. Do you guys think this will benefit me in the long run? Is there anything I should do that would alleviate some of the newness of UPT flying? I'm not asking for any info that shouldn't be disclosed, just some tips or pointers on a way I can familiarize myself with the AF way of flying. Thanks.

I don't ever use AF Portal, but I recently heard that there is a way to add HARM to your workspace. That way you can see all of your AFORMS stuff (ground/flying events/hours). Does anyone know if this is true or not? If so, how do you add it to your portal workspace? Thanks, Techsan

Hello, I'm interested in becoming a PJ and I'm curious about how they are regarded within the USAF. I've read quite a bit of interesting things in the forums about SP's, but can you guys tell me about your experiences working with PJ's and what you think of them. I know that they're pretty much considered aircrew in the Rescue Squadrons. I know this isn't really about flying but I'm curious to hear some opinions from aircrew and non aircrew members. I've been on the special tactics forums but I would kind of like to hear some outsider perspectives on their community. Thanks

Just curious... How many of you participated in sports (specifically college). I've been reading a couple biographies about pilots. What I’ve noticed is that most great pilots have participated in a college sport. More specifically, the fighter pilots that I have read about, all played a college sport. Do you think being involved with a college sport helped them get where they are? It was just an observation; wanted to see what you guys thought. I thought maybe the level of competition helped them develop a mindset of always being a winner and hating to lose.

All right... I'm searching for the rule which allows distribution/possession/consumption on USAF Contract Commercial Aircraft. Example, a unit is deploying to location X - flying American Airlines Flt XX from a military base. Can we open a flask/bottle in the back? Folks are telling me we can...I need proof.

Does anyone know what the requirements are for shipping personal firearms to AK? I'm on my first PCS and have a bolt action rifle I want to take with me. Am I supposed to have TMO move it, or do I keep it on me and just put it in check baggage on the plane? I also considered having some family FedEX it to me once I find a permanent residence. I have a TDY enroute so I don't know if that will make a difference or not. The main point is: I'm not driving and want to know what's the proper way to move my rifle. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Recently, I have been considering the option of joining the Air Force. I will be joining a ROTC and hope to service my country in a way that only the military can, put my life on the line. In my search for more information, I have come to believe that it is harder to leave the military than it is to get in. My question is this, if I graduate ROTC and pursue a pilot career, how many years will I be committing? The minimum 6 years of service? Does the military have its ways of trapping a pilot in active duty or do most people just continue because they love the life? Thanks, Augustine

The post about the B-1 mishap made me think about this paper I recently wrote. Maybe there's some things in here that other pilots will find valuable. Feel free to steal and plagarize as desired. Some Things I’ve Learned Till Now I’ve been fortunate to be able to fly the A-10 for a long time. I started out on active duty, then spent time in the Air National Guard, and now fly full-time for the Air Force Reserves. I’m not yet ancient, but I am old enough to have witnessed some major changes in the way we view the world and the way we fly airplanes in the fighter/attack community. Around long enough to see some devastating mishaps, I’ve lost squadron mates, c…

So I was on a xc the other day, and the direct route of my flight put me through an MOA. While enroute, I was notified by center that the MOA was active with two aircraft(turned out to be 2 B-1's). So I said copy that, we'll keep an eye out. For me to avoid this MOA it would have been about a 20-25 minute detour to the west or a 15 minute detour around a restricted area to the east, so I figure what the hell, these planes are the sh!t and I'm sure the pilots are profficient enough not to care about a littel POS 172 passing through(perfectly legal) So I decide to keep flying through with eyes open. We see the two B-1's from quite a distance and had them in sight for a…

I was recently updating an article I wrote on pointy nose weaponeering a few years back. I interviewed the RAF equivalent of a FWIC IWSO for the article, and he talked in some depth about teaching his studs to manually calculate fusing, impact angles, penetration depths, impact speed etc. Of course, theere are also computers that can do all this stuff, but I suppose that the RAF wants to make sure that its FWIC studs don't forget how to do it the old fashioned way. Anyway, it got me to thinking about some stuff I was told about the mission planning software used by USAF strike pilots and WSOs. I was told that you could input, say, a command bunker into the computer,…

I've been searching online for a week now on some of the new aviator glasses I saw a pilot down at tyndall wearing. THey were more sleek than the normal round lense aviators. Anyone know what I'm talking about and how to get some?

In several threads I've noticed pilots mentioning a "fear of flying" and "controlling the fear". Could you guys elaborate on what you mean by that? Is it fear of the ability to control the jet at it's limits, fear of the enemy, both? Just curious, thanks.

Okay...I know I am not the only one to gripe about this, but here it goes I am sick and tired of you FAIP tools and active duty IPs treating UPT students as inferiors throughout training! Not only am I an officer, but I have earned my right to be here just as you did...what gives? And its not only the IPs that do it, but also many of the enlisted people around the base. I have had countless two stripers completely blow off saluting me just because they don't see wings on my chest. Another example...the MPF "customer service" representatives have been overheard saying "why are you calling him sir? isnt he just a student?" Dont treat us as inferior, treat us as y…

I don't know if this question has been asked, but after looking at Riddler's pics, I realized how small the DA-20 actually is. I head to Pueblo at the end of July and my question is: any tall guys have problems fitting in the airplane? I'm 6' 4" and 205 pounds and was wondering if I will be able to fit in the cockpit! Anyone have info on this? WxMan

Good Afternoon, I'm currently at Pensacola in Nav/WSO training. I just finished API (both pilots and navs go through this together), and I have at least 3 weeks off before I start Primary Nav training. I was originally selected for OTS as a pilot but was DQed for PRK pre-op being out of limits so I was redesignated as a Nav. The AF just changed the reg so my PRK pre-op is now well within limits. I've thought on this for nearly a week now and I can't decide whether to pursue getting my original assignment of pilot back or not. I'm THRILLED at the chance to be a WSO. On the other hand, I've always wanted to be a pilot. I'm age-critical (prior-enlisted) so I don't …

I came across this site and it made for an interesting read. The video's were even better if you ever wondered what a strike over SEA was like... Those thud drivers were something else! Hope you all enjoy! https://www.burrusspta.org/105movies.html

So I'm sure theres some poem or song I'm missing, but what is the significance of "him him"? I'm a young grasshopper in need of enlightenment.

I'm flying the T-38C and looking to save myself a copy of my HUD tape, but since it records the video analog, it seems impossible to find a medium to play the video on, and transfer it to my computer. Any suggestions? And buying one of those $500 tape players is out of the equation. Thanks in advance.