General Discussion

Any tips on housing? I am married w/kids. I called Moody's housing office and was told there was a 12 month wait...not much help for 6 months of training. Someone told me that all UPT students had to live on base and that we were basically stuck on base. Can anyone validate or dispell that rumor?

GUNNER PALACE reveals the complex realities of the situation in Iraq not seen on the nightly news. Told first-hand by our troops, 'Gunner Palace' presents a thought provoking portrait of a dangerous and chaotic war that is personal, highly emotional, sometimes disturbing, surprisingly amusing ... and thoroughly fascinating. Filmmaker Michael Tucker, who lived with 2/3 Field Artillery, a.k.a. "The Gunners" for two months, captures the lives and humanity of these soldiers whose barracks are the bombed-out pleasure palace of Uday Hussein (nicknamed Gunner Palace), situated in the heart of the most volatile section of Baghdad. With total access to all operations and activi…

I talked to quite a few AD guys and they all said they would have gone to the reserves over AD.Can any AD guys tell me if you would have gone that route instead.Is the reserves that much better?Thanks

Hey all, another new C-130 co-pilot in training here. I just finished corpus and I'm enroute to the rock. Final destination: Yokota AB. Maybe I'm jumping the gun here, but assuming I survive CP school, any advice for moving to Japan? Thanks! J

I have had it suggested to me that since I will be late to rate (got 5.5 years in currently...closer to 6 when I START UPT), I will have to work twice as hard as my peers when I get to my primary MDS if I hope to get past Maj (or even to Maj?). I'm really not worried about making GO, I just want to fly and keep flying as long as possible...0-5 SQ CC would be nice too, but that's about it. I know I'll probably be way behind in my primary weapon system (whatever that ends up being), but on the plus side I've got 5+ years of experience leading units ranging in size from 50-250 enlisted troops fairly successfully as a maintenance guy(some good E-7s and E-8s helped a lot wit…

I just recieved a pilot slot through OTS. I turned 26 in march and figure I won't go to OTS till about that time next year, meaning I'll graduate UPT at 28. So am I going to feel like old man river in my class? Are most students right out of college and about 23 or so?

Do these assignments come out of the T-1 or T-44 (or both) side of the house? Sounds like a pretty good deal. Anyone ever served on one of these tours before? Please PM with any details you can share. Thanks.

Anybody know if a student pilot in UPT, while on leave away from training, can pilot a civilian aircraft? In what regs would something like this be? I've heard it can go both ways, so I'm not too sure. I've got some Christmas leave coming up and have really been looking forward to taking some friends on a ride in the 'other' cessna type. ...So... am I allowed?

Do fighters ever practice intercepting airlines, or are they allowed to over the CONUS? I remember seeing a site a while back where French Mirages routinely intercepted USAF flights travelling over their airspace, and have also seen pictures on airliners.net where they'll fly on the wing of an airliner as well. Thanks

Dropping the Boystown reset yesterday reminded me that we used to have a SID out of Laughlin called the Boystown Three. I always wondered how they got away with it for so long. I am checking the NIMA site right now, but I don't see the SID anymore (and the site is painfully slow). I did however find the ILS RWY 36 at Hurlburt Fld which still has Sammy has the IAF. For those not familiar, Sammy’s is the local strip club three miles east of the base (So being sent to Sammy and hold is not necessarily a bad deal). Anyone have any other examples? [ 22. February 2006, 12:05: Message edited by: ClearedHot ]

So I just finished my T-38C upgrade, and now this FAIP is finally starting to fly with a HUD tape on a daily basis. For the fighter guys out there that fly with tapes: How do you cope with this? It seems like every little thing I say in the jet now is subject to scrutiny...and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Sure, I try to keep my language clean, and I'm not screwing around (sts) and doing stuff I shouldn't in the air (in this or any other aircraft, of course). I'm not concerned about flight discipline issues. However, do the lawyers love to pull tapes any time something nonstandard is observed? I was flying with a LtCol the other day doing some CT stuff,…

The Barksdale BX just started selling firearms. I was just curious if any other BX's have started doing this as well? The prices seem fairly reasonable and the tax free is the best part! They've got everything from Glock and HK to Remington.

