General Discussion

This is pretty cool... https://www.startribune.com/local/230375891.html SUPERIOR, Wis. — Two planes carrying skydivers collided in midair Saturday evening in far northwest Wisconsin, but no major injuries were reported. Mike Robinson, an instructor and safety adviser for Skydive Superior, said he and 10 others escaped relatively unharmed after one plane crashed into the other during what he said was a common tandem formation. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Roland Herwig said the collision occurred about 6 p.m. at about 12,000 feet. Robinson said he and four others were preparing to jump from the lead plane with the trailing plane hit their craf…

https://www.bbc.co.uk...slands-18692532 Two people have been picked up by helicopter after two RAF Tornado jets crashed in the Moray Firth. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the Tornado GR4s, which have a pilot and navigator, were from RAF Lossiemouth, on the Moray coast. The RNLI said Wick, Invergordon and Buckie lifeboats were searching for two missing crew south of Wick. The MoD said one of the aircraft had been seen in the water and the other was classed as "missing". Aberdeen Coastguard was alerted to the incident at about 13:50. An RAF helicopter picked up two people and flew them to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. A search is taking place in the Mora…

Story developing on CNN. Fox actually has a little more detail... Shots Fired at Bus Carrying U.S. Soldiers in Germany

We got the message today that officially the wing is planning on at least a 6 month slip to the closing timeline. There was a congressional policy letter that got forwarded to us a few weeks ago. It proposed a new study or something that would add 6 months onto the timeline for the closure. We still don't have any official word either way, but I wouldn't mind if we got extended for a bit!

Ok, so me and a few other cadets are going to Tyndall over spring break for some F-15 rides but we don't have anywhere to stay yet. Does anyone have any past experience going there and remember where they stayed? Everywhere we are looking so far is ridiculously priced, so let me know if anyone has any ideas

I was fortunate enough to go on a base visit to Tyndall not too long ago and couldn't help but notice some of the QRF-4's on the flightline and some painted in a camo similar to SEA style. I asked one of the pilots if they were drones as well, but turns out they are used for pilots to maintain currency according to him. I guess my question would be under what circumstances would you get to use the phantoms for proficiency? Is it a thing for the Eagle/Raptor guys? ... Or a weapons testbed for different missiles/weapons? Phantom Phantom Take Off Phantom landing roll

Pretty cool gig... LeMieux: Tyndall to Gain T-38 Detachment BY: Unattributed , WMBB News 13 11/30/2010 Washington, DC: U.S. Senator George LeMieux (R-FL) today announced the Air Force will be sending a T-38 detachment to Tyndall Air Force Base. The ten T-38s will provide dedicated adversary support to the F-22s currently stationed at the base. “This is fantastic news for Tyndall Air Force Base and the Panama City area,” said LeMieux, a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Service Committee. “This detachment will complement the existing F-22 program operating out of Tyndall. Bringing more planes to the area will also bring more jobs, increasing economic activity thro…

Anyone recently receive a type rating from a FSDO office by walking in with a form 8? Did the FSDO place any limitations on said type rating (specifically SIC)? Is there any printed guidance which defines what the FAA will issue?

I was just wondering for those people going the T-44/C-12 route if they get typed? I know in the civilian world a Be-200 King Air was right at 12,500 GW, which would not require one. I wasn't sure if the military versions operated at a higher Gross weight requiring a type rating. Also, does the T-6 Texan II require one?

Ouch...

Just to keep everyone abreast on these topics, the following story and pics on the Eurofighter/Typhoon in the US are making the rounds in the UK mil aviation forums I frequent. By the way, I just noticed the title of that article and the article itself conflict, but I think the title was in error, it should have read 'Eurofighter Radars Spot F/A-22s'... The answers are obvious, but the discussion is quite interesting! Just some food for thought here... Cheers! M2 [ 04. October 2005, 09:19: Message edited by: MajorMadMax ]

I know that relative to the heavies, fighter pilots spend less time flying. What would be involved in a typical day/week aside from flying, briefing or debriefing a mission?

I was cruising through some recorded ATC comms on liveatc.net, and came across this of a U-2 trying to get back to Sigonella, and apparently getting some grief from the controllers. Audio doesn't have the controller comm, just the U-2. Pretty interesting stuff though - gotta love VFR on Top at FL600..:) Dragon 20 on 25711.1.wav

https://m.kcra.com/news/plane-crashes-into-sutter-buttes-in-sutter-county/41746460 U2 crash out of Beale, unreported condition of the pilots. Hopefully they're ok! Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Just thought I'd share the excitement w/ my fellow BOPS'ers. I went to Beale today and got a ride in the chase-car for the U2 (along w/ some sqdnmates) while he was doing some pattern work. It was AWESOME! One of the coolest things I've done in a LONG time. (I guess I don't get out enough...) It was very cool rolling down the RWY at 120 (in a GTO), right behind the U2. I've had the opportunity to do it for several years now, but never bothered. Now I wish I'd have done it sooner. If any of you ever get the chance to do it, do it. You won't be disappointed.

Very, very well done, Jack. https://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/783640/edge-of-space-emergency-tests-aviators-skills.aspx He's the 4th U-2 pilot I know to earn this distinction, and the 3rd since 2003. I believe the Kolligian Trophy is the only individual award given by the CSAF.

assignment night is quickly approaching, end of March. I am seriously interested in the U-28, but I can find very little info about the lifestyle to expect. Is it going to be your basic climb, level off, drive for a few hours, land type deal or will the flights be more interesting? What are the living conditions like while deployed? If anyone is currently flying the airframe and wouldn't mind answering a few questions for me, or if anyone has any other info regarding U-28 (besides the other stuff already posted on baseops) I would appreciate it!

https://www.easternnewmexiconews.com/story/2017/03/14/news/military-plane-crashes-near-airport/151388.html NOK pending A toast...

Can anything be said about any of the aircraft above? Deployments? Once you get in can you stay in AFSOC for the whole career? Is the flying all it is cracked up to be? Bases? I know a lot of the stuff is classified but any generalizations that can be talked about? I could only find stuff on the MC-12.

Reported by UK news media... https://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-01-07/helicopter-air-crash-cley-north-norfolk/

Here we go again... Cheers! M2

U.S. Coast Guard Grounds Fleet of C-27J Aircraft The Coast Guard guys and girls get little press but this is a bit concerning. "The Alert Service Bulletin issued by Leonardo calls for inspections looking for cracks in the area where the horizontal and vertical stabilizers attach to the aircraft’s fuselage."

https://aviationweek.com/defense/us-considers-72-new-f-15s-or-f-16s?NL=AW-05&Issue=AW-05_20151120_AW-05_723&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2&utm_rid=CPEN1000000222965&utm_campaign=4309&utm_medium=email&elq2=e5153b4a2cf242409c8803e7790d1554 U.S. Considers Up To 72 New F-15s Or F-16sNov 19, 2015Bill Sweetman | Aerospace Daily & Defense Report EMAILINSHARECOMMENTS 9F-15: Boeing LONDON — The U.S. Air Force may solicit bids for 72 new Boeing F-15s, Lockheed Martin F-16s or even Boeing F/A-18E/Fs as budget issues put planned production rates for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter out of reach, according to senior service and industry officials at the Defen…

https://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/11/europe/us-f16-germany-crash/index.html Glad the pilot made it out safe!

So how is this going to play out? That region is already messed up. From what I heard, McCain doesn't care about going beak to beak with Russia.