General Discussion

Word just now flowing on CNN. No details on which base (Eglin or Tyndall).

F-16 Crashed this afternoon at Luke. I don't have a link handy, nor should I really throw any details up here ... so check the internets for details.

From today's AFA Update... Cheers! M2

First of all, I graduate from USAFA in 2019 to establish some context that I will be putting in AFSC preferences in August and not long after that competing for ENJJPT. For the last two years I have been playing mental ping pong trying to figure out whether or not I want to apply for ENJJPT or just elect to go to UPT. I have narrowed down the aircraft that I want to fly in my head eliminating fighters (I think). I have a strong desire to fly in AFSOC, specifically the MC-130 but if not, I would take any platform to be part of that community. If I didn't fall into AFSOC I think I would then place the A-10 as a second choice and then slick C-130's. What I am wonde…

I’ve heard it’s possible but rare to switch to an airframe in another command. For example, switching from Air Mobility Command to Air Combat Command. I’m interested in flying fighters at some point in my aviation career: any fighter or being an instructor in the T-38 or T-7 when that comes out. But, I tracked T-1s. I’m happy and excited to fly heavies but it’s always been my dream to fly fighters for a little bit of my career at least. Would it increase my chances of switching over to a fighter if I dropped a special operations aircraft or an aircraft in Air Combat Command like the EC-130 which is switching to the E-37 soon, MC-130, HC-130, RC-135, etc? I’d also be in…

1 of 8 can provide the correct WX required to deal with the crap WX at KCVS today and successfully land. Thanks to the FAIP Mafia for providing the CHAFF for filing requirements to KCVS... Grow a pear (!?)... CPs,, CSOs,.... even MPs... W. T. F.!? You're lost. How do you get to your first base!?

I was hoping to get some input from the heavy pilots into the differences between the type of flying involved with airlift missions and air refueling missions and some pro/cons of each. Which is more interesting or fun to fly? I assume refueling is a lot of straight-and-level over long periods of time and airlift would involve a little more finessed flying but that’s just my impression as an outside observer. I’ve been submitting applications to both types trying to get a heavy slot. I’d like to know a little more about the ins-and-outs and the subtleties that people might not know about. What you like or dislike, etc. Thanks in advance!

I now this probably isn’t the place for this, but I am at a crossroads. I just graduated MQ-9 training and I can’t help but feel like I am not good enough. I find myself asking “what could I have done differently.” I applied for Pilot back in ROTC and had RPA as my #2 choice with CSO. I can’t help but wonder what could I have done differently to have received a pilot slot and it’s starting to have an impact on my happiness and demeanor. My dad and brother are both pilots, so it was instilled in me at a young age that that’s what I should be. Because I haven’t achieved this I have a feeling that I am a disappointment. My family has shown no interest in my training and did…

A P-8 Poseidon slid off the runway and into the water in Hawaii, possibly due to WX. No injuries reported and from the photos the damage looks minimal, but an inspection might reveal a hull loss if there is major damage to the MLG trunnions and engine pylons and wing spars.

There are lots of reasons to get out but those who didn’t get out, why did you stay?

Was there really no approval process for this one beforehand? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18032968

Rumor- we are down to less than a handful of the traditional fly-away deployment ORIs. Maybe they are going virtual/telecon? Discuss/Confirm?

Sounds like he is banged up but alive. A PT-22 perhaps? Engine failure on takeoff, tried to turn back to the runway but could not make, crash landed on a golfcourse.

Right after USAFA graduation... for the life support team.

