General Discussion

AT-6 dry lake bed Why is it that the following gear looks to me far less scary? But then again, what do I know?...

Reno Air Races Crash It's been a rough time on the air show circuit lately...

Still developing but looks like some Iranian agents were working up a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the US on American soil. https://news.blogs.cn...iran/?hpt=hp_t2

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…

https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-afghan-photos-20120418,0,6471010,full.story

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

I just received an email from finance that because of my entry date I am eligible for a $30,000 Career Status Bonus (CSB) because I am entering my 15th year and I entered the service during the REDUX years (40%x High3) I have the choice to turn down the Bonus and be on the High 3 plan (50%xHigh3). Ordinarily, I would opt for the High 3 plan and reject the bonus...that said... If the AF decides to non-continue twice passed over Majors like they did in 2011, (which I think is about a 30% possibility in 2013-an educated guess only, I have nothing to back this up) and I reject the CSB then I am basically giving up 30000 that I could use for any number of th…

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…

Discuss...

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

Does anyone know if we can get a copy of AERO installed on our personal iPads? If not, is foreflight the way to go, or are there any cheaper alternatives? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Guard member, PCSd from HOR to UPT base in Feb 2015. Got paid for PCS in April 2015. October 2016, I get a nasty gram in the mail from DFAS saying they paid me twice for my PCS, and are collecting the debt. No phone number or person to call, just DFAS mailing address. I also got a 'Travel Voucher Advice of Payment' online, showing a travel voucher debt. Jan 2017 they collect the 'debt' from my paycheck. The AF never paid me twice.. I have all the bank statements to prove. When I submitted my voucher, I believe finance modified the voucher to remove UHaul insurance, and refiled it. I went to local Guard Finance... they said I'd have to go over to the ac…

USAF teaching Iraqi's to fly airstrike missions. Iraqi crews ‘ready to go’ on mission Part of slow transition from Air Force reliance By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer Posted : Sunday Jul 12, 2009 9:42:57 EDT Airmen deployed to Iraq are teaching their Iraqi counterparts to fly airstrike missions. Today, after fewer than a dozen training flights, two Iraqi aircrews — a pilot and a mission-sensor operator make up an aircrew — are qualified to fire Hellfire missiles from AC-208B Caravans, a military version of the single-engine turboprop Cessna Grand Caravan utility airplane. A third aircrew is in training. “They are ready to go,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Spi…

dobriy den' ! my ««tease post«« was aiming at checking if what my Russian ««istribitel'«« officers friends wrote about people like you....was accurate Laughing at my English, the ««female«« issue....you are for the most part( with some welcome exceptions) exactly what the Russians think . A bunch of rude people,disrespectful, making fun of everything and everybody not USAF. looking forward to your «participation«« in any arctic issue. Like a friend from Greece said lately «NAziTO wanna-be heroes pilots and alikes are better exercise how to eject and swim in cold waters,they will need such skills when the MiGs 35 and Su 47 invite them for dogfights«««....well..…

Hey Folks, I was watching a youtube video of a KC-135 shooting a low-vis approach into Mildenhall. The video terminates with the AC commanding and the CO performing a missed approach procedure, which got me wondering: Are there any airframes out there where crews utilize monitored approaches? I was just curious. I never did em' until I ended up at the airlines, we use them for all approaches of a mile or less visibility. At any rate, I'm writing an article for the IFR newsletter and need to begin from a "know your audience" standpoint. So, Who does them? Mandatory or optional? If optional, are there any prohibitions against a crew performing one? G…

I was wondering if anyone knows if after completing PIQ at ALTUS if I am able to get my 707 type rating. After UPT my whole T-1 class was given a BE-400 type rating. I called my local FSDO today and they said I had to be a AC with at least ten hrs in the left seat as a functioning AC in order to get typed. If thats true then how come another FSDO is giving T-1 studs a type after UPT. Im going to try to call another FSDO that is closer to my unit and see what they say. Thanks for any feedback.

Did a search and all that came up was MC-12 info. I'm looking for current and specific info on C-12's. The following are my questions: 1) What's the ops tempo like? 2) Are they all short tours? 3) Where are they located and where do I find current locations that are open? 4) What are the pros and cons with this gig? 5) Does this assignment make you eligible for a non-vol MC-12 tour? Mobility dude here looking for some "change". Considering C-12 as an option for next assignment or short tour. Thanks!

Oh no! The old baseops.net access to the Airfield Suitability Reports has been yanked (I know they'e been warning us for a while but I was hoping it wouldn't happen). Now we have to get GDSS2 accounts to get to the Giant reports. As a red-headed step child C130 rescue unit in ACC, we rely heavily on the Giant reports for CONUS planning. Any of you AMC bubbas feel like helping a sister out with the odds of/procedures for requesting a GDSS2 account? I'd appreciate it a ton.

Anyone care to share his most memorable experiences in mock air to air fights? This could include a simulator fight as well I think. Could be the time you took on the most challenging or most reputable opponent. Any humorous, dangerous, or accidental moments during or around training? If not your own, do you know a story of another, or perhaps a famous story from another era? Also how did a day of mock fighting go? What was your first engagement like? Did you go out with an instructor all day? Did you go up against several different people in one day or was money so tight that flight time was limited? Did you ever challenge anyone outside of your squadron?

I keep hearing the ANG/AFRC is under a hiring freeze but I just don't see it here or other locations, anyone can attest?

Once again we've pulled off a pristine pirate-killing, hostage-rescuing operation. Awesome! https://news.yahoo.co...-063438091.html US military raid in Somalia frees American, Dane By ABDI GULED and KATHARINE HOURELD | Associated Press – 53 mins ago MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — U.S. Special Forces troops flew into Somalia on a nighttime helicopter raid early Wednesday, freed an American and a Danish hostage and killed nine of the kidnappers in a mission that President Barack Obama said he personally authorized. The Danish Refugee Council confirmed that the two aid workers, American Jessica Buchanan and Dane Poul Hagen Thisted, were freed and "are on thei…

In light of all the discussions of Finance BSMs, it's great to see our Special Tactics guys getting proper recognition for the amazing stuff they do every day downrange. In an Air Force that pays a lot of lip service to everyone being "warriors", these guys are the real deal. Air Force Times Announcement Article detailing Crawford's actions

I'm down at training and I heard a rumor that they were going to stand up a gunship unit over in Mildenhall soon/sometime in the near future. Anyone know of any truth to this with any sources? Sorry ahead of time if this has already been covered... I promise I tried searching before I posted.

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…

It seems that AC upgrade takes different amounts of time depending on the airframe you are in. Can heavy drivers give input on how long (on average) it took for guys in their specific aircraft to upgrade to Aircraft Commander?