General Discussion

Currently I'm in UPT approaching track select. Just looking for the correct path to fly the AC-130Us. My background includes flying over both lick-my-sack-a-stan's as a 135 nav flying low, dark, and unarmed. Just thought it might be a bit more fun being on the other end of the boom and making bad things go boom-boom. Anyone in the community that can point me in the right direction. At least toward AFSOC. Ultimately, I would like to fly the Reapers.

For those with a little time under their belts, does the Aviator Continuation Pay (Bonus) time include all your flying time, or only rated time? The verbage on the AFPC ACP website is that "Pilots with a minimum 9 Years of Pilot Aviation Service" are eligible for the bonus. I'm trying to figure out if they consider Aviation Service as the point when pilot training started (and I start receiving flight pay) or if it's 9 years of rated service -- from my UPT date. I've called finance, MPF, talked to my orderly room and gotten the run around AFPC - nobody seems to have a straight answer. Anybody here who has received the bonus have an answer?

Has anybody else had REALLY BAD service at Hickam recently?

I was looking around my room one day bord and I came upon a GA News paper so decided to read it. Found an interesting article in there. Reportedly an aircraft contacted some air traffic control facility and said he was passing through 60,000ft. 5 minutes later the SAME pilot was heard over california. Has anybody heard about this?? Dont know who would be tracking this guy, but a few other pilots heard it and it was an article from awhile ago. I tried doing a search and nothing comes up besides UFOs. Has anybody heard the same thing, and what do you think it would be? That would be sweet to go that fast! Maybe its complete BS that a few people want to make up- but…

Im cleaning out my folders after OTS and wondering what I should always keep a copy of? Some things Iv kept so far are: 1. Orders 2. All Medical records 3. SGLI 4. DD214 5. Security clearance paperwork If anyone has anything good to add to the list please do so as Im really wondering if I should keep some of this stuff like the old orders, travel voucher paperwork that has been paid, ect. Thanks

Hi all, Headed down to sheppard for UPT this summer. I've been trying to get an idea for my finances. I was wondering if some guys could help clarify a few questions. -What does it cost to live in the dorms or is it free? What about internet/cable/heat/water? -How much can i expect to take home per month if I'm single, not using the TSP, etc. I assume I get flight pay for UPT? How do taxes and life insurance costs play in? -How much per month do guys usually spend on food / fun? -Anyone have good investment tips for the rest of the money i'm not blowing on beer? also, I dont wanna sound like i'm looking forward to the money more than the flying (quite th…

At water survival, they put a lot of emphasis on parachute training for everybody, but does everybody get parachutes? Obviously the ejection seat folks have that option, but what (if any) heavies do? Herks? And in that, what kind of training do they give us for that kind of egress? "Try to put it in a slight climb, and then run like hell..."

When is the last squadron suppose to have tranfered over to the T-6?It seems that helos guys have a great chance of some jet time.But that will go away with the Texans.

Anyone in the know on what the difference is between these in terms of aircraft operation? Do panel navs deal directly with the flight of the aircraft while a EWO only deals with jammers and countermeasures and such? Or is it more fluid?

Well, Amazon has the American Fighter Pilot slated to be realeased for March 22. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00...0006671-6910331

Anyone have any plans or schematics on how to assemble a kegerator from a normal fridge or a mini-fridge. Just got a house on base and I need a project for the garage!!! [ 02. March 2005, 17:11: Message edited by: AlphaMikeFoxtrot ]

I have had it suggested to me that since I will be late to rate (got 5.5 years in currently...closer to 6 when I START UPT), I will have to work twice as hard as my peers when I get to my primary MDS if I hope to get past Maj (or even to Maj?). I'm really not worried about making GO, I just want to fly and keep flying as long as possible...0-5 SQ CC would be nice too, but that's about it. I know I'll probably be way behind in my primary weapon system (whatever that ends up being), but on the plus side I've got 5+ years of experience leading units ranging in size from 50-250 enlisted troops fairly successfully as a maintenance guy(some good E-7s and E-8s helped a lot wit…

I heard that instructors can use the planes to fly wherever they want on the weekends.Does anybody know if this is true.

Hey all, another new C-130 co-pilot in training here. I just finished corpus and I'm enroute to the rock. Final destination: Yokota AB. Maybe I'm jumping the gun here, but assuming I survive CP school, any advice for moving to Japan? Thanks! J

On average, how many dudes are in a flying squadron? How often do you interact with the CC?

Hey guys here's my story. When I was ten I got ticketed by a fish and game cop for shooting jackrabbits with my shotgun. Then when I was fifteen, I got caught shooting a deer one day out of season and got fined by another fish and game cop. It wasn't a big deal, they fined me $150.00 and told me to go on my way. I didn't go to court or anything like that either. Basically, my dad took care of it and I forgot all about it. Anyway, here's my question. Currently, there is a background investigation going on for my UPT slot and I didn't tell anyone at my unit about this. I thought that it wouldn't matter since it was 13 years ago and that I didn't do the court thing yada yad…

I was just watching an interesting documentary on the Military Channel about life on a deployed aircraft carrier but they didn't talk much about the origin of the personnel. Anybody know how the makeup of the carrier works in relation to an AF deployment? AF deployed bases are pretty much made of individual squadrons from different AFBs. It seemed like everybody on the carrier was from the same location, but they never really specified. And how is the carrier commander chosen (somebody who is already a commander)?

Anyone know the formula they use to get wind drift on the wiz wheel? I'm trying to make a spread sheet to calculate the wind drift on final for some approaches we shoot a lot. I already have one that can work the timing, just want to add headings too.

I have never seen a military aircraft enter a slip on landing. Can you perform a safe one in a fighter? Just curious if this is something you would only do in a GA aircraft or not. I know it wouldnt be a good idea in a big aircraft, and the airlines dont like it. stupid question, but I guess thats what this site is for, questions mate.

I was reading a T-6 journal and he didn't mention any weather classes in Phase 1.Did they get rid of that class? [ 19. February 2005, 19:01: Message edited by: scoobs ]

On "The wingman" track, the dude talks about 2 getting the lead on the right, and tag lead...what does that stuff mean?

Boeing exec going to Jail, Boeing fined hundreds of millions... Read the article: Business Week Article It's an exceptionally sad day when defense contractors use trickery and skull-duggery to deceitfully take tax-payers' money at the expense of the military and our servicemembers. It is particularly disgusting that our wonderful DOD civilians *tried* to benefit from all of this while the procurement of the best military equipment falls by the wayside. After all, who cares what planes the Air Force buys as long as these cronies line their pockets with DOD money. As if it weren't enough that we see new aircraft procurement slowing down, old C-130's getting gr…

I was just curious for the guys who have an engineering degree/ or pursuing and engineering degree. Specifically aerospace/aeronautical I'm interested in the above: What exactly are they? What classes are involved? Experiences you had? What you thought? I'm wanting to give myself options once I graduate to possibly going into test flying. And after that possibly becoming an astronaut. But i don't want to set a trap for myself and get bad grades because before trying to become a test pilot/astronaut I have to get accepted for UPT. And I'm not even sure whether I would like the course or not, I think it looks real interesting. Any suggestions that you could…

I talked to quite a few AD guys and they all said they would have gone to the reserves over AD.Can any AD guys tell me if you would have gone that route instead.Is the reserves that much better?Thanks

Rotor Heads at Ft Rucker, Moving to Ft Rucker soon. What/Where are the decent apartments I should look into while I am permissive TDY there? Thanks for the help! Sherm