General Discussion

There was some discussion on another post about IFT and I'm not sure how many folks on casual or prior AD know about APT. We have T-38's as well as U-2's here at Beale. Right now we have 1 Global Hawk but it's remote controlled and hasn't flown in over a year so that's besides the point. Anyway, the T-38's are used for currency/profeciency and the backseats are usually empty. I was lucky enought to find out about the APT program through one of the pilots here. I had my first of three egress classes today and will start flying this week or next. For those of you on casual or currently working in another AFSC like me, you can fly as "APT" status with 3 things: …

I guess she and others are trying to relive their "glory days." Crowds March

Good Afternoon, I'm currently at Pensacola in Nav/WSO training. I just finished API (both pilots and navs go through this together), and I have at least 3 weeks off before I start Primary Nav training. I was originally selected for OTS as a pilot but was DQed for PRK pre-op being out of limits so I was redesignated as a Nav. The AF just changed the reg so my PRK pre-op is now well within limits. I've thought on this for nearly a week now and I can't decide whether to pursue getting my original assignment of pilot back or not. I'm THRILLED at the chance to be a WSO. On the other hand, I've always wanted to be a pilot. I'm age-critical (prior-enlisted) so I don't …

Air Force jet crashes north of Edwards AFB CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. (AP) — A military jet has crashed north of Edwards Air Force base in Southern California. Kern County fire spokesman Sean Collins says the Talon T-38 went down about 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the Mojave Desert. Collins says he has no immediate information on the crew. A T-38 can carry two people. Lets hope they got out.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/27998/shot-down-the-usaf-now-wants-to-air-drop-you-an-air-taxi-to-fly-you-out-to-safety https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a27508870/air-taxi-air-force/ Did a quick, non-exhaustive search to no avail. Things like this, plus CAF PR’s inability to sell themselves to AFSOC as a worthwhile platform signify the quickly approaching end to AF CSAR. Not overnight mind you, but it’s coming... Edited to add another link. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

"There's no difference between us and them." AF just found a whole bunch of people willing to fly lower pay without bonuses or incentives.

From the early 1960s to the early 1990s, AF UPT consisted of a 1 track system of T-37/T-38. Helo only training from 1971 to the early 1990s. In the 1980s the military was focus on Jointness between the services. The AF decided on the Naval track system in which you could have exchange student pilots in the early 1990s. I was informed the days of the exchange program for flight students is in the history books. That being the case, should the AF return to the 1 track system regardless of EXPENSE in the T-6A/T-38C or future T-6A/T-7A? What is your opinion?

The link below is to a slideshow (stay with me here) describing Netflix's corporate culture strategy. Whoever put this together has a great grasp on how inflexible bureaucracies are created. Slides 44-77 are relevant. https://www.slideshar...0&startSlide=44 There are a lot of points that parallel observations recently made about the USAF: Company starts out with focus and high performance High performance creates growth which leads to complexity and chaos Complexity is fought with procedures and regulations Too many procedures and regulations drive away talented people Everything still seems fine until the market (battlefield) changes The company is now f…

Greetings, Anyone in or around HRT/AFSOC hear a rumor about the 1 SOW OG/CC recently putting a CV-22 into the trees about 200m short of the LZ, then throwing the copilot in his seat, jumping off the bird while the crew continues the mission, and then handing out Q3s to everyone for it all? Plus, we haven't heard anything about it at any safety meetings. Im sure I dont have all the facts but it sounds pretty lowball to me.

...the Falklands War started! to the Brits! Cheers! M2

Apparently a USAF source has confirmed that the Russians will be participating in the next evolution of Red Flag. I wonder if they'll get to see some of the heritage rooms on base... https://www.flightglo...o-red-flag.html https://english.ruvr....07_03/80124065/ Discuss!

https://www.newschann...ews-unconfirmed https://www.timesreco...ner=yahoo_feeds Glad they got out alright.

A Southwest flight bound for Branson landed at a small GA airport tonight. I'm sure the pilots experienced what the TPF C-17 crew went through when they realized they just touched down on a 3730' x 100' runway. At the end of the runway was a nice 30' drop-off onto a highway. Apparently they smashed on the brakes and stopped about 40' from the end. https://www.kspr.com/news/local/southwest-jet-bound-for-branson-lands-at-wrong-airport/-/21051620/23895590/-/n08v03/-/index.html

Is there any kind of pre-test available to study before taking the tests? I'm working on the first class right now and so much of it is "this person you've never heard of said this, but oh yeah this other person you've never heard of said this". I'm afraid the test is going to be a bunch of questions about the first commander's opinion of an unheard of AETC wing on critical thinking...just stuff that no one really cares about.

So, the AF Times put together a list of all the CONUS bases ranking quality of life according to "everything from school quality to the local economy, crime rates to traffic, and climate to on-base amenities, such as commissaries". I don't agree with their list and am pretty surprised by where some of the bases ended up. I'm curious what everyone's opinion is of the best base. Here's the AF Times list.

How long do the effects of the G warm-up exercise last? And, assuming you do this exercise at the start of a sortie but then are unable to go straight into BFM or ACM, would you repeat it before you start pulling Gs? I am also curious to know how much of a difference it makes to your ability to sustain Gs without experiencing GLOC.

The Air Force lost a great airman today when 1lt Anthony Riggan and his wife nicole passed away in a single engine plane crash in Co Springs on their way home to spend Christmas with family. https://www.krdo.com/news/26248211/detail.html Anthony was a B1 pilot at Ellsworth AFB and a UPT classmate and good friend to me and many in the Air Force community. He and Nicole will be sadly missed.

I flew my form 8 and got everything but 2 patterns due to an EP. Landed, did the ground eval got commendable and they tell me they want me to complete the entire checkride again because i didn't get the patterns. Isn't that double jeopardy? I've already completed form 8 events on a form 8 check evaluated by an FE and last I checked an EP does not void a checkride. Shouldn't I just have to get the patterns? Anyone know the reg that deals with checkrides, not the vol 2.

Osan lost a jet today. Pilot ejected safely. https://www.osan.af.m...sp?id=123294664

Hey just looking for some input regarding the landing fees from people who have been into some of the larger airports on XCs. We've got two T-6s looking to head up to Chicago this weekend and it looks like the DoD contractor at KMDW has shut down, meaning we have to head into O'Hare if we want to make it. I guess most city airports (JFK, LaGuardia, LAX, etc) charge a fee or tax for landing. Signature quoted $350 for a Pilatus landing there (no handling or ramp fees for Mil) but I'm wondering if the city waves that fee for us. They're not entirely sure at Signature so I'm wondering if any of you all have flown into O'Hare or other city airports and what you've found…

I saw this elsewhere. Is this legit? For service as set forth in the following: CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major X, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a KC-135R Instructor Pilot, 913th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 384th Expeditionary Operations Group, 384th Air Expeditionary Wing, deployed to a classified location in the United States Central Command's area of responsibility on 13 January 2003 in direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On that date, …

Discuss here.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/11/05/hagel-says-cuts-to-pay-and-benefits-are-needed.html Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned Tuesday that troops and their families will be asked to sacrifice on pay and benefits to preserve readiness in an era of tighter budgets. Hagel listed politically-charged changes to compensation and personnel policy as one of his top six priorities in reforming the military following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as the department gears up to meet new challenges. "This may be the most difficult" to achieve among his six priorities, Hagel said of proposals to trim pay increases, overhaul TRICARE and review retirement benefit…

The new name has been chosen, Pegasus.