General Discussion

With the chance of sounding like a complete moron: What do the numbers mean after the Pilot/Nav training classes? (i.e. Class 0553) I know they signify what class you are in but do they actually have any meaning?

I'll be starting in the T-1 in a couple of weeks and I've noticed that most everyone has some sort of Nav bag they carry with them. I've been looking at the Jeppesen Navigator bag as an option. I just want to see what you guys have used (or seen used) and what works the best. The bags are pretty expensive and I don't want to end up buying something that sucks. Thanks

I searched I'm going to be in the Lackland/Lackland area for a couple nights this weekend and next week. What are some good ideas of things to do at night? I'm not 21 so sweet bars aren't an option. Unique restaurants or anything? All appreciated

I know the F-16 does and most heavies I have flown on.....but what other fighters have air conditioning. Does the herky bird have it? How bout the hog?

so i searched this and didn't come up with anything so i'd go for a new topic. just got word on my next assignment, heading back across the pond to whiteman. how is it there? i'll miss living in cambridge but i hear kc is a good time and nearby possibly enough to live there. can anybody give me a rundown on the base/local area?

Who has the most ridiculous storie of mx dudes trying to sell that their jet is good to fly when it obviously isn't?

I was just checking out the T-6 cockpit diagram on the gouge website. I just can't figure out a couple of things about it. First, is the speed brake lever just below the PCL lever? 2nd, what is the purpose of the lever on the rear right side just behind the avionics and light circuit breakers? And third, what is the purpose of the dispaly containing three pictires of the airplane located on the light switch panel? Trim? I know that they are going to tell me all of this at UPT but I have a picture of the cockpit here at my desk that I stare at all day and I just can't figure out what these things do. [ 10. March 2006, 13:40: Message edited by: F152 P…

This might even make the Hawg guys jealous! Work safe...I think. https://www.crunkedmedia.com/items/Low-Altitude-Flying-2 My apologiesif its been posted before.

Hi Everyone, I'll commission from AFROTC with a B.A. in Philosophy, but would really like to earn a B.S. in Physics or Engineering after UPT sometime so that I could possibly apply for TPS. Would this be feasible to do in the said amount of time? I know that you can take courses online, but those seem to mostly be for non-technical majors like history, management, etc. Plus, I'd imagine that getting a Physics degree would be pretty challenging for a pilot that has 10-14 hour work days as it is. Thanks for any input or advice. [ 05. March 2006, 23:26: Message edited by: FlyAF ]

Since there are a lot of flyers on this board, and a lot of good stories out there that need to be told, anyone have any good stories of being recognized in public/community? Also, any good stories on when you were the most proud of yourself for being a military pilot? I'm just wondering how it is being a military pilot in the public/community view and what it's like behind closed doors with yourself and family. I’d like to hear some of the joys and satisfaction of being a pilot outside of the cockpit.

Based off something that happened yesterday, I thought I'd open it up for the best 'Wedge' story. For those who don't know, the wedge theory basically says that if you screw up and get in trouble for it, eventually somebody will come along and wedge you out of the spotlight with something equally as dumb or dumber. I'll start with yesterday's occurence. We flew four student lines cross country yesterday and an instructor crew in a jet that was to follow them around and act as a spare at the out base since we weren't taking maintainers. The spare's one and only job was to take off, fly the jet straight to the out base, and get it on the ground Code 1. They decide th…

Does anyone here know what's involved in the MEO complaint process? I'm thinking of filing one against a senior O, and I'm curious as to how it works and also if it's worth the possible risks to my career. Thanks for the answers, PMs on this subject are welcome

Does anyone know if you have to be a strike/fighter EWO to do a prowler tour? Can you get it if you are an EWO on say an EC-130 or anything else that comes out of randolph?

This has been troubling me for some time now looking back on this board for almost two years now. What happens if you do not like beer and want to fly for the AF? I know, sounds like blasphemy but is this something I'll just have to suck up? I'm trying to picture ordering a Bacardi when everyone is drinking draft.

After doing some searches, looks like AD fighter pilots rack around 300 hours a year (typically)? Any comments from the experts? From what I understand, a guard bum could rack around 100 hours during a year of typical guard weekend duty? I basically want to fly as much as I can, and was led to believe a guard fighter bum could bum his way up to around 500 hrs a year if he hung around the squadron all day?...or is that just being active duty guard? Just trying to decide if I should keep interviewing with guard units or go AD AF. I originally was going active before having trouble with a bunch of stupid recruiters. I posted earlier today and I'll say it again, I appre…

I don't have any and apparently I need them here. Where can I get them with the least amount of hassle? Can you just order them online someplace? Or is there some hidden shop on most bases that will make/issue them to you?

Is it possible to fly Hueys for as long as you want? Or do you have to transfer over to the 60 and 53? [ 22. February 2006, 21:41: Message edited by: scoobs ]

what is the deal with red/green pills. do they still issue those, and to whom.

I'm going to try something today...I'm going to work with my sleeves rolled up Navy-style and my leg zippers half-unzipped. Being in AETC, I give it 2 hours before some shoe clerk weenie says something to me about it. I'll let you all know how it goes. I'm such a rebel.

Anything going on at Sheppard tonight? How's the O'Club these days? Can I expect to see any crud being played? I'm x-country this weekend, planning to RON at SPS tonight, COS on Saturday, and IKR on Sunday.

Anyone on here been to Northwest Arkansas Regional? I'm thinking it would be a Vance-type person or perhaps from Little Rock. The reason I ask....I'm trying to go there on an out-n-back (my bro goes to school there) but as far as I can tell they don't have a UHF freq for their tower. Yes, some of us still fly a/c that only have a single, UHF radio. Can anyone confirm/deny this? The reason I think it might be a Vance person is b/c they have a volume-training letter of agreement with Vance....so maybe its just for T-1s?

Looks like the Navy is going to get some attention like the Air Force did a few years ago. These things are never good for anyone involved. https://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2339317

Dropping the Boystown reset yesterday reminded me that we used to have a SID out of Laughlin called the Boystown Three. I always wondered how they got away with it for so long. I am checking the NIMA site right now, but I don't see the SID anymore (and the site is painfully slow). I did however find the ILS RWY 36 at Hurlburt Fld which still has Sammy has the IAF. For those not familiar, Sammy’s is the local strip club three miles east of the base (So being sent to Sammy and hold is not necessarily a bad deal). Anyone have any other examples? [ 22. February 2006, 12:05: Message edited by: ClearedHot ]

I've heard from most of the dudes that have went that its a worth-while course. Any inputs? And, yes, I know saying CATS school is like saying TOLD data, or ATM machine.

From af.mil: EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- A distinguished career came to a close here Feb. 10. After flying senior military leaders and undergoing rigorous testing for more than 31 years, the Speckled Trout tail number 61-2669 officially retired. "Speckled Trout was the primary transport aircraft for every Air Force chief of staff since General David C. Jones (July 1974 to June 1978)," said Gen. Bruce Carlson, Air Force Materiel Command commander. "Not only has it transported distinguished people ... there are countless examples of technological advantages that our warfighters have reaped as benefits from the work that has been done on this great airpl…