General Discussion

Do accidental ejections ever happen from aircraft. When looking at cockpit photos, it looks like there are several ejection handles in the cockpit. Do people ever get things caught in them, or accidentally grab them when turning around to look behind the plane? I assume that they require a good bit of force to pull in order to prevent this? How else is this prevented from happening?

You would think the Navy would have asked this question a long, long time ago.... but, I just had a "Pipeline Production Consultant" (well-paid civilian) ask me why, in my opinion, the AF primary syllabus (T-6/T-37) could be completed in 10-ish weeks less time than the Navy's??? I've done a brief search, but haven't been able to find a copy of the T-6 syllabus. I'd like to peruse it and see what, if any, additional instruction/ flights Navy T-34 guys get that AF guys don't. Anybody able to get me one of these? We're also wondering why it takes at least 15 weeks longer to qual a Navy F-18 driver than it does an AF F-15E pilot. Of course Carrier Qual takes som…

From your e-mail inboxes this AM Fellow Airmen, I need your help. Throughout my Air Force career I’ve learned that when times get tough, Airmen consistently figure out a way to "get it done." Today, complex security and fiscal challenges reemphasize the need to capture and implement your innovative ideas for the Air Force and for the Nation. I want to hear from you and I encourage your participation in a 30 day "Airmen Powered by Innovation" call for ideas on how we can cut costs and better fly, fight and win. There are two options for you to participate in this effort. During the month of May, you can provide your ideas using the Air Force Portal or the A…

Just watched it on TV. Now it's up to the President to confirm.

Here we again, another person to say the era of fighter jets are over. I just wanna hear what the real pilots here have to say about this? https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/28/elon-musk-says-the-fighter-jet-era-has-passed.html

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.

I have no sympathy for Emirates. $46M per month... I'll bet they could pay their pilots a lot more, and still come in under that figure. It's a good time to be a commercial pilot. Article below: A couple of weeks ago, James wrote about how Emirates is reducing some flights due to a pilot shortage. In the past we’ve seen Emirates sometimes store planes briefly due to decreased seasonal demand. While parking planes isn’t cheap, it’s certainly more expensive to fly them at a significant loss, so it’s the best option in those cases. Emirates’ unprecedented pilot shortage Emirates is currently dealing with an issue in unprecedented numbers. Specifically, Emirat…

Anyone know what reg covers gear pilots are authorized to be given through O&M purchases? Trying to spend end of year funds and take care of guys without buying tvs and chairs. Thanks for legit ideas!

https://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/08/army_camo_081709w/ So looks like the Army is going to be ditching the ACU pattern ASAP. What are we going to do? It takes us like 5x longer to implement a uniform than they do (and we still screw it up). So we going to stick with a useless pattern or pull the plug?

Well I am pretty slow and it just dawned on me... The F-22 definitly doesn't have a two seat trainer version...but operantly neither does the F-35. So in a couple decades when Vipers and Eagles have been retired...no more two seaters eh? Does the AF plan on stepping up some of the -38 training (or whatever its replacement might be)? Or does it expect simulators will be so realistic by then that all a stud needs is to pass -38's and then sims? Before this I think the Hog was one of the few jets that didn't have a two seat version for training. F-16D, F-15D, F-18D/F, TAV-8B. These are just the more modern ones... Thoughts?

I just found this site and it seems very helpful for those who post questions on here so I guess I'll give it a go. I have some questions about what my fiance and I should do when I leave for UPT next Spring. We have been together for 5 years and engaged for 7 months. We are going to wait until after UPT to get married but thats not the issue. The problem is being apart for a year, or more. I would consider asking her to come with me but she is will still be finishing up college so I can't ask her that. Honestly, how rough is it going to be for us next year when I leave. I am excited to go, I really can't wait. But at the same time its going to be a long year be…

Have you ever lost your engine? This is my story... July 24th 2010 It was a typical VFR flight out of Destin (DTS) like I’ve done time and time again. I got there about 9AM to do the mission planning and took off around 11AM. We were headed to Orlando (ORL) for a surprise birthday party. I preflighted the C-172 N53456, called to open our flight plan, then talked to Eglin clearance to receive flight following enroute. Just prior to takeoff I did the normal checklists and the engine run-up was fine with both mags working normally. We flew down the coast at about 1000’ taking in the scenery for approximately 5 miles. We then started our climb to 9500’. Approximately…

Can any of you direct me to the engine out procedures for a cessna 172-P ???

According to this: https://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130708/OFFDUTY02/307080019/Vance-background-AF-Lt-Col-s-novel And we all know how pivotal the yellow-helmeted 2lts are to KGB info ops. I keed, I keed. Hopefully it's good & takes off. Anyone got it on pre-order?

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…

Is it ok for enlisted aircrew like loads, booms, etc.. to not salute an officer when outside? Seen this consistently among the TSgts, senior instructors, also one of those dudes put pilot wings on his name patch and wore them? Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

https://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/careers/air-force/enlisted/2015/09/28/enlisted-drone-pilots-decision-expected-early-next-year/72806812/

I'm an officer, pilot-type, who for 17 years, never had the good fortune of directly supervising any enlisted troops. In my current job, I am the OIC of a particular function, and I have one NCOIC who works directly for me. He is a SSgt pinning on TSgt in the near future. The kid is a fast-burner, (already working on his Masters), and makes my job really easy. I feel like I should do more than just pat him on the back and say congrats for the promotion. So my question is two-fold. Is it appropriate to give him a gift of some sort, and what's an appropriate gift? Anyone else ever been in a similar situation? I have a few ideas, but wanted to hear some advice from t…

Hi folks, I am going to ask a question on the behalf of a very close friend of mine who is an E-5 in the Airforce AD. He pursues his goal to become a pilot/nav in the Airforce and he was determined to apply for the Airman Education and Commissioning Program (AECP) Today we found out on the AFOATS page that he can not become a pilot/nav under this program. Also US Military website on About network confirms this. https://www.afoats.af.mil/AFROTC/EnlistedCo...oning/pilot.htm Q. Can I get to be a pilot or navigator through the enlisted commissioning programs? A. Yes and No. Yes for ASCP, SOAR, and the Two-Year POC-ERP. No for AECP. https://usmilitary.about…

Interesting take on the use of the word hero- https://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-j-astore/why-its-wrong-to-equate-m_b_655611.html

ERAU had a pretty rough Christmas. This afternoon, a tornado ripped through their flightline and destroyed most of their airplanes. Here are the gory pictures: My sources say they lost 50 of the 65 aircraft, and their Mx hanger got hit pretty hard, too. [ 26. December 2006, 06:04: Message edited by: Toro ]

Email traffic has been circulating in the RPA community that manning in going to be "healthy" come late 2016. As a result, the wizards at AFPC are estimating that ALFA tour pilots are going to start being released back to their previous manned aircraft, albeit slowly, starting Spring 2017. As a current non-vol stuck in RPAs, I'm hopeful and excited. I was pulled from AMC only after 9 months in my squadron, barely broke over 100 hours flying (boo hoo). I felt robbed, but this opportunity feels like my one chance to get back to what I love. Unfortunately, I don't believe the Air Force is going to follow through with it; I don't think they'll have a choice. After talkin…

From what I can tell a bunch of army dudes call it home and I think some OSW assets were there back in the day. I may be calling it home for a while, anyone have some gouge on what is out there or what to expect?

Has anyone out there used them to order patches from and were you happy with the results? How do they compare to Mardon?

Stay safe brothers and sisters. Flurry Of Air Force Transports Head To East Africa As Potential For Ethiopia Evacuation Grows