General Discussion

I've been lurking here for years, so feel free to roast me based on my post count for this question, won't hurt my feelings. Does anyone know why the F-16 Blk 30 went with the SADL radio vs a Link-16 terminal? I assume it was partially because of the cost difference and partially because of the Air-Ground mission set, similar to the A-10s reasoning. Does anyone have any facts about how this acquisition took place or the reasons for the choice made? TG btw, a search for SADL didn't turn up too many viable posts on this forum..I checked.

Hey everyone, I recently became aware of an "issue" that has been making the rounds on Facebook and which is also the subject of a recent JQP post. My response to his article was "detected as spam." So I'm re-posting this here with a desire to see what the BO rank and file thinks of this latest spear from JQ. As follows: JQP, much like the previous article on the Thunderbird mishap, you are way off base. "But things have gotten sideways. The question now on the table is what happens to those who lock in early only to find that the bonus increases in value significantly following year. This year’s ARP package is offering pilots in some career families…

I've been searching and can't seem to get a good answer as to why the A-10 is called a fighter. The best answer I got so far was that it handles more like a fighter. Someone also told me it had air-to-air kills versus Iraqi helos before the Eagles got any kills. Talking with old crusty Navy dudes, they were proud to be called 'Attack' pilots versus fighter pilots. Even though the A-6, A-4, A-7, were all tactical jets, they identified themselves as attack pilots first and the fighter guys were all the F-types. I never saw an old retired colonel more offended than when I made the mistake of even implying that the Hog wasn't a fighter, but an attack platform (meaning …

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU-hJ9r7fGg&feature=player_embedded IMHO, looks like he lost control in slow flight (whether mechanical or pilot error), rolled right, and couldn't recover. Punching out was a good call. Hope you get better soon buddy!

So I've been seriously considering applying for a pilot/OCS seat within one of the service branches. I've narrowed it down between the Navy, Air Force , or maybe even the air national guard. I'm currently leaning navy but having second thoughts because I've heard that don't do too much flying. Can anybody attest to this? Any advice or how to choose between these three branches?

Linkage A cut/paste from the article that concerns me: This struck me as pretty bad. How many people have had their boss tell them "if you can't get a ride or your plan falls through, call me and there will be no questions asked"? Granted calling the boss isn't exactly plan A, but the option DOES exist, and I DO know dudes who have called leadership because they were in a bad spot and out of options. The fact that this is being used to bury this guy seems like a dangerous precedent. Granted there is plenty of other stuff that seems to be going on here, but that one particular incident was highlighted. I know some of you guys are in leadership positions, an…

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

I want to port our paper ORM worksheet into the digital world and dont have a lot of coding skills. Looking for a single product that allows pilots to quickly complete ORM with a database back-end for safety data analysis. Anybody currently use this process in their unit or have files they could send me to poach from?

Yikes! https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2052559/posts Nice job by the crew!

here's a hypothetical situation: crew aircraft with winglets. part of before taxi checklist is to check the area outside the jet for obstacles before taxiing. CP (from seat) scans, "all clear" P scans (from seat), "all clear" LM scans (from in front of the jet, on the ground outside), "all clear" LM hops aboard, closes door, yadda yadda yadda, crew taxis. [sound of something metal scraping] P "what the heck was that?" LM deplanes - sees fire bottle nudged by nose gear. P and LM subsequently get commander directed Q3s. thoughts? objections? comments? i'll start. i think it's crap that the P got Q3d. sure they're responsible for everything, but cra…

So my fiance and myself (OK, mostly me) are wondering when the heck we'll find out what his orders are for after he commissions? He got a pilot slot last March, goes for his flight physical the last week of August and will graduate and commission June 10, 2007. When do ROTC guys typicaly find out the when and where for their first base? Is there a typical order of what they do (ie. ASBC, then IFS, then UPT?) Does anyone know the typical wait for UPT right now? We're hoping to get married 3 weeks after he commissions - so I was just wondering what anyone else knew. Thanks!

I am looking for an old buddy who I served with a long time ago and who separated from the USAF in the early 90s. I am lucky in that I have an old set of orders that has his SSN on it. I tried Intelius but only got a listing of possible cities. A full report costs $50, and I want to be sure the info is worth getting before shelling out the cash. I did a search on his name and in those cities via WhitePages.com; but the one best lead (same exact name) I got was not the right person. I was just wondering if anyone had any recommendations. The driving factor behind all of this was my being contacted by a guy who served with my bud's father in Vietnam, and who was wit…

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?

