General Discussion

Just curious. What is the average burn rate for the aircraft you fly / flew. I realize that there are many factors that affect this...but I'm sure that every plane has an average wag that you use off the top of your head. For slick 130's 5000 lbs an hour for cruise seems to be the rule for E/H models. For fighter types...cruise / burner...whatever you got. Transports...enroute....same with tankers. Curious on the 135 E/R models and the KC-10. Helos...bombers...T-6...whatever.... If something is grosely different fully loaded / empty....lets hear it. We are a gas guzzling nation and I am curious to hear where the different airframes rank in the fuel burn cat…

They say that if you get paid to do something you love, then you never work a day in your life. But they also say that if you throw money in the mix, it makes that 'hobby' feel more like work. When you're off the clock so to say, do you ever still feel like flying? I've heard stories of certain people getting out of the Air Force or Navy and never flying again but it seems like a lot of people enjoy the career path. I feel like I won't ever get tired of it but how has it affected you? Do you take your family flying for fun? Ever have planes on buying a small plane? Are the huge amounts of commercial pilots from the Air Force an indicator of a lack of flight time…

WTFO? Linky

With all of these programs to build the pilot population and pilot training cranking out high numbers of pilots yet we are still looking for more pilots, why doesn’t the Air Force reinstitute aero clubs at bases? I know there are a few remaining. But they are the exception. Thoughts?

So I wanted to know Why all the Fighter drivers wear the bomber crush. It started when the WWII bomber pilots wore both their service caps or bus drivers caps on their way to combat. They didnt have to wear their "helmets" until combat as they had headsets which crushed the backs of their caps. They would pull them down as to prevent them from blowing off. THe fighter guys had to wear a "helmet" the whole time. So I wondering why the fighter guys wear it and why do they USUALLY wear it wrong. It should be pulled down so there is the M look or the "C$#$" cap. I found this out from some WWII b17 crew members. Im not trying to cause a problem, I just figured pe…

All crew safe. Tanker put it down in a field. Pretty amazing. Looks like possible single engine? Hard to fathom. https://news.usni.org/2020/09/29/marine-f-35b-crashes-after-collision-with-kc-130-over-california-all-aircrew-recovered-safely

Looks like Big Blue is finally raising our flight pay . 6 years only gets a $50 increase while the 14 year guys goes down to 12 years now at $1k. But we have to worry about our guys being able to jump to the airlines at 750 hours.

How would someone with active duty and reserve service accurately calculate their TAFMS time? Prior to commissioning, I served four years on active duty and five years in the reserve component. When I in-processed at Laughlin about three months ago, I discovered what I thought to be a discrepancy on the DD-214 issued to me prior to departing OTS. It reads that I have 7.5 years of TAFMS. I brought it up with the MPF here and they started a CMS case. That case made its way to AFPC and they confirmed that I have accumulated 7.5 years of TAFMS. I did complete two long formal training schools and a few sets of lengthy orders while in the reserve, but those points only add up t…

Crashed on the range, no details yet on survivors....say a prayer.

Thoughts?

Iris simulations is claiming to have gathered all their info from the actual manual. They have had some guys from upt give them feedback to make sure the plane behaves as close to the real thing as FSX allows. https://www.t6sim.irissimulations.com/

I'm just going to leave this right here.... https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/12/06/enlisted-combat-pilots-the-air-force-is-launching-a-test-that-could-lead-to-that/

In reference to my SURF, I don't know what this acronym stands for, or what it is for. Any ideas?

So has anybody else been issued a CAC reader to check your email at home (err TDY rather)? From what I understand, they have eliminated web mail all over and this is the only way.

Just curious, what would everybody prefer to fly the Galaxy or Globemaster? (I only ask because I saw a program comparing the two heavy lifters) I know the C-17 is to replace many of the C-5's but let's say that they were both equally wanted/needed. And to spice things up, let's say the C-5 'rarely' breaks down. Anybody have time in both? Thanks

Fox News is reporting a B-1 crash. Sounds like all 4 crew ejected safely. https://www.ksfy.com/story/23173844/ellsworth-afb-crew-survives-b-1-bomber-crash-in-montana

I'm looking at a flight pay table here and I was curious why the jump from $206 (>4 yrs) to $650 (>6 yrs)??

i didn't want to hijack a thread, but scoobs (i think) advised someone in upt to fly fighters (they were undecided) because they could always go fly heavies later. and so i wondered if anyone has ever gone the opposite direction - heavies to fighters? i don't know of any, nor have i ever heard of any. how about you?

Recently, I had an interesting discussion with a future OG regarding the future of the Air Force, in general. It should be known that this guy is a career fighter pilot. His philosophy is this: in order to take back our Air Force, we have to be willing to play it's game. He argues that too many aviators are shying away from staff jobs that will help them become the generals of the future. He sees too many current senior officers taking non-rated dudes on their staffs because the SO can't get any aviators to join the staff. The future OG notes that one indication of the aviator losing his foothold in command positions is the creation of the maintenance group. Soon,…

Who is getting rich off of this BS? Anyone know a way to get out of this? Supposedly it's mando under AFCENT. Other than just not wanting something that should be totally optional shoved down my throat; I don't want it to affect my credit rating, or have to monitor another account. If I needed it, I would apply for it. Are they going to try to make the BX a non-cash operation?

Any truth to this? Thoughts? Many of you have seen the topic of the recent F35 crash being discussed, along with statements supposedly made by the pilot right before he ejected that he was having chest pains. As skeptical of everything that has to do with the vaccine as I am, even I thought the reporting on this was BS hyperbole. Until about 30 minutes ago, that is. . . I commanded an F/A-18 squadron in the 2007-2010 time frame, and a good friend of mine who was also a Hornet squadron commander and Airboss afterwards just called to tell me that he heard the unedited PLAT tape with his own ears, and before ejecting the pilots says: "I'm experiencing sudde…

I really didn't want a PhD in CBRNE, so does anyone have any decent gouge? That or if there is a "blank" certificate running around, or someone good with photoshop...beers on me.

There is a topic discussing what's "Wrong with the AF?" Let's track the improvements... I recall when Welsh was nominated back in 2012, there was loud applause of pending changes that we all thought were looming -- mainly due his interaction with the CAF when he was USAFE/CC, etc. Welsh took command Aug 2012...and probably has a little over a year left until he's done. What improvements, if any, have you seen....?

Any of the more seasoned folks on here ever heard of this Colonel? https://ambaker9.wixsite.com/vdpcc/2022grandmarshall?fbclid=IwAR2KGTZa_g7M3v63qi5XkjU0dWSuaTKnT_OnJL56l5IQyLnbdZG7We9r_w4 Bunch of possible flags on this one. 1975 as a female flight engineer? Have been told they didn't exist yet. Then on to 'OCS' and eventually F-16s. Made Major as a 16 driver but crossed over to helicopters. Flew three different airframes to include the huey (not the flight school model), the 53, and finished in the 60. Many deployments to Desert Storm, Afghan, and Iraq. Even got shot down in a 60 as a full bird flying misssions in Afghanistan rescuing a bun…

Of course we all know what today is, and we have all answered the question hundreds of times as well as reflected personally on todays events 6 years ago. I dont want to turn this thread into that. I was just curious if any of you were flying CAP's or any other mission that day that could relate the experience, what it felt like being the only ones in the air, having semi-silent radio chatter (if it was). Just was curious