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.

Hello, I'm interested in becoming a PJ and I'm curious about how they are regarded within the USAF. I've read quite a bit of interesting things in the forums about SP's, but can you guys tell me about your experiences working with PJ's and what you think of them. I know that they're pretty much considered aircrew in the Rescue Squadrons. I know this isn't really about flying but I'm curious to hear some opinions from aircrew and non aircrew members. I've been on the special tactics forums but I would kind of like to hear some outsider perspectives on their community. Thanks

I just track selected, Laughlin 08-07, and was chosen to fly UH-1 at Fort Rucker and was wondering if anyone knows the chances in going to CV-22's upon completion? Also, any good advice for what to expect at Rucker would be appreciated too! Thanks!

From AFA... I love the linked article, especially the comment "Crew members forced to evacuate in-flight aircraft with parachutes, for example, have much gentler impacts with the ground than those without chutes." Real funny. I know the Stratotanker has an excellent safety record, and the odds of actually getting out with a chute on are slim; but I would be curious as to what "real" crews thought and not the brainwashed gerbils that AF/PA gets to quote in their reports? Cheers! M2

Hey all - I've been on hold with the total force call center for 45 minutes now, so I figure it wouldn't hurt to reach out to you fine folks and see if someone here has the answer I need. I understand that if I were to transfer my benefits today, I would have to commit to another 4 years of service. I am eligible to retire in January 2021, and I was wondering if they'd make me extend my service beyond that date?

We’re looking to change our squadron call sign to better align with our heritage, but the base call sign manager says our choice isn’t legal based on AFI 33-217. We want to use CHETR XX (pronounced Cheater). 33-217 has been rescinded according to the e-pubs website, but the call sign manager says that he has to still apply it because the Air Force level call sign manager still uses it. Anybody got experience dealing with this?

Any aviators here who have set their wings down, made the jump, and parted the curtains on the new 13O gig? I’m well outside the window... I’m just curious to hear initial impressions, thoughts, and regrets if you have any. Any rumors on which LAF category you might promote in?

Couldn't find a relevant existing thread for this one: https://taskandpurpose.com/military-children-born-abroad-citizenship The part that seems confusing to me is making the child take the oath before the 18th birthday.... So, sometime after learning how to understand human speech and learning how to speak English but before 18th birthday. This would have been interesting for me since I had a kid in January 20XX and moved back to the States two months later. Would have had to apply for an immigrant visa or something?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/35888/ai-claims-flawless-victory-going-undefeated-in-digital-dogfight-with-human-fighter-pilot https://youtu.be/McH63bA9TDU Have we learned nothing from Terminator!!!??

Asking for a friend because I am not experienced with the heavy side of the house. Trying to get a feel for how much time are units asking out there. "My current unit (heavy) wants 8 days a month. I have seen other units as little as 2 days. I am losing a ton of money with the airlines at this point (CA at a legacy) but still have a service commitment. " Thoughts?

Good morning aviators. I had an idea that crossed my mind about investing in a flight sim. Items including stick, throttle, and rudder pedals (https://shop.thrustmaster.com/en_gb/t-16000m-fcs-flight-pack.html), and some kind of good reviewed/ not too expensive pc and monitor to play Microsoft Flight Simulator, and DCS. I have the money to pay for something like this, so I am not too worried about the damage, but I was looking for some input. Do you think buying, and playing a sim is worth it? ex. improving pilot skills; getting familiarity with jets that could possibly help in phase 2 & 3 of UPT (possibly practicing t-6 and t-38 maneuvers, for example formation …

I am a Navy veteran, Air Force brat and avid enthusiast for airpower of all branches. I was privelged to serve in the Navy as an enlisted aircrewman in helicopters, and everything I learned there I have applied to how I conduct myself as a civilian and as an airline pilot now. I grew up as a "70's" child looking thru fences, standing on the flightline or riding my bike to the end of the runway. My heroes were all pilots, mostly Air Force at the time. The Viet Nam era was winding down when I started high school, and I recall vividly the POWs returning from North Viet Nam. I read about the F-105 pilots that flew over North Viet Nam, and the obstacles that they faced beyond …

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