General Discussion

Just thinking out loud, looking for some opinions. I'm up for assignment, not soon, but soon enough to begin thinking about it. I have nothing to weigh me down and have pretty much decided that I want to go OCONUS. I'm not a flyer but Intel, and will not be restricted to just AF billets - wouldn't mind joint billet. Thoughts on different locations in terms of quality of life, things to do, cost, mission etc etc.? Wouldn't mind a beach..

https://www.foxsanantonio.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wrongway-big-rig-kills-4-highway-90-15000.shtml?wap=0 Sad day in Del Rio, husband was a great guy, T-6 IP and sim instructor. Whole family died except the youngest son.

Interesting. Any A-10 drivers out there up for this? "The U.S. military’s veteran A-10 Thunderbolt II is built for battle: a titanium-armored cockpit protects its pilot from explosive projectile hits, and it can carry weapons like a 30-mm nose-mounted cannon to take out enemy tanks. Now the National Science Foundation (NSF) plans to arm a retired Thunderbolt not with bombs, but with scientific instruments, and use it to study the inside of violent thunderstorms—where winds, hail, and lightning would take down lesser planes. The NSF recently awarded a $10.9 million grant to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., a to refurbish a retired Thunderbolt fo…

Need some help... Contemplating McgUire as a follow-on (C-17). Can't really find info about the housing situation (off base), except you have to drive about 30-45 minutes, and sometimes up to an hour to get to base from home, and then, you are forking $1500 bones on a mortgage. Where are the places to live? And what/where exactly are the new communities around the base? Looking for a 4 BR, approx 175-225K...am I dreaming? I've heard Mt Holly, Burlington, and Cherry Hill. Am I barking up the wrong tree, or are there different places locally that I should try to research. Thanks

Anyone know if the folks at Flight Safety can/will remove the Centerline Thrust Restriction to an FAA Comm/Multi when doing the checkride for MC-12 training? I've heard directly contradicting information; Flight Safety's own information packet says that they won't allow the checkride to count as an ATP / Be-350 type ride if the student has the Restriction, which implies that the student needs that Restriction removed the minute they walk in the door on the first day. 2ndhand I've heard that more than one student has shown up to training with the Restriction, had Flight Safety add the Vmc Demo maneuver series into the checkride itself, and was able to get the ATP …

Here's a question for OSSers/Airfield Management-savvy types: Once an 1801 is filed, does a record copy of that go in "the system" (I'm sure there's a better name for that, but I have no idea what it is)? In other words, does the FAA and/or ICAO equivalents ever get the full contents of the form, or just the pertinent route/speed/altitude data to generate the strip? More specifically, if the PIC block is ever filled in as anything other than "On File", does that go outside of military channels?

I was thinking about making my gouge available in case anyone wants to use it. API, Systems, systems and NATOPS questions, and EPs so far. If there is a good response to this i'll go ahead and do it.

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…

Hey everyone. I just got an AFROTC pilot slot, and at my detachment you get issued a flight suit right away. However, I am ridiculously tall and skinny, and my detachment doesn't have the size I need (38L). Anyhow, I will probably commission before they are able to order a new one for me, so I've decided that I need to buy my own. However, I can't seem to find the right kind. My detachment doesn't use the CWU-27/Ps which are all over the place, but rather these old flight suits from 1996 made by "Equa Industries" with these Velcro tapes all over. Of course my flight suit has to be standardized with everyone else, and I have to get the right kind. So my questi…

Just a new pilot musing here, but why wouldn’t the Pegasus have some form of winglets or raked wing tips? Although they would probably add some weight and development costs, it’s been done before on 767s and seems to be a cost-effective measure to increase fuel efficiency on all kinds of commercial aircraft. Given the thousands of hours these aircraft will fly, wouldn’t the extra cost be recouped in fuel saved quite easily? Is there something I’m missing here? Appreciate any input.

https://www.f-16.net/f-16-news-article5076.html

Thought that was odd? Where do these guys come up with this stuff! Haha

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

So I hit 20 years of service on 31 May 2015, and requested a 1 June 2015 retirement date. I have an ADSC for Advanced Flying Training (MWS Requal) that takes me to 10 December 2015. I put in my retirement request with a waiver asking to waive the final six months of my 3 year ADSC. The guidelines state that the waiver has to show that it is in the best interest of the Air Force. My justification included the following: 1) Letting me go six months early saves the Air Force six months of O-4 pay + six months of flight pay. 2) The AF is actively Force Shaping. I did not take the recent TERA offer because I was deployed, and doing so would have required me to s…

Is it possible? I've heard some people say it's definitely possible and others say don't bother until you're within 1 year of your ADSC.

