General Discussion

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…

Beautifully done by the gents! IMG_9166 2.MOV

https://www.dodbuzz.com/2017/09/07/air-force-taps-l-3-develop-future-ec-x-compass-call-gulfstream-550/

Reportedly a ground launched R-27. Gets real interesting at 1:34.

Hi all, I am trying to see if anyone of the 200 people who were at the IRR Muster at (Robins AFB) on August 4th has been paid yet. I spent an hour yesterday talking to ARPC and the Robins AFB pay office and nobody has any idea what I am talking about. I figured there were likely many others who were not receiving pay. If so PM me. Dfas

Am I just suffering from being up at 0430 and without caffeine, or has no one posted about this yet? Glad he got out!

Hoping someone knows some history of the USAF PJ community and might be able to help shed some light. I met someone at a party who says he was an officer PJ, essentially, back in the late 80s and early 90s. The time/location/atmosphere of the discussion didn't really allow me to pin down much in the way of specifics; he said he had been a USAF doc attached to JSOC at Ft Bragg, and had done the same training that the PJs did in terms of Airborne school and some Navy diving school, but he was quite clear in saying, "I wasn't actually a PJ, though." He described being part of a couple of SOF-type adventures abroad, pretty entertaining but seemingly humble storyteller.…

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/02/01/c-5-conducts-nose-gear-up-emergency-landing-at-travis/?fbclid=IwAR3iVEW3tjhcENGdyijKWWSyz6vYdSLQLGQGS_Bot16BHmY-yrAD5_pKE7o came early this year!

We lost a legend in the aviation community on Sunday. I believe Captain Al Haynes was the last surviving member of the flight crew that was aboard United 232 on 19 July 1989. Check Airman Denny Fitch passed away in May 2012. Godspeed, Captain Haynes. https://siouxcityjournal.com/multimedia/photos-look-backs-at-flight-through-the-years/collection_b0edddae-5428-5eff-b3a9-e747a548ecc3.html#17 https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/three-decades-after-flight-spencer-bailey----the/article_3208f16f-f01e-5ab6-9969-5a872a10c4c8.html https://whotv.com/2019/08/26/hero-captain-of-united-airlines-flight-232-dies/

Not a very exciting thread I'm sure! What do folks get their family members when they retire? Everyone does flowers at the ceremony and I'm guessing it is like a funeral at the house with many sets of flowers for all the woman-folk... I know it is not typically a time to celebrate them, but I'd like to make this as much of a day for at least my immediate family as I feel they have put up with a lot of sacrifices along the way. Thoughts? Obviously jewelry, but is there something that is a bit unique? Anything besides jewelry? Kids are nearing or in teenage years. Thanks!

Hard to believe, but thirty years ago at about this time, I was just finishing up my fuel balance after refueling on the way to Panama.

Since we're all waiting on clarification about what's going on with the VLPAD program, does anyone here have any recent experience or info on simply going active from the Guard or Reserve? There's a bit of info on MyPers but not much more than simply how to apply.

MARSRADIO, ex-phone patch net, provides Official / Morale phone patches, radio checks and METAR / TAF information for DoD units. Operators of the net are volunteer. For those that may be flying tomorrow, 24 February (1500z - 1800z), I'm asking you to considering calling in on our net and wish Ray AFZ5RS a happy 99th birthday. Ray has dedicated his life to the military in one form or the other. He was a pilot in World War II and has been an active member of the MARS phone patch net since before the Vietnam War. We would like to left him know he is appreciated for his service. Here is a flyer about the "operation". If possible, post in your operations are…

Interesting concept. I’ve always wanted to catapult from a carrier deck, not sure how I’d feel from taking off out of a 747... https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a33957030/boeing-747-airborne-aircraft-carrier-proposal/?utm_campaign=socialflowFBPOP&utm_medium=social-media&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0JAUqKOZ_7UgAQj0mjp_iSCbf70Re8iZ4_JqP21q7NmRMvfHKCjpueUbA&fbclid=IwAR2Ys9GY-U-Ho2BaDQ6qHawT1oxWFz7iLEBFrCQmlAdklUsdbrVgJIg-ckU&fbclid=IwAR0jq1HJrYozKzaQbxiSCHNYPSCVfx-GVnPInTrq_OxN7gyQ4OjHHU76s8k

Navs be like... This will be an interesting discussion...good luck to all those young bomber WSOs out there https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/10/20/air-force-plans-retrain-weapons-system-officers-be-b-21-bomber-pilots.html?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EBB 10.21.20&utm_term=Editorial - Early Bird Brief As the U.S. Air Force prepares to bring the next-generation stealth bomber into its inventory over the next two decades, it plans to slash the number of weapons system officers by as much as half to make room for more pilots, according to a top general. Though the service has not announced exactl…

United States-Trained Afghan Fighter Pilot Is in Hiding After Being Denied Safe Passage

I'm just curious... When I went to UPT, we did a winging ceremony on Friday in the base theater with family, and a mess dress dinner at the Club. It was a large time. I've heard that has changed quite a bit. What is being done now for UPT graduation? And how did it look 2 years ago before the Wu-Flu changed things? (I asked this elsewhere but no reply.)

Glad the pilot got out safe… https://coffeeordie.com/arizona-red-air-crash/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fox10phoenix.com/news/fighter-aircraft-crashes-while-on-routine-mission-near-luke-air-force-base-officials-say.amp

Got a weird one. I applied for a ADSC waiver (personal hardship) for retirement. The request was denied, however, due to manning (11M), the request was changed to “best interest of the AF” and the waiver was approved for 9 months off ADSC. My question, if it’s Best interest of the AF, does that still qualify me to keep the final bonus payment? TIA

Sad news for the air show circuit. Prayers for all involved. Shockwave Accident

Surprised it wasn't posted yet, but happy 50th to the Eagle bubbas here. An amazing combat aircraft and a brilliant piece of American technology.

Littlerockcrashpads.com has been in business since early 2016, and is the second oldest and the longest running crashpad operator in the Little Rock Air Force Base area. We were the first to offer support to military members and their families who are TDY to the C-130 school house. If you get orders to Little Rock AFB and want to bring your family with you, consider sending us a message on our web page at www.littlerockcrashpads.com and ask us if we have availability. See you soon! CP

This is what happens when your government becomes rotten at the core. Your military services lose faith. Today, another 10,000 Israeli reservists announced they'll join the hundreds of Air Force pilots and quit. We had better start paying more attention to domestic issues in the US. “We’ve got to fight for a country that our children will want to live in,” they said, opposing “a leadership with unbridled power and an extreme agenda.” Many reservists have been warning in recent months they will not be able to serve in an undemocratic Israel, which some charge the country will become if the government’s overhaul plans are realized. “Legislati…

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Central Coast AirFest in Santa Maria CA is this weekend, 21-22 Sept. It's right by Vandenburg SFB, and the best warbird airshow in the nation. Two of the only 5 De Havilland Mosquitos will be flying in formation... the first time that has happened since 1987. The F7F Tigercat just cancelled but the flying lineup includes: P-38, F8F, SBD Dauntless, TBM Avenger, P-40, lots of Mustangs, B-25, MiG-15, Yak-3, P-63, Sea Fury, the only P-47 Razorback that files... Also, F-18 Demo Team. And the A-10 Demo Team in their 3rd to last airshow before the team is disbanded (thanks a lot, Frank Kendall). https://www.centralcoastairfest.com/