General Discussion

99, Just got my approval for transfer into the KC-135 community and I'll be heading to Mildenhall in about a year. I've been flying helicopters with the Navy for about 15 years so I'm looking for some gouge/guidance on what I need to start studying wrt Air Force specific flight rules as well as Air Force-isms in general. I realize I have a learning curve ahead of me so I'm trying to get ahead of the game. For reference, my background, active Navy O-4 helo driver with about 2,700 hours in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. And before anyone asks, I would rather go to the Air Force and get my retirement than get out now and slog through the regionals to make …

https://weartv.com/news/local/deputies-plane-crashes-near-magnolia-springs-home-catches-fire

I'm nearing the end of my MEB process and will be medically retired in the next few months. Unfortunately, I probably will never fly again (my MEB condition is Bipolar, and after the Germanwings incident in 2015, I don't think the FAA will grant a waiver). I applied for grad school this fall, doing a total career change in my thirties, and although my retirement paycheck is nice, it isn't enough to live on. So far I've gotten the following advice from a variety of folks: - Use the VR&E program to pay for school since it has an expiration date and save the GI Bill for later - Get the following three documents while still AD: Memo rating (done), civil service …

Didn't make the news but a AFSOC OA-1K had an engine failure that resulted in an off-runway excursion. I am told the aircraft had a chip light the day prior. Maintenance changed the oil, did an engine run and signed it off to fly. The next day the crew was taking off when the chip light illuminated, followed quickly by a low oil pressure warning and the engine seized shortly thereafter. The crew did a great job of getting it down but ran off the end of the runway...no one was hurt. The thing is a beast, looks like they could bang the dents out, wash it off, bolt a new motor on and go fly. The bigger concern is the PT-6 failure, one of the most reliab…

Please baby Jesus...bring some justice to this douche canoe.

Luke to pick up the F-35. Holloman to lose their new F-22 mission and gain 2 F-16 sqds, don't know from where they're coming though. https://www.kpho.com/news/24442007/detail.html https://www.holloman.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123215576

What's happening to the world? Soldier killed, according to local MP Nick Raynsford https://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/22/woolwich-two-shot-in-police-incident-live-coverage

I heard some rumors at the KMC sports bar that two C-5M's collided during taxi and another C-17 landed short at Dover. There might have been some beers consumed by various crew members at said bar so I don't know how true either of these incidents are.

Some bros were sitting around the flight office the other day and the subject came up and there was some conflicting info. The scenario is that an individual has a year or so on his active duty service commitment and gets PCS orders. To take the orders would extend his ADSC. He doesn't want to extend his ADSC, so he turns down the orders. Can the AF move you anyway? Send you on a 365 or 179? Let you serve out your time where you're at? Other? What normally happens?

NASA's unmanned Antares rocket explodes on launch Looks like it is MREs for the Space Station crew for a while.

It's on the news right now... Discuss.

Anyone have a time frame? I flew with the upcoming Wing King (currently the Vice at Kadena) and he said this was in the works. https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/raf-mildenhall-to-close-amid-other-europe-consolidations-1.322825

Way back when I was an LT someone in our lunch push group produced a reg that said it was ok to have up to two drinks during your duty day at lunch or something. Anyone know of such a thing?

Gates to kill JFCOM

By BGEN Greg Stroud (Ret) Some of you know that I was recently "retired" as the 162 Fighter Wing Commander. The decision was made by Brig Gen Mike Colangelo, the Arizona Air Commander, who replaced me because he "just wants to change the culture at the 162nd". Not for cause or performance or any other reason. This officer never commanded anything bigger than an Air Control Squadron and somehow he wound up in charge. Heck, the guy probably got beat up in grade school everyday. I think it is indicative of what is happening in our Air Force and reinforces what Bruce MacLennan and the anonymous author have to say below. Well, I also have something to say about our changing…

I have heard about the Air Force pilots flying off carriers with the Navy, has anyone heard any info about this?

Thought this was pretty interesting. Proves that the tanker boldface of "Throttles - Cut-Off after touch down" is probably a good idea if you crash land and survive. https://gma.yahoo.com...topstories.html

Damn it. https://www.airforcet...ash-Afghanistan Anyone know anything about this yet? Nickel on the grass.

The story's not really important, but apparently we now have airmen and airwomen. MacDill airwoman charged in boyfriend’s murder

Retirement of Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley DOD News Links 1 2 There were some rumors of who might replace Secretary Donley back in April shortly after he first announced his retirement, but it seems the last few months have gone by fairly quietly regarding this transition. Of moderate newsworthiness, as reported when he was previously appointed and now re-addressed as the new acting Secretary, Under Secretary Eric Fanning, is openly gay. I doubt this needs much, if any, discussion, though it is mentionable. Any opinions on his departure, rumors of change, or discussion of replacements?

Is the Super Hornet still capable against emerging threats from the Mig-35 and Flanker Series? It seems that the Super Hornet and Mig/Flankers have the same agility and same weapon, systems package. Their both heavy weight fighters. But the Super Hornet and Flanker is just a competitive match in a WVR/BVR fight. But the the SH seems to have the better systems, avionics and weapons. While they both are equally great in WVR, but the SH has far better nose authority (to point the nose where it wants to go). But the Flanker seems to be better at speed. But we'll determine if that fight really happens. Also is it still still capable/good in the Air Superiority role as its…

Al Qaeda-linked Somali militant group claims responsibility for deadly Kenya mall attack https://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/09/21/attack-on-nairobi-mall-kills-10-people/?intcmp=latestnews#ixzz2fZJEpDZR Pack your bags, there are terrorists in Kenya! Wait, what? Kenya is in Africa? Never mind.

https://www.airtrafficmanagement.net/2014/07/malaysian-b777-crash-reported-in-contested-airpsace/

Although this link is to a story about AF issues with innovation (I will not attempt to comment on its validity or the author since there are many experts here on both), this is something we talk about across the services. Is being a “free thinker” a personality liability? We all have personal biases and want the way in which makes our living to be the most relevant, but are we going to lose our military edge because we cannot look for answers that may not support theses biases? What are your thoughts? https://omnifeed.com/article/ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/12/03/a_pilot_speaks_the_usaf_is_harder_on_internal_ideas_than_it_is_on_evil_insurgents_ac_130#./a_pi…