New thread for the sidebar topic in Track Select and Assignment night threads... Dual qualification, is it time for the USAF to try it with either some test wings with platforms / qualification levels that could support this for operational needs, manning retention/morale, crew force development (varied experience, technical proficiency, expanded talent pool) and efficiency? I put efficiency last as I think that it is probably the last factor that should be considered for a strategy for implementing dual qualification as a semi-general rule than an a seldom or unique policy. Considering what it takes to make and maintain an aviator - aero rating, qualifi…

From the wizards at HQ AF PA. Link To Story That's pretty hot right there. All kidding aside, I see a brilliant shoe clerk career ahead for this overacheiver. She's 16, home-schooled, the "top CAP cadet", wants to study physics and physiology, her Mom says this award is "opening doors of opportunity", and she's taking karate to keep up with the AF's fitness standards. I'm quite sure if you asked her to name ONE of her friends or one band that has released an album in the last five years, she'd stutter and her head would explode. HD [ 15. May 2006, 02:19: Message edited by: HerkDerka ]

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/09/18/t-6-air-force-trainer-crashes-in-texas/

Hello all. I'm a UPT hopeful for this AD board and I've got a quick question. In your opinion is it worth it for me to get my instrument before I go to UPT? If I don't get selected I'm going to get it anyway to be more competitive for next year. However if the stars align and I'm blessed with a class date is it worth the +7K to get a leg up? Any opinion is welcome. Tnx -MX that wishes he was Ops

So the traditional Co-"Pirate" has an 11M2B DAFSC...but now the LR Schoolhouse is saying that all MPD PIQ grads, whether C-130J or not, are 11M3B. My C-130 PIQ training report says DAFSC = 11M3B. Anyone know of the reg covering this? My MPF classifications section is clueless and my squadron believes PIQ grad's are still 11M2B. I've checked 11-2C-130V1, the PIQ C-130E syllabus, and the Officer Classifications pub w/o success. I need a reg reference to straighten this out. Thx in advance, Swizz

Just out of curiosity, how long do the RTUs last for the various fighter airframes??

Baseops, I'm trying to finish my Master's and I'm writing on the effects of transitioning the Air Battle Manager syllabus to entirely simulators. No one has advocated that course of action but I want to research the effects of using more simulation for pilot, navigator, and EWO training to see if I could draw any conclusions or parallels. My question is has anyone seen/read/have any recommendations on literature I could review that deals with the effects of moving commercial or military aviation to more simulators and less live fly? Waldo

Awesome...

Currently at UPT and starting to think about a dream sheet. Unfortunately ole' COVID has really hampered operational guys from stopping by so I can pick their brains. I'm AD and I came from a Viper guard unit (enlisted but I did interview). I enjoy flying but as much fun as fighters would be, I'm pretty sure I don't want to spend my days in a vault. Looking for advice on any of the following: U-27 and 28s CV-22 130 (SOCOM) ISR 135s U-2 B-52 T-38A (to my understanding this is considered a pre-22 assignment?) I greatly appreciate any insight.

So question... as BO dot net is a highly secure forum we'll be able to discuss technical details and numbers /s but... I saw this, historical photo of a RAF Canberra bomber with ASW missiles: and wondered what the 11F crowd thought of instead of a loyal wingman (unmanned) why not a manned high flyer (above 50K) with another fighter radar in its nose, node in the link, BLOS that data up and other data in and X-teen missiles to call on from the high ground? One platform, optionally manned, crewed not solo, that does high altitude ISR, C2, BACN, UCAV LOS C2 and arsenal missions. Too much for a community to do all those missions?