General Discussion

It happened. Please keep your discussions unclassified.

Interesting demo. And it seems India will get at least 150 of them...

I've never been. If you have experience recently there, any advice on getting there? - TPA and MCO are the best bet for flying in commercial? I found a hotel about 4 miles from the airport. Better suggestions? Anything else of note?

Is the Super Hornet still capable against emerging threats from the Mig-35 and Flanker Series? It seems that the Super Hornet and Mig/Flankers have the same agility and same weapon, systems package. Their both heavy weight fighters. But the Super Hornet and Flanker is just a competitive match in a WVR/BVR fight. But the the SH seems to have the better systems, avionics and weapons. While they both are equally great in WVR, but the SH has far better nose authority (to point the nose where it wants to go). But the Flanker seems to be better at speed. But we'll determine if that fight really happens. Also is it still still capable/good in the Air Superiority role as its…

Secret Program Works to Field SEAL Plane In a move that harkens back to the days of recycled World War II torpedo bombers sheep-dipped as close air support planes, the Navy intends to field a limited number of turbo-prop attack planes outfitted with the most modern surveillance, tracking and weapons systems to help special ops forces keep track of bad guys and, in a pinch, put warheads on foreheads. Call it an AH-1 Skyraider on steroids – a “Back to the Future”-resurrection of a kind of plane last seen pounding enemy positions with rockets, guns and bombs over Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in the 1960s. Code named “Imminent Fury,” the classified, year-long p…

I need some help with supervision of a GS civilian. The background is that I am an Air Force O-4 at a Navy command. There is a civilian (GS-14) who has been in her position for about 8 years. It is known in the command that she is completely incompetent, but because she is a minority she is afforded specific privileges. Additionally, she has filed a EO complaint and has 'whisteblower' status which has made it significantly more difficult to give her honest feedback because it could be seen as retributional. She currently works directly for an O-6 and has three employees (GS-10, E-6, E-5). There is some discussion about her PD (position description?) that dictates…

Interesting article. https://warontherocks.com/2016/11/offsetting-air-superiority-with-air-force-special-operations/ Not 100% on board but does beg the question (as a sidebar) whether or not we should develop / acquire new smaller SAM systems, good example being the Israeli SPYDER SAM system: or resurrect the SLAAMRAM?

Saw this on the news this morning...apparently the shortage is starting.... https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304851104579361320202756500?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304851104579361320202756500.html

This weekend in preparation for an upcoming PCS I was cleaning out an old hard-drive so I can get rid of the old computer its in. I ran across some very funny posts I saved from over at the old studentpilot.net (circa 2001) of a dude who was flaming me for the UPT journal I used to host at www.militarypilot.net Thought you guys might like to read 'em and get a laugh from them, too. Pretty cool, eh? Apparently I'm the laughing stock of the Strike Eagle community as well as just being a "pilot who flies fighters". Smokin'. Here's more: Coool....so I'm apparently a SNAP, too. Read on: Right again, dude. Ready for the punchline? The guy who wr…

I know there is a 15 page thread on overall AF seq. that has been discussed ad nauseam. Not talking about all of that. I'm just looking at SUPT ops and it's possible suspension. Below's diatribe is on the AETC web site as of friday (just read it today). I hadn't heard anything this specific. Concentrating on "suspending advanced and instructor training on 1 Apr." It sounds like they are referring to RTU and PIT. That would be huge. Anyone read it differently or has anyone heard/been briefed on this? Any unit plans in the making if this really happens? "2/8/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Cuts to flying and technical training, Professional Mi…

Hello, My name is Kevin Waddle. I am a retired USAF Chief Master Sergeant, aircraft maintenance, working on my Master's degree in aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. As part of my graduate capstone project, I am researching generational and aviation experience related differences in attitudes toward automation in aviation: specifically, as they relate to future unmanned commercial aviation. No personally identifiable information is collected in this survey, only demographic and opinion information. To complete this research I need your assistance in completing a survey. The survey is located at https://waddleweb.com/lime/index.php/462867/l…

Hello, I am working on my graduate capstone project for Embry-Riddle and would appreciate any aircrew, especially commercial pilots to take my 10 minute survey. The purpose of my project is to analyze the use of tablets in aviation, specifically their use in the cockpit. Please feel free to email me with any questions or comments at wardt4@my.erau.edu Survey link: https://www.surveymo...blet_survey2012 Thank you. 1.) Name of Primary Investigator: Thomas Ward 2.) Email contact for Primary Investigator: wardt4@my.erau.edu 3.) Institution or Organization sponsoring the survey: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 4.) Scope of Research: This project is s…

Does the air force issue a survival knife to pilots? If so, what knife do they issue them? If not, is there a universal knife they use, or something? Thanks.

I was supposed to start Pensacola (water survival)on Monday 4 Oct. Found out last week that it was canceled and found out today it won't reopen till Dec. I'm working on a waiver to continue flying with my unit. Is this stopping anyone else from flying and if so how are you going to get around it? [ 30. September 2004, 14:46: Message edited by: Shadow05 ]

SWA jet landing in Austin took a human to the engine cowling as they landed. Pilot apparently “maneuvered” to miss? https://www.cbsnews.com/news/southwest-airlines-jet-plane-hits-kills-person-austin-airport/#app

Oshkosh sweeper was added to the Duluth Airport Authority's inventory of snow removal equipment this year. Shedding bristles from the sweeper did some damage at the 148th. https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/3672002-bristles-force-guard-ground-12-f-16s

https://www.airforcet...ry-construction Sheesh if only they knew about a little gem sitting at "an undisclosed location in southwest asia..." Oh and feel free to chime in with your infinite wisdom P.F. Chang...

Hey everyone. I’ve looked everywhere online and done multiple searches on this forum to find the answer to this question but haven’t been able to find anything concrete. Do pilots commonly switch aircraft within their types (cargo, tankers, afsoc aircraft, fighters) or do they stay on the same airframe for their entire career? For example, do C17 pilots commonly switch to the C5 or C130 in their career or do they stay with the C17? Thanks in advance!

I was just wondering if it's possible to switch from an ANG unit to an AFRES unit or vise versa? If so, can it only happen after the 10 year commitment? Is it possible to switch to a unit with a different airframe? Also, what are the chances of a ANG/AFRES person going back and flying part time at an UPT base? I'm just looking to get a more thorough idea of how things work. Thanks!

so I get that it's almost impossible to go fromheavy to fighter; but what about heavy to bomber?

From the Beeb:

Link: https://news.yahoo.co...-084104472.html Hrmph... Kinda reminds me of the Mig pilot who defected from N Korea... actually became a professor at ERAU in Daytona Beach. Ballsy move.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/us-shoots-down-syrian-bomber-for-attacking-anti-assad-force/article/2626344 https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/06/18/us-navy-fa18e-shoots-down-su22-over-syria.html

Do the T-1's have TCAS/GCAS installed?

I was talking to a cadet today and he insisted that both the T-1 and T-38 are multi-engine centerline thrust. Is this true? I have always thought that the Tweet was the only centerline thrust trainer.