General Discussion

I just recieved a pilot slot through OTS. I turned 26 in march and figure I won't go to OTS till about that time next year, meaning I'll graduate UPT at 28. So am I going to feel like old man river in my class? Are most students right out of college and about 23 or so?

Interesting demo. And it seems India will get at least 150 of them...

Anyone have any quick math equations they use in the cockpit like the ones below? 1) Degrees off nose + 20 = crosswing percentage Example: 40kt wind 30deg off nose = 20kt crosswind component 2) Ground Speed / 2, add a zero = 3 degree descent rate Example: 120kt / 2 = 600 fpm vsi 3) 50% of wind gust = Addition to final approach speed Example: Winds gusting 20 = add 10kts to final speed 4) Add 2 subtract 2 rule for reciprocal headings and runways Example: 327 recip = 147. If add 2 to first number, subtract 2 to second number. 1st number is always opposite 2nd number. Third number is unchanged.

Not good at all. https://www.kvoa.com/news/21-air-national-guardsman-indicted/

Well the impression that I got from searching threads about the RC-135 and C-21 (no luck with finding other airframes in the search) is that most pilots would rather get something else in their UPT drop. I think the electronic surveillance, recon, and VIP transport missions are interesting, but from what I gathered on this forum is that, if you're interested, in UPT you can hope to get a C-21 but that is it. How would one be assigned to one of the other airframes, like the Gulfstream? I'm sure these squadrons have a demand for a new pilots as their older ones retire. Thanks

Anybody know why they call it a Pave hawk? Is the pave short for pavement? For example, the Navy uses Sea hawks...becuase they are on the sea. And the Air Force likes to pave 18,000ft runways? Anybody.

From CNN.com BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- A large cargo plane crashed at the end of a runway and split in two while trying to take off Sunday at Brussels airport, authorities said. Four of the five crew members on board the Boeing 747 were slightly injured and were hospitalized, said Jan Van der Cruysse, spokesman at Brussels Airport. "The plane is very seriously damaged," he said. The aircraft cracked in two after it crashed at the end of runway 220, which lies very close to a rail line and houses. Rail services to and from the airport were suspended as a safety precaution, however the crash did not affect other flights at the airport, Van der Cruysse said. F…

I’m an active duty Capt who managed to escape the MSG and about to start UPT at Columbus. I heard some gouge (from two Lt FAIPs) about late rated guys who end up tracking T-38s rarely end up in a fighter. Do they not like sending older folks to fighters (I’m 29)? Is there some truth here or is it just anecdotal Lt rumor? P.S I’m still very much a free agent on what I’d like to fly, I’m not a fighters or bust dude just after information

I finally read about the conspiracy theory on this exercise, other than imposing martial law on Texas to pave the way for theft of precious bodily fluids and prepare the population for mass brainwashing, what's the big deal? OPSEC considered, is anybody here going to support this LFE? Ok, Wolverines...

I used the search function and came up empty handed The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is probably the most popular personality test in use, and I've heard that they used to give it to pilots in the navy. I wouldn't be surprised if many of the guys on here have heard of it. The test indicates how you use your mind based on 4 scales: Favorite world: Do you prefer to focus on the outer world or on your own inner world? This is called Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I). Information: Do you prefer to focus on the basic information you take in or do you prefer to interpret and add meaning? This is called Sensing (S) or Intuition (N). …

Does anyone have some funny Pattern/Area Buffoonery stories to share from UPT Phase II? I love hearing that I'm not the only one acting like a moron. :confused:

I started sport skydiving a couple of years ago after completing Freefall at USAFA. I know you can jump on active duty if you watch a hazardous activities brief or somethings like that, but does anyone know if it's allowed during UPT? Preciate it.