Actually, officers can sell back leave. You can only sell back 60 days of leave in a career. This becomes a player when transitioning to the ANG/AFRC. When you do a month MPA tour, you accumulate 2.5 days of leave, which will automatically get sold back at the end of the tour. If you sold back all 60 days at the end of Active Duty, you're SOL, so they say. I sold back 30 days at the end of AD and took the rest as terminal leave before joining the ANG. Nowhere else are you going to get this much paid vacation time this quick. And if you start UPT in November, let's say, and you get 2 weeks off in December for Xmas break, they'll let you "go in the hole" or car…

How do I get my guns on base? Do I have to check them, or can I just pack them in my luggage, drive on base, and unpack in my base house? Thanks! [ 14. April 2005, 13:03: Message edited by: Jordan ]

here's a hypothetical situation: crew aircraft with winglets. part of before taxi checklist is to check the area outside the jet for obstacles before taxiing. CP (from seat) scans, "all clear" P scans (from seat), "all clear" LM scans (from in front of the jet, on the ground outside), "all clear" LM hops aboard, closes door, yadda yadda yadda, crew taxis. [sound of something metal scraping] P "what the heck was that?" LM deplanes - sees fire bottle nudged by nose gear. P and LM subsequently get commander directed Q3s. thoughts? objections? comments? i'll start. i think it's crap that the P got Q3d. sure they're responsible for everything, but cra…

Just wondering if any Fighter Drivers here have any first-hand knowledge of this. Not trying to p*ss anyone off, but if this happened two years running, that's very disturbing... Did The USAF Get Beat Up By India Again? Here's a quick bit of defense-wonkishness, which I simply couldn't resist. No-one's saying so officially, but after the shock of having their F-15s kicked around the sky last year by the Indian Air Force in Russian jets, the USAF must have been hoping to even the score in this year's US/India air exercises. The thing is, the only reports so far (and admittedly they are Indian reports) suggest they got another shock. This year the USAF took F…

A Van's RV-4 through a river valley. Very nice. https://www.experimentalpilots.com/anrr.wmv edit: looks like that link is broken. Try this one: https://www.rv7-a.com/videos/treetopflyer.wmv This is the same model: [ 13. October 2006, 17:15: Message edited by: nunya ]

By MICHAEL J. SNIFFEN, Associated Press Writer 16 minutes ago ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A federal jury rejected the death penalty for al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui on Wednesday and decided he must spend life in prison for his role in the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history. After seven days of deliberation, the nine men and three women rebuffed the government's appeal for death for the only person charged in this country in the four suicide jetliner hijackings that killed nearly 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001. Three jurors decided Moussaoui had only limited knowledge of the Sept. 11 plot and three described his role in the attacks as minor, if he had…

Okay...I know I am not the only one to gripe about this, but here it goes I am sick and tired of you FAIP tools and active duty IPs treating UPT students as inferiors throughout training! Not only am I an officer, but I have earned my right to be here just as you did...what gives? And its not only the IPs that do it, but also many of the enlisted people around the base. I have had countless two stripers completely blow off saluting me just because they don't see wings on my chest. Another example...the MPF "customer service" representatives have been overheard saying "why are you calling him sir? isnt he just a student?" Dont treat us as inferior, treat us as y…

I have heard alot of rumors about the B1 and B52 being sent back over to the T1 track. Is there any truth to this and when would this be happening?

I've done a lot of reading on the what goes on after you make it into UPT and what happens from there on. I liked how Baseops had some personal journals for people, it really gives you an idea of how the whole process works. However, I noticed that most of the journals I saw were for people doing heavies . Is there any reason for this trend? Is it just that personal character required to come onto a website and post your personal story is restricted to people who choose heavies? I believe only one of the journals was a T-38 track and it was a B-1 drop. What are the statistics on track selects and drops? If all goes well with Phase I and Phase II, are you likely to get…

I'm graduating NAV school in May, aircraft drop is tomorrow. I have two choices: 1)JSTARS to Robins 2)Slick to Peterson. I'm from SC so I'd like to be close to home, but I *think* I'd like the C-130 mission slightly more. JSTARS rarely drop at NAV school, so I really have never considered them. Are there career opportunities in the JSTARS world? If you're on a JSTARS, do you like the mission? Lastly, I'm married with one child. My wife's choice is the JSTARS since she would be close to home when I deploy. Advice? Help!

I searched for this topic but didn't find much info. Getting ready to graduate and I heard that you can get your instrument and commercial ratings by taking a written test. Is this true? How much extra work would it be to get the CFI rating? I know I probably won't use any of them much in the military, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to have them...