General Discussion

Anyone got eyes on the new JTR? Any big picture changes?

Looked around and didn't see a general thread on the subject of Fire Bombers & Tankers. The demand is only going to go up and I think it's reasonable to assume job opportunities will only increase in the near term. Would love the hear from folks with experience on the mil & civ sides of aerial firefighting. A few questions to start: How much of a benefit would a TFR be given the operation environment of marginal VFR at low altitudes? What has been the evolution of the "lead plane" concept? Does the tanker simply keep sight and then drop on command?

Anyone know or have a contact at AFPC that deals with promotions? Can send to my .mil if needed.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/02/18/air-force-t-38-trainer-jet-suffers-landing-gear-mishap-no-injuries-reported.html 18 Feb 2021 Military.com | By Oriana Pawlyk A U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon trainer jet out of Beale Air Force Base, California, experienced a landing gear mishap when touching down at Sacramento's Mather Airport, the service said Thursday. The two pilots aboard sustained no injuries during the accident, base officials said in a release. The aircraft, which took off from Beale for routine training, belongs to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, the release adds. The twin-engine jet came down at the airport with…

Is the exchange policy still in affect in the first half of SUPT? I imagine Pensacola is somewhat better than Del Rio, Columbus or even Vance.

I'm in the middle of UPT at Vance just barely keeping my head above water. Hate pulling Gs with a passion. Wondering if anyone here can speak to the C-146 or any other AFSOC MWS; things you didn't know going in that you wish you did etc. I got to talk to a crew who stopped through Vance a while ago. Really cool guys and very appealing mission.

If implemented, will the students start out in the TH-1H or another training aircraft?

End of an era. We'll miss you brother! I look forward to seeing you beyond the big blue. I'll even let my wife sit on your lap again!

We have been ramping up our DTOC CT program and wondering if there are other units outside of F35 and MQ9 that are linking up and doing virtual exercises. It’s a good way to dry run dissimilar CT before we go out and burn the JP8 for real. Looking to add more friends to the party. HMU por favor.

Anyone out here part of this group? Looking to make contact, thanks in advance. -Bode Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So for a couple years they've been releasing rated folks to go teach at ROTC Dets. 2 slots just popped up in a location we want to retire so I'm not considering it. Has anyone been through this board/process? I have to write a 500 character narrative/recommendation but there is not guidance about what should be in as far as I can tell. I'm currently sitting at 21 years with a DOS of 2025 (passed over O4). So the 2 year ROTC gig would almost take be to 25 years. I'm going to apply either way... but what are the odds I get picked up? What can I do to increase those odds?

So there’s this whiny FGO in my squadron that seems like he doesn’t want to fly with me. I’m the DO, and I have a ‘go-fly’ list of people I want to fly with. I specifically ask Skeds to put us together, but every time we end up on the schedule together he takes “emergency” leave or says he can’t clear his ears. I’m pretty much the best pilot in the squadron, if not the wing, so I know I can show him a thing or two. When I talk to my life-size doll of Robin Olds, (that I keep in my office) his mustache speaks to me and says I should just smash his soul out of his body. Oh whatever should I do? These damn millennials…

Unfortunately, that wraps up the SOFIA Program. Two of my friends flew it. There are only 2 or 3 other 747SP aircraft still flying. https://simpleflying.com/nasa-sofia-boeing-747-final-flight/

Oh... this again: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-call-sign-titties/?utm_campaign=trueanthem_manual&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_term=taskandpurpose Sent from my SM-F721U using Tapatalk

https://www.edwards.af.mil/Units/USAFTPS/ Does anyone here have experience with the space test course? The website is pretty vague, and doesn't really explain who its targeted for or what its like beyond "college academics". It seeming to be a sister school to TPS makes me intrigued that it might be more hands-on than just college classes in the desert.

https://apnews.com/article/holloman-air-force-base-f16-jet-crash-84504e14dbb43837839d4d2e824c08eb Pilot ejected and taken to the hospital and released.

MARSRADIO, the civilian HF service backup to HFGCS enjoyed communicating with Air Force One today. A member of their team, MSGT, was retiring and this was his last flight. Approximate 12 MARSRADIO operators briefly talked to AF1 with best wishes in his retirement after 20 years. “On behalf of Air Force MARSRADIO, we congratulate you on your retirement. We wish you blue skies and clear frequencies in for your future.” (MARSRADIO Squadron Commander) There is increased activity in the western Pacific supporting flights between Hawaii, Guam, Wake Island, Japan and Fiji. We are still optimistic that we will get a remote station in the Mariannas by the middle of …

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg1z42pkj8o

I didn't see any posts related to DIC.. but I'm currently paying a SBP which would net a surviving spouse 50% of my retired pay. I just read up on DIC which I'm not sure I even knew existed. From what I stand, DIC will pay $1653.06 to a surviving spouse if the cause of death was a service-connected condition. Previously they were offset, but now a spouse can receive both benefits in full...? I was going to get rid of SBP and use the $400 to put into other term life insurance something else and hope for DIC if it came to that. But it seems like if something (service-connected) were to happen to me my wife could get close to $4600/month with SDB and DIC? Is this corre…

OA-1K crash landing, luckily no injuries due in no part to the rugged airframe. https://www.twz.com/air/air-forces-crop-duster-converted-into-attack-plane-crash-lands-in-field

For those of you using an Insta360 X5 camera (or similar) in the cockpit, what are you using as a mount? I'm also interested if your mounting setup is good enough for aerobatics.

This is true. It is on pages 77, 172, 218, and 434. You have to dig to see the charges. We (retirees) would lose the Medicare for life benefit and would have to pay. We would lose TRICARE as a total care package. We would not be allowed to keep TRICARE so when Obama stands and says if you like what you have you can keep it, he lies. This is a "Heads Up" on a battle we are facing now and down the road with the new Administration. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has already drafted proposed legislation that would basically reduce our TRICARE for Life benefits to a system whereby we pay deductibles and co-pays up to $6,301 the first year for you and your spouse, wi…

Edited, duplicate info

Time to do more with less, folks! (Pretty soon we'll be doing everything with nothing) https://www.military.com/news/article/af-to-jettison-3700-airmen.html?ESRC=airforce-a.nl My comments on the article WTF? We can't manage an extra 4000 people spread across the world? That's like more people at each base!?! As usual, the Air Force solution is to reduce the number of experienced, active duty experts in their fields while continuing recruiting efforts in the same manner. So we realized there was an experience gap and plussed up our forces. We have new missions in addition to the old ones...so we are cutting forces?!? Where's the logic in that?!?!

Heard through the grapevine, bean counters want to take away our access to Jeppesen approach plates! Tell you what; the Jeppesen African charts sure beat FLIP, hands down! What gives?