General Discussion

Is there any pilots here that did not get a DP, but just a "p" on their PRF and still made major? Just curious at what this rate is roughly. Im in a platform where im going to compete with backend people for a DP and curious of what my chance of making major are if i only get a "p" Thanks [ 01. September 2006, 19:29: Message edited by: Toro ]

So what do y’all think the odds are that A) those 90K Russians on the Ukrainian border are there to invade and if they do, that B) we’ll do anything about it? I’m not sure we will. Putin has picked his timing perfectly to coincide with the fallout of our Afghan withdrawal IMHO.

So in the GA thread a tangent got started and a new thread I think is better Background: Accelerated Copilot Enrichment (ACE) was a program for tanker & bomber copilots to fly and develop Total Flight Time to get guys who sat a lot of Alpha Alert to Aircraft Commander upgrade in a reasonable timeframe, it ended in 91 when Strategic Air Command (SAC) was inactivated. 94/95 when Gen Loh of ACC ended the program It made dollars and sense as the T-37s and 38s were cost effective trainers to develop the aviation skills and airmanship you wanted in your future Aircrew Commanders. The flying was different, no autopilot in a fairly nimble aerobatic aircraft, bu…

The War ZoneC-17 Will Fly Until 80 Years Old Under New USAF Airlifter...The Air Force does not expect to have fully transitioned to its Next-Generation Airlift aircraft until 2075.Family of systems, new engines for C-17s, etc… lotta ideas in the article. Family of systems is a buzz phrase but probably the best COA. Crewed / Unmanned fleet

I'll try to keep all the ranting consolidated to this place and answer your questions here. Of course most of the keyboard ninja stuff isn't going to be anywhere you can google it, so it won't be here either. But I'll post what I can and answer any questions you throw my way. Anyone having fun with the change in policy about the USB hard drives?

I don't think anyone will be surprised by this... Recent Data Shows Significant Spike In US Military Aircraft Accidents The number of major accidents involving military aircraft spiked in 2024, internal Pentagon figures show, and a series of high-profile aviation mishaps with deaths and the loss of aircraft in 2025 suggest the disturbing trend may be continuing. Across the military, the rate of severe accidents per 100,000 flight hours rose 55% in the 2024 budget year compared with four years earlier. The Marine Corps saw the highest increase, nearly tripling its rate over the same period. The statistics cover the full budget years 2020-2023 and then the first 10 months …

Long article but interesting (only perused some sections) - enjoy. Trends in Air to Air Combat Implications for Air Superiority John Stillion

C-130.mp4

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.

Is there a single agency that handles this for the whole US government? I had a question about security clearances (not so much AF at this point, more working for the government) and was wondering if anyone here knew someone I could call about it. Please PM me. Thanks. P.S. Derka derka. (just before anyone else says it) [ 23. November 2006, 13:23: Message edited by: PapaJu ]

I am a weather geek and always wondered what it would be like to be a Hurricane Hunter. For those who followed Hurricane Melissa which is the third strongest hurricane on record (892MB and still intensifying at landfall), the NOAA and USAFR Hurricane Hunters had a constant presence as the storm built and hit Jamaica and Cuba. USAFR flies a fleet of 10 WC-130Js and NOAA operates two PC-3's. One of the P-3s (named Kermit), was flying a mission during the rapid intensification. As they departed the eye and flew into the eyewall they encountered what looks to me like extreme turbulence. Ultimately they elected to depart the storm because of the turbulence ..somethi…

US Navy helicopter and fighter jet crash in separate incidents in the South China Sea Blackhawk and Hornet down within 30 minutes. Possibly bad fuel...

Bothe the War Zone and the Mover and Gronky show report an A-10 sporting two drone kills on its nose. The kills were allegedly performed by APKWS II 2.75” (70mm) laser guided rockets. If true this offers a much more cost effective alternative to shooting down drones.

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

“Unidentified silver/gray cylindrical object” shot down over Alaska and Canada! It’s like they are deliberately trying to create conspiracy theories! I would have called it a drone dirigible but hey, what do I know!

Central Coast AirFest in Santa Maria CA is this weekend, 21-22 Sept. It's right by Vandenburg SFB, and the best warbird airshow in the nation. Two of the only 5 De Havilland Mosquitos will be flying in formation... the first time that has happened since 1987. The F7F Tigercat just cancelled but the flying lineup includes: P-38, F8F, SBD Dauntless, TBM Avenger, P-40, lots of Mustangs, B-25, MiG-15, Yak-3, P-63, Sea Fury, the only P-47 Razorback that files... Also, F-18 Demo Team. And the A-10 Demo Team in their 3rd to last airshow before the team is disbanded (thanks a lot, Frank Kendall). https://www.centralcoastairfest.com/

If anyone was wondering why the U.S. Army plans to cut 6,500 aviation jobs from the active duty ranks over the next two years, here's your answer! UH-60 Black Hawk Cargo Drone With Clamshell Nose Breaks Cover The new U-Hawk can lug thousands of pounds of cargo internally that would never fit in a standard Black Hawk, and launch scores of its own drones and munitions. Sikorsky has unveiled a new, fully uncrewed version of the Black Hawk helicopter with a completely transformed front end that swaps out the cockpit for clamshell doors. Depending on how it is configured, what has been dubbed the U-Hawk can move thousands of pounds of outsized cargo intern…

https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33678801/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/ What's going on down there?

Military helicopter crash investigation underway in Washington state | https://www.wisn.com/article/helicopter-crash-near-joint-base-lewis-mcchord/67946788

https://www.npr.org/2020/02/29/810537586/u-s-signs-peace-deal-with-taliban-after-nearly-2-decades-of-war-in-afghanistan Let the over/under bids begin.

Just saw a video on Facebook, Mass ANG F-15D had a backseater depart the jet on the ground via the ACES II. Heard it was a incentive or FAM flight. Not 100% sure on details. https://www.facebook.com/reel/4192170774392209/?app=fbl

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…

Air Force to Field Autonomous Cessna Caravan Supposedly the system will eventually be airframe agnostic. Guess those side jobs flying Caravans for FEDEX to the Carribean days are numbered.