General Discussion

https://www.micom.net/oops/ /heads back over to the other side

I recently filled out the TSP form and decided to put all 10% of my pay in the C-fund. My reasoning for doing this is that I was shown how the different funds did in the past 10 years. The C-fund led at just about 12%. Is this a good idea to put all my eggs in one basket so to speak, or should I diversify my pay into all the funds? (I am a brand new 2nd Lt, planning to be in for 12 years.) Thanks

Anybody got the LASI program this year or in years past? Chime in if you did. Thanks...

Anyone want to share stories of military posers they’ve run across? I’ve got some junk cars on my property that I’m cleaning out, so I called the local scrap yard, and they sent out a wrecker. The driver seemed like a nice enough guy, so I got to talking to him. According to him: He is in the Army Reserve, and is Spec Ops out of Fort Bragg. He had just got back from South Africa, hunting terrorists. He has 34 years in the military, and is a Major. He went so far as to show me a set of DCU’s he had in the front seat of his wrecker, complete with Special Forces and Ranger tabs. OK, maybe none of that is impossible, but dude, you’re a Major, a Special Opera…

Have you ever thought of a situation where an attack helo faces a high performance jet fighter? Today I was discussing this with another armt dawg, which we made up a scenario where a single Longbow was confronted by a Viper... I defended the idea that I would be more maneuvrable and can hide, however I would not have any weapons to hit the jet unless I am really lucky... What do you think?

Did the search but drew a null. Here's the deal. Boy is starting IFR and CFI has recommended Microsoft’s Flight Simulator 2OO4 to get him up to speed on procedure... says it will save him flight time, i.e. $$$, in the long run. Here's the question: Does anyone have experience - good, bad or ugly - with the yoke and rudder pedals made by CH Products? (see https://www.chproducts.com/retail_flash/index.html) Before the fool goes out and poaches a neighbor’s heifer to pay for the outfit, I want to know if the hardware is worth the effort.

as an airlift pilot, i was under the impression that "pacer-craig" of the kc135 variety was actually an acronym for something. i was just reading a regulation that had "pacer-craig" spelled out, which i thought was wrong. can a tanker pilot please enlighten me? thanks ps - what percentage of AD 135s have this mod? pps - did you [tanker pilots] know that we [c17 pilots] don't need to know your squawk? i can't speak for c5s, but i chuckle when tanker pilots pass us their squawk. [ 26. May 2005, 12:59: Message edited by: spar91 ]

If a special request falls through, meaning it wasn't in the drop, should one request the aircraft/assignment by other means, i.e. hardship? How long would the process take? The hardship would be for my wife's medical issues and we want to be close to family for assistance. I don't want to create waves in the system, but at the same time, I don't wan't to be called home from a future deployment because this all could've been avoided if I filed for hardship out of UPT. Any advice would be appreciated... PP

My husband's UPT class is graduating in August and we're looking for a good speaker for the ceremony. I know they provide a list of "reserve" speakers, but we'd like to find a really inspirational person to be the keynote for the event. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks! V.

I just got done with PIT. Can I take a copy of my initial instructor qual form 8 in the T-38 and have the FAA add an instructor rating to my FAA license or do I need to have a check ride in order to do that? Thanks!

I just recieved a pilot slot through OTS. I turned 26 in march and figure I won't go to OTS till about that time next year, meaning I'll graduate UPT at 28. So am I going to feel like old man river in my class? Are most students right out of college and about 23 or so?

Just was curious if all aircrews carry a 9mm when in the theater. Is it tailored to certain aircraft like c130, 17's or fighters who are too carry?

My squadron CC had his class picture at PIT in front of the new grey and black schemed plane. The final shade of grey will be similar to the light grey on the T-38's and it will have black on top of the cowling (like it does now) and on the leading edges of the wings. It looks pretty cool. He said AETC is still deciding the final shade but it should be approved and on the T-6's in the next year.

