General Discussion

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…

Anybody know anything good about McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas? My brother just found out he is gonna be sent there this summer for 3 weeks for Ops Air Force (he's at the academy) and he's not too pumped about it. Most of his friends got sent overseas to Japan, Korea, UK, etc. or at least to a fighter base to get an incentive ride. I'm just looking for anything fun or good anyone knows to do there so he might have some fun. Thanks for the help.

Any of the older guys have some good ideas for how to conduct a good ole fashion roof stomp? Any advice, or input would be appreciated, thanks.

I recently dropped T-38 FAIP and am curious as to what effects/opportunities it will result in for my career as an officer as well as my flying career. I did fairly well in 38s and never really considered the assignment, so any input is appreciated. More specifically, how should I best pursue my hopes of flying something pointy and loud post FAIP tour? Ive been on of these forums for over 3 years now and this community has been invaluable in facilitating my journey from college kid to wings, figure it’s time to pay my respects. 🍻 Hook Em All

Come this fall, there will be a new and extremely powerful supercomputer in Afghanistan. But it won’t be in Dave Petraeus’ headquarters in Kabul or at some three-letter agency’s operations center in Kandahar. It’ll be floating 20,000 feet above the warzone, aboard a giant spy blimp that watches and listens to everything for miles around. That is, if an ambitious, $211 million crash program called “Blue Devil” works out as planned. As of now, the airship’s “freakishly large” hull — seven times the size of the Goodyear Blimp’s — has yet to be put together. Full article: ISR Blimp

This a big deal? I guess not... Unlocked article link below: https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/hospitalized-pentagon-chief-was-in-intensive-care-unit-12b3f1a6?st=n7pns02pvqo4gy7&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

No words for this one. https://www.fighterchicks.com/ Safe for work.

We are getting past a rough spot of flaming and since the board is getting back on track, I thought we might keep it moving in the right direction by sharing a few stories about your most memorable moments in your particular aircraft. In 1990 I took a T-38 to Eglin AFB for the weekend. My girlfriend lived in nearby Shalimar and I thought it would be a great place for a weekend stop. I called before I left Houston and she assured me she would be there waiting for my arrival. I got lucky on the way and found a 200 knot tail wind up at FL 390. As I started the let-down into Fort Walton Beach, I noticed I was very fat on gas. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and it was…

Interesting WSJ on the downside to automation . https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304439804579204202526288042

I'm packing up this weekend. Anybody got any good ideas on stuff to make a long deployment more enjoyable? No need to post the obvious: I already have booze, porn, and an inflatable girlfriend.

How hard is it for a pilot/rated officer (with 96 gate months met and 2 masters degrees) to get an assignment to the Academy? is it easier as an academic instuctor? or flight instructor? is it possible to do both? Will volunteering for some bad assignment, allow me to get there afterwards? Thanks in advance.

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!

"What outsourced company would be so stupid as to not bolt down seats?" Oh, gee, I dunno. Contract depot maintenance has such a sterling record.... Things don't seem to be looking too good for American. They're on the downswing while their major competitors, especially Delta seem to have righted the ship. If I were a betting man I wouldn't be putting money on American right now.

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.

To him. And prayers for his family. https://www.ktnv.com/news/one-dead-after-aircraft-crashes-during-training-mission https://www.youcaring.com/julieschultz-943161

Get your training manager to call the Guard Bureau and see if there are any other requests for Laughlin by students selected for Vance or Sheppard(doubtful), its worth a shot. One for one swaps are easier or getting early FY dates are easier to manipulate if your willing to wait a month or two if another student is willing to take Laughlin as a price to go earlier. My friend was working the slots when I worked up in D.C., so I've seen it done. One case of Heineken and I was off to CB instead of Laughlin...but that's a different case literally. Good luck!

I am currently in AFROTC commissioning in May and heading to UPT at some point after that. (Hoping for quick EADs) I have been trying to get into the right mindset for UPT. I, like many guys going to UPT have been wanting to fly fighters for the AF for as long as I can remember. So my question is this: What is the best way to approach the competitive aspect of UPT? I am going there determined to achieve my goals, and will give 110% to get there but I don't want to be that guy who steps on the other studs to get what I want. I have heard that it is an intense competition and it's dog eat dog, but also that you need to help each other out and pass on all the valuable i…

Good day all. The other day I was talking to a fellow at school about our proposed military careers. I'm going for AF pilot, and he's heading Army Pilot. Anyway, the discussion came back toward Battlefield, and the way that people can fly planes, etc. and a thought came to us. So here's the progression: 1: Since pilots can only fly so many hours a day, and are only on duty for a couple days at a time, does that carry over to front line deployment(i.e. bombing runs in Afghanistan, Iraq)? 2: If it does, what does one do on their time off? Here's where the Ranger stuff comes in. 3: If a pilot were Airborne, and Ranger qualified, would they be allowed to go out with the…

Just heard from a friend. Anyone confirm?

I've heard from a few different guys that when in RVSM airspace you should climb/descend at 1000fpm. I can't find any concrete source stating this so I'm wondering if anybody else has heard of this or know where it could be referenced. I understand it makes sense with TCAS and whatnot but I'm just curious if it's strictly a technique. Thanks.

Story developing on CNN. Fox actually has a little more detail... Shots Fired at Bus Carrying U.S. Soldiers in Germany

A guy in my class here at Little Rock told me one of his buddies got a call from Pope asking him if he wanted to go to Cheyenne instead of going to Pope once he got done at Little Rock. Also, I heard a rumor they were dropping Slicks to Cheyenne at Randolph now. Can anyone substantiate this?

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!

This week I received an e-mail from my base's EO office: EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFICE. Leadership opportunity available; EO is seeking 5 project officers for the following committees: Martin Luther King Day / Jan 2014, African American Heritage Month / February 2014, Women's History Month / March 2014, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month / May 2014 and Pride Month / June 2014. To be considered, a completed nomination form with supervisor endorsement should be delivered to the EO Office, "Pride Month" corresponds to Gay Pride or LGBT Pride Month, which happens in June. This seems a little ridiculous. Anyone want to volunteer? Great OPR bull…

Final T-37 Checkrides are today at Sheppard. After this class graduates, there will be about one more month and then July 30th they will fly the last of the jets to the "Boneyard" (AMARG at DM). Large number of you all flew the Tweet, thought you'd want to know...