General Discussion

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Plane-Crash-Ventura-County-Camarillo-152074725.html Him him. They just lost another in a Kfir crash a couple months back. Prayers for that community.

I was wondering how most units assign STATESIDE callsign numbers, i.e., Speedo 60, Pogo 21. Do most folks get a choice in the matter or are they just assigned one? If you get a choice, are there any cool stories associated with how people chose their numbers? And if there are any OPSEC issues with this tread, please delete is ASAP.

Allcon, If you had your choice between ATC or being a commercial pilot, what would you choose? I hold all ratings in the control tower, RAPCON, and center to include Watch Supervisor. Not to toot my own horn, but I hold all FAA complex ratings. However, I love flying and in another 7 hours plus the long X-C, I will hold commercial with instrument ratings. Why do I bring this up? In as little as 500 hours I can become a pilot with several regionals without ATP hours and can build on the regional carriers. I love to fly...God, do I love to fly, but ATC is a job that I look forward to doing. I absolutely, without question, love to perform ATC duties; damn, I love A…

Just curious... How many of you participated in sports (specifically college). I've been reading a couple biographies about pilots. What I’ve noticed is that most great pilots have participated in a college sport. More specifically, the fighter pilots that I have read about, all played a college sport. Do you think being involved with a college sport helped them get where they are? It was just an observation; wanted to see what you guys thought. I thought maybe the level of competition helped them develop a mindset of always being a winner and hating to lose.

https://mobile.twitter.com/FAANews/status/1099399252554534912?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet Not many details.

Edited for expired info

I've been searching and can't seem to get a good answer as to why the A-10 is called a fighter. The best answer I got so far was that it handles more like a fighter. Someone also told me it had air-to-air kills versus Iraqi helos before the Eagles got any kills. Talking with old crusty Navy dudes, they were proud to be called 'Attack' pilots versus fighter pilots. Even though the A-6, A-4, A-7, were all tactical jets, they identified themselves as attack pilots first and the fighter guys were all the F-types. I never saw an old retired colonel more offended than when I made the mistake of even implying that the Hog wasn't a fighter, but an attack platform (meaning …

Thoughts? https://theaviationgeekclub.com/attack-helicopter-crews-explain-why-an-attack-helicopter-if-properly-flown-would-defeat-most-fighter-airplanes-in-1v1-air-combat/

Brethren, Last night at a home bball game at the small K12 private school I now steward, I became ENRAGED at one of the students during the National Anthem. Instead of assuming a position of attention with hand over heart, he had his head down, and although he was standing, he had one foot propped up in a chair. To further add to my rage, he was a bball player, and a senior at that. I'll have a "refocus" assembly Monday morning for all the 8-12th graders to "educate" these folks on the sacrifices Americans are currently making, and have made throughout history for that Flag, and that disrespecting MY Flag in any way will meet with severe repercussions (etc. etc. etc.)…

Mods, I know this isn't aviation-related, but it can get eligible folks some free money, so I thought I'd try posting it... To all of you out there who have MN as HOR, check out www.thankmntroops.org It's a completely LEGIT organization that has collected donations in order to give out grants to all active-duty/guard/reserve bubbas -- all branches of service, active or retired or separated. Just need to have MN documented as your HOR, and must have deployed to a combat zone since 9/11. More info on the website. Heck, it may only be a couple hundred bucks (might be a lot more, depending on your circumstances [disabled, etc]), but it's free money, no strings at…

Just an invite for all Rotorheads to enjoy the launch issue of our new mil helo mag. Digital edition is online for everyone to read. Cleared HOT - Issue 1

Just a reminder that so far we have 130 posts on the thread to win yourself a 2011 HeliOps calendar. Once we reach 200 posts then the thread gets closed off and those posters win a calendar each. So there are another 70 calendars waiting, is one of them yours, click on the link, sign up, make your post, and get your name on one of them, its that simple. https://www.heliopsforum.com/index.php?threads/200-heliops-2011-helicopters-at-work-calendars-to-be-won.264/ Cheers and have a great New Years.

Anyone know where I can get the sound clip of that back seater having a "major bowel movement"? I can't find it anywhere. Thanks!

We seem to have extras...any takers? https://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/australia-looks-overseas-for-defence-staff-20111227-1par2.html The Australian Defence Force is trying to recruit laid-off soldiers, sailors and air crew from Britain, the US and other western countries in order to fill recruitment quotas. Australia is reportedly looking for defence specialists, such as fighter pilots, submarine crews and officers and are offering fast-tracked citizenship as an incentive, The Australian reported on Tuesday. According to the newspaper the Royal Australian Navy has sent a delegation to Britain to discover how many retrenched sailors, particularly en…

We are in the process of expanding HeliTac and wanted to make an invitation to all members of the forum. We are expanding our writing ranks and would like to invite those of you who feel you can put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to join our editorial team. You dont have to be a Stephen King but as long as you can put all the information down, then we have a great team of sub editors who can knock it into shape. We are open to suggestions on topics and ideas so drop me an email with your suggestions. Maybe its something other military helo aviators can learn from or you want to write about some technical subject, the options are open. We are happy for you to…

Fellow Fighter, Bomber, and Attack pilots I am writing a paper for my final master's class on Auto Ground Collision Avoidance systems and I would greatly appreciate your participation completing a survey in order to help me complete that paper. If you have any military time in fighter, bomber or attack aircraft you can access this 15 question anonymous survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/67688D6 Thanks for your help. If you have any questions regarding the survey or project, please direct them to autogcas@yahoo.com

Is this the future? No boom operators in that back? https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-a330-achieves-first-aerial-refueling-beats-boeing-2020-4

Hello! Please feel free to move this if it’s not in the appropriate section. I’m currently an enlisted aviator that was selected for OTS/UPT in July (still waiting on dates). I’m interested in knowing what the average assignment length looks like for pilots, from what I can tell it’s 3-4 years. I assume it’s that way for most of the Air Force, but I have basically no experience with that since my shred can only go to 2 bases (I’ve been OCONUS for 4 years now, I know people that have done 9 year tours here or stayed at the CONUS base their entire career). I’m asking because my wife, who’s currently in the same career field as me but separating soon, wants to go …

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?

I volunteer to smoke russians.

Search and rescue effort underway for missing aircraft Posted 1/28/2013 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs 1/28/2013 - AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Search efforts are underway after Aviano Air Base lost contact with one of its F-16 fighter jets at approximately 8 p.m. this evening. The aircraft was performing a training mission over the Adriatic Sea with one person on board. The pilot's condition is unknown at this time. More information will be released as it becomes available.

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?

For all you military pilots out there. I was just wondering how common it is for you to have to deal with losing a friend to an airplane crash etc. I just lost a friend in a T-6 Texan crash and I am having a hard time with it. It has really made me start to question flying fighters in the Air Force. How often do you have to deal with aviation related death in the Air Force as a pilot? I just found out so I am thinking really off the wall thoughts but maybe I'll be over this soon. Thanks

Hey all, some coworkers and I are putting on a skit (of sorts) tomorrow night and I will be playing the stereotypical pilot role...entirely too self centered and arrogant. What I need is some good one-liners...something along the lines of "What's the difference between God and an Air Force pilot? God can't fly jets!" bwah hahaha. Anyway, you get the point. So...fire away! I know there's gotta be some good stuff out there.

Found this page while looking for a Hemingway quote.....maybe it has been posted here before, maybe not..... https://www.airnoosa.com/index17.php