General Discussion

As I am posting this, I’m watching this video by Peter Zaihan and only about twenty minutes or so into this video but there is a ton of information that I have not seen or read anywhere else. This should be shown at intel briefings for an insight into what it going to happen in the next few months with the conflict in Ukraine!

Any Viper dudes out there know where the Snake Dance originated and what the story behind it is? I heard it's from Korea, but wasn't sure...

Long read... But well worth it. "The most curious thing about our four defeats in Fourth Generation WarLebanon, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistanis the utter silence in the American officer corps. Defeat in Vietnam bred a generation of military reformers Today, the landscape is barren. Not a military voice is heard calling for thoughtful, substantive change. Just more money, please."

Bands have been a part of military tradition and history since...forever, unlike TIB who is just a bunch of singing, dancing fags. Well done, USAF band for this performance at the Air and Space Museum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIoSga7tZPg&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DgIoSga7tZPg&app=desktop

At my last unit, if we wanted to read a safety report, the safety shop printed them out with the caveat to personally hand them back later that day or the next day for accountability. I just in processed to a new unit and they flat out refused to even pull it up saying we had to have a "need to know" which is determined by Wing Safety to the squadrons, and then there will be a mass brief to the squadron. This strikes me as odd... I pulled up 91-204 and got this: This the new norm or an AETC FTU "perk" ?

The War clip 1 Clip 2 On sudays at 8pm on PBS there is a new documentary on WWII that looked very interesting. Thought I'd post a clip or two and give you guys a heads up!

Decade forecast from Stratfor, sounds plausible, world somewhat FUBAR somewhat functional. https://www.stratfor.com/forecast/decade-forecast-2015-2025 Here's the Jack Ryan part: It is unlikely that the Russian Federation will survive in its current form. Russia's failure to transform its energy revenue into a self-sustaining economy makes it vulnerable to price fluctuations. It has no defense against these market forces. Given the organization of the federation, with revenue flowing to Moscow before being distributed directly or via regional governments, the flow of resources will also vary dramatically. This will lead to a repeat of the Soviet Union's experi…

Dear Aviation & History Enthusiasts, My father - Flight Captain Erich Warsitz - is remembered as the first person to fly an aircraft under turbojet power, the Heinkel He 178, on August 27, 1939 and also the first to fly an aircraft under liquid-fueled rocket power, the Heinkel He 176, on June 20 the same year, setting two milestones in aviation history. Late in 1936 he was seconded by the RLM (Reich Air Ministry) to Wernher von Braun and Ernst Heinkel, because he had been recognized as one of the most experienced test-pilots of the time, and because he also had an extraordinary fund of technical knowledge. Little is known of this pioneer period because of the st…

Violence intensifies after the shooting of 40+ protestors, Yemeni Generals join revolutionary forces (along with deploying their soldiers/tanks in the capital), President Ali Abdullah Saleh fires his cabinet before they can resign. Looks like our Al Qaeda fighting ally in Yemen is on his way out - https://theweek.com/article/index/213378/a-military-coup-in-yemen Did a search, didn't see it posted anywhere else. Verbally berate me/delete if I'm wrong... Edit - Speeling

Well I found out that I will be on Casual at Maxwell AFB for 8 months before I head off to pilot training. Can anyone tell me what there is to do around Montgomery? I lived there while my dad was in the Navy, but for only 10 months and I was in the 1st grade at the time. Is it really as bad as everyone says it is? So far the top things to do on my list are: visit old elementary school and visit old house. Thanks in advance!!

It was time to put away the homemade wine as I was about to enter crew rest for what would be the most memorable flight of my career. This was the third mission of the war for us. A snippet from this book https://www.amazon.com/Ghostriders-1976-1995-William-Walter-ebook/dp/B09VQWY5RP/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid&sr&fbclid=IwAR1vELr1aoqfQjbqO5BywaXVt7DDWvGiBeBh9ZuJL-V4stML3whaaGOFpAY On the evening of January 21, mission planners began tasking AC-130s identically as they did for fighters as two AC-130s were assigned to 30x30 nautical mile “kill boxes.” On this night, weather was good and both crews were advised there would be a fighte…

...the Falklands War started! to the Brits! Cheers! M2

https://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/19/binladen.tape/index.html I love the truce offer at the end. Sounds real genuine, especially after threats of coming attacks. Steve

From what I've read, there is a 6-7 month wait for WSO/NFO-select's before they class up for API at P'Cola. Funny thing is, I've got a class start and graduation date on my orders. Any P'Cola LT's know if these dates mean anything or will I report to P'Cola and drop into A-pool like everybody else? Does it make a difference if you're an AF LT vs. a Navy ENS? And, yes, I would post this on airwarriors.com but their server is a piece and keeps timing out.

You guys may have seen this...

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

So here is the deal. I know most people are highly against ERAU when it comes to their aero sci degree and all of the airline hopefulls, but what would you tell someone who is considering riddle for the purposes of trying to be in one of the best ROTC detachments in hopes of a UPT slot, and wants to be around aviation 24/7? Would you still advise against it. From searching it seems that the majority feel that it is a good school if you arn't in the riddle bubble of garunteed airline pilot after grad. Also, some argue that it is the best ROTC det. due to the number of UPT slots (due to the amount of people seeking them there), but others say the size is what makes it hard…

https://medium.com/war-is-boring/the-air-force-wants-to-junk-half-of-its-best-jamming-planes-3f16d164cac1 Thoughts? I personally think it's a big mistake. Does anybody else in the CAF care? Does the Air Force really understand what EW can bring to the fight?

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

I had the honor to give a WWII fighter pilot his final send off today and hand the flag off to his family. if you are at your squadron bar tonight, throw up some shots for 1LT William Brown. Blue skies and strong tail winds https://obittree.com/obituary/us/indiana/knightstown/heritage-funeral-care/william-brown/3503869/

Breaking news not far from here... https://www.thundermustang.com (Not the plane that crashed) From Wikipedia...

Thunderbird crash in Co...He got out. Blue Angel Crash in Tenn...He did not get out.

Right after USAFA graduation... for the life support team.

Local news reports are stating that one of the Thunderbird F-16s flipped while taxiing due to wind gusts at KDAY. No injuries are being reported. A quick search yielded no photos or more information.

Just curious if anyone knew what it took to become a Thunderbird. Thanks for the info.