Well it's about that time... and I'm waivering on what order to rank the fighters. Now I'm set on the fact that I want to fly fighters, hands down, but with very little experience in the AF I'm having a tough time ranking them. My current sheet looks like this 1) A-10 2) F-15E 3) F-22 4) F-16 5) F-15C For those with more wisdom than myself (which doesn't exclude many) can you tell me your thoughts on the A-10/F-15E world and the foreseeable future for Lt's in the airframe. Also, many of the guys around here say I'd be crazy not to put the F-22 first. And I'm honestly considering it. Insight into that world would be great, as well. Moral of the story is my dream sheet is …

Disclaimer: I only know what is posted in the article. https://rt.com/news/meteorite-crash-urals-chelyabinsk-283/ The article claims that Russian air defenses shot down at least one meteor. If so, this would be impressive considering the speed the object was probably traveling at and the very short (presumably) window that would exist to identify, track, and engage it. The article doesn't say what weapon was used to hit it either. IF this proves to be true, this poses some interesting questions about Russian capability to destroy targets coming from space at high speeds (MIRVs).

https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=79432 CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- A U.S. Navy F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, Nev., crashed today at approximately 3 p.m. PST on a U.S. Navy range training complex, approximately 70 miles east of NAS Fallon. Navy personnel are en route to the scene. The Navy has not officially confirmed the status of the aircraft crewmember. The aircraft was conducting a training flight prior to the crash. A safety investigation will be carried out to determine the cause. For more news from Commander, Naval Air Forces, visit www.navy.mil/local/airpac/. Prayin…

Does an oxygen mask (like an MBU-5/P) provide any kind of protection from noise to the microphone? I fly a noisy biplane and I already have a military helmet. I was thinking that using an oxygen mask I could improve the quality of my radio transmissions. Of course the free end of the mask hose would not be connected to an oxygen system, but it would be secured at the back of the cockpit where the noise level is somewhat lower. Another question: does the oxygen mask seal perfectly on the face of the pilot or in airplane with an oxygen system, some of the oxygen seeps out of the mask? Thanks

Local media reporting an EA-6B down near Spokane, WA. Three possible fatalities. Thoughts and prayers for the Navy Bros… Media link: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/mar/11/naval-plane-crashes-harrington/

Discuss...

Anybody got time to kill and feel like doing some interesting reading? It will probably open the your eyes into some realities that you haven't given too much thought. First, read this Congressional Research Service Report for Congress on the security issues facing Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. Read between the lines. Next, read this recent article from The Atlantic. Read between the lines. My opinion only, the real reason we are in Afghanistan is a convenient excuse to keep a foothold in the region so that we can keep tabs on Pakistan's nukes. From the Atlantic article: “The single biggest threat to U.S. security, both short-term, medium-term, and long-term, wou…

I have a general question about flight training with the military translating into the civilian world. If someone enters UPT without a license and works their way through flight school, do they earn instrument ratings, multi engine ratings, etc. just like they would in the civilian world? How would that be applied if they don’t have a PPL? Are they automatically applied to their civilian ratings or would a pilot have to sit for a written/oral/practical exam as a civilian as well? I’m assuming the knowledge is the same or very similar. Military pilots have to know how to fly instrument approaches and multi engine aircraft. As a follow-up, does a mi…

Sorry, if this has been mentioned before. I did a search and nothing came up. Myself, like a good portion of people have heard the myth growing up that you need an engineering degree to become a military pilot. I know this isn't true but I didn't even though that until 5 or so years ago. Growing up I heard from enlisted personal, civilian pilots, teachers, guidance councilors, my parents, other civilians, etc. I know most pilots probably have business degrees or something. I know Robin Olds had a history degree, I believe Dan Hampton who wrote Viper Pilot had a degree in Architecture and I read a while ago about an A-10 driver who was an 0-6 during Desert Storm that …

Anybody got any bright ideas of stuff to do at Kef while you're waiting for a part? We've been here for days with one bad "rescue part" already.. Trip was supposed to be a quick out-n-back the same day.. yeah.. that didn't happen exactly as planned. I think we've checked in and out of billeting 2-3 times now.. the maids are getting to know us by name, and we've bowled so many times that our thumbs are gonna be sore for a week. I've read the OCONUS gouge thrown together by Mr. BaseOps, himself.. looks like a new rescue is in the works again, so we probably won't head out on the town.. Headin' this way? Give us a yell when you get here. Cheers! Linda

Can someone give a quick down dirty of how TOLD/W&B is done in fighter world. Trying to bounce some ideas around in another community.