If you were a new Lt. on casual somewhere, would you be able to do a job on the weekend outside of the AF such as bartending? It seems that you would have the time and I wouldn't see why you couldnt. Just curious.

Anybody headed to Brooks on 5 June???

This past weekend I got a chance to go to Eglin AFB on a base visit for ROTC. We toured one of the facilities which I believe was a training center for Eagle crew chiefs. Inside of this building was a mock cockpit of an F-15 and one of the NCOs started explaining some of the features. She told us how one feature exclusive to Eagles was "Anti-Skid," which apparently is a switch in the cockpit that a pilot can operatate, and when activated, he/she can fly in totally coordinated flight without using the rudders (on-board computers operate the rudders automatically.) Can any pilots on this board explain this feature in greater detail? What phases of flight is it used in…

I am about to enter active duty and go to pilot training. I've talked with a lot of people that served in the AF and it seems as though most people rent homes or they purchase a home and sell it when they get transferred a few years later. If possible, I would like to purchase homes wherever I'm stationed and then rent them when I get transferred and have a property management company take care of it. This way when I get out of the AF I will have built up equity in these home and I would then transfer that equity to the home I would move into. Does anyone know of people that do this successfully while in the AF active duty? Is it possible to successfully own …

Well here we go again; Kentucky Derby is upon us. Tomorrow is the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby, the first and most coveted race of the Triple Crown. This year boasts a newly renovated Churchill Downs and absolutely beautiful weather. The combination has brought more corporate jets to Louisville International than I've ever seen in my life! Be that as it may, we can't let the CEO's and top execs of corporate America have all the fun! Enter the USAF and USN! I walked over and spoke with two of the Lieutenants from Vance. I thought they were just passing through...nope! They're here for the ponies! They flew in today and don't leave …

Okay...i apologize if someone is about to bust out the search function search function search function remark, but i did try and was unsuccessful. This question is one that i have never gotten an answer on because no one seems to know both sides of the story. I thought this would be good place to throw it out. What are the differences between life and lifestyle in a civilian aviation career and a military aviation career. Major points i am looking for include FINANCIAL (primary), family life, professional opportunities near the end of careers, and any other major pros and cons. In other words, if i were to ask you to tell me why i should spend the rest of my life in …

I doubt that it is possible, but can you take personal photos while flying combat missions? I've read that it's ok to take a digital camera while flying other types of sorties, but I'm curios about combat. Can anyone shed some light on when and when not you can take photos while flying.

Hey ya'll, I am going to be studying in Vienna for a month this summer and then traveling for a week with some guys around Europe. We will be heading to Amsterdam for a couple days which brings me to the question, is there anything that I need to watch out for that could hurt my eligibility for UPT? Obviously I don't plan on smoking pot there, but is there anything else I need to look out for (is absinth a problem, I don't know much about it)? Also, any tips or must see things while I am there? Thanks ya'll

Anyone have any experience with having a drum set on base? I'm assuming I'm going to have to live in a house off base if I want to bring my drums with me. Any thoughts? (BTW-selling them is not an option)

I just finished reading Charlie Wilson's War, about the Texas Congressman and his efforts to support the Muj during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (it's a great book if you are interested in the subject), and it got me to thinking that we could get a thread going on some recommended books. I know we've touched on this before, I just want to revive the topic. I just got my paperback copy of Tommy Frank's American Soldier and can't wait to start that, but I am also trying to finish Tom Clancy's Shadow Warriors--Inside the Special Forces (great insight into the development of US SF during VietNam, many of the lessons learned there parallel today's challenges in…

Lost my pilot slot in ROTC on a eye technicality, going to Minot as a contracting officer. Anybody know anything about the base such as what the VOQ are like, living off base and what that is like, typical rent, wx info etc etc? Any input from those in the know would be great, thanks.

Just kinda wondering, if they ever get the J off the ground, and regular joe-schmo slick guys switch to the J, what would the service commitment be? Would there be one since it would be going from C-130 to C-130? Any guesses out there? Just asking