General Discussion

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?

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…

New Vance Wing CC put the kaibash on Friday. I'm dumbfounded that is deemed to be out of regs.

I had heard from a T-1 Bud who went to the retirement event at RND that the T-1 is gone from all UPT bases (not counting the CSO training) A few old friends don’t beleive this is the case.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/bells-v-280-valor-tiltrotor-picked-as-armys-black-hawk-replacement

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…

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

Hey everyone, I’m a current regional guy hired by a ANG unit. FC1 completed, approved and standing by for dates. Looks like I’ll be submitted to screen for the Civilian Path to Wings Program. Anyone have information on it? It looks very new and there’s nothing out there. Would it take place at any UPT base or just a select few? Anyone currently in it and knows the timeline from start to finish and what the syllabus consists of? Real excited to get started. Thanks in advance.

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

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…

We all know that the DoD loves to block music service websites, so my question is what have you found to allow you to play music. Live365 used to be the go to site but it recently was blocked. I don't have unlimited data so using the phone is out. All that I can find left is YouTube, which isn't ideal for music streaming. What is everyone else using? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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

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

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 ]

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.

Awesome...

What do you guys do to decide what to do when you lose power/have an engine failure on/shortly after takeoff? I fly GA and gliders and in gliders there's a set procedure based on altitudes agl for what to do if the rope breaks and I can never get a definite answer like that when it comes to flying planes. Like I said I fly GA but feel free to talk about what you guys would do in jets too. Thanks in advance, Gannon

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

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.

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

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

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…

"Maj. Gen. Andrew Toth, a fighter pilot who has flown hundreds of combat hours over Iraq, took command of the Air Force Personnel Center on Aug. 9." Hopefully this results in more transparency and less smoke and mirrors shoe clerkery. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/08/13/experienced-fighter-pilot-iraq-veteran-takes-command-at-afpc/

I got my RIP for Corpus the other day and saw I was going to VT-31 (which has the actual T-44). I've been told by some guys to try and get to VT-35 and do C-12s. Other than the obvious differences between the aircraft, is there and difference in training or benefits in trying to train in one over the other?

Serious question. How do you pilots deal with serious problems at home while deployed or on duty (for lack of a better term). Serious problems such as terminally sick relatives or perhaps idiot family members who are always in trouble or perhaps financial trouble or other relatives who are going through hard times? Does it add to the stress? How do you deal with it exactly? I guess I'm one of those guys who likes to be in control and I get frustrated when bad things happen that I have absolutely no control over. I kind of wonder how an Air Force pilot would deal with this.