Ok guys, I have a couple questions. Im currently in Pcola for Strike/Fighter training. I will be starting API in a few weeks, so all of my training is still ahead of me. Our only two airframes are Bones and F-15Es. I know we have some Bone guys and Strike Eagle guys on here, my question to you, is what are your pros and cons of your airframes? How many Eagle or Bones slots come through, possibly more E slots? How long is the IFF course? FTU for Strike Eagles is 7 months I believe, how long is it for the Bone? Deployments? Basically my flightmates and I dont have too much info as of now, im sure we will get more later, but just some basic info from the crews …

I cannot imagine that this situation is very unique, but I haven't been able to find any definitive answers. My wife and I are expecting our first child, but the expected due date falls right in between the scheduled completion of a TDY en route at Little Rock (C-130J initial qual - I'm currently an E/H guy) and our RNLTD to our next base (Dyess). My question: Is there any way to extend one's TDY en route without taking leave until after the due date? It would be good to have some continuity in our OB/GYN appointments and have the baby in Little Rock, then travel to Abilene, versus the other two options of: -Her leaving Little Rock in the third trimester and …

Just saw this in the news this morning. I thought this would have already been posted here, but couldn't find it. I'd like to buy this guy a beer. I bet he has some insane stories. U.S. Air Force veteran accused as mercenary in Libya’s civil war is freed June 25 at 10:48 PM An American Air Force veteran who was accused of acting as a mercenary in Libya has been freed after a six-week detention, officials said Tuesday, in a murky episode that highlights the tangled nature of that country’s civil war. Jamie Sponaugle, a 31-year-old Florida man, was piloting an aircraft near the Libyan capital of Tripoli on May 7 when his plane went down, according to off…

Looks like the Boeing folks have a new cruise missile up their sleeves...no, not literally https://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/10/25/boeing-successfully-tests-microwave-missile-that-takes-out-electronic-targets/

Hello, I'm interested in becoming a PJ and I'm curious about how they are regarded within the USAF. I've read quite a bit of interesting things in the forums about SP's, but can you guys tell me about your experiences working with PJ's and what you think of them. I know that they're pretty much considered aircrew in the Rescue Squadrons. I know this isn't really about flying but I'm curious to hear some opinions from aircrew and non aircrew members. I've been on the special tactics forums but I would kind of like to hear some outsider perspectives on their community. 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…

There's a lot of misinformation out there about what is covered by GO 1/1A. GO1A was the change to GO1 that Gen Tommy Franks signed just before the start of OIF, IIRC. However, comments like this one ,She's busy helping her C-130 crew member boyfriend break General Order One, while meant to be funny also show that there is a common misunderstanding of GO 1A. I was in a seminar this past year that showed that there are many people that believe that GO 1/1A covers sexual activity, like the above comment does, but it actually doesn't. Local policy may cover it. So what are the myths and the facts about the GO that are out there? I think it would be interesting to see …

Northrop beats out Lockheed/Boeing. https://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/10/27/northrop-grumman-wins-usaf-bomber-contract/74661394/

Laughed way too hard at this article. Glad somebody finally did it. https://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...p/fonda_spitter

Just saw this. Implications could be huge, if Japan is willing to pay the tooling/restart cost for an F-22A while we bring online an upgraded F-22 as a result. The question is, will Congress/CSAF/DoD ever be able to tear their eyes away from the F-35 to seize the opportunity? Lockheed Should Restart the Raptor Line If Japan Wants An F-22-F-35 Hybrid Geopolitical trends, security concerns, and industrial and combat aircraft capability needs, could give birth to an American-Japanese Raptor 2.0. By Tyler Rogoway Osakabe Yasuo Reuters has published a report that came as little surprise to us at The War Zone regarding Tokyo's intere…

A Van's RV-4 through a river valley. Very nice. https://www.experimentalpilots.com/anrr.wmv edit: looks like that link is broken. Try this one: https://www.rv7-a.com/videos/treetopflyer.wmv This is the same model: [ 13. October 2006, 17:15: Message edited by: nunya ]

A blast from a few years ago...loads of wisdom throughout...and as we all have to do at least one staff job some day, my advice to you is "Learn it. Know it. Live it." (I'm the full hot orator!) Enjoy! M2

Just ventured over to t6driver.com to find that the domain is expired. :( Anyone know if/when it might be up again? Jp-