General Discussion

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?

Dudes, Am I dense or do Air Force squadrons not make cruise videos like the Navy and Marine Corps? Akin to something like what the Pukin Dogs' released -

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). …

I hear a lot of talk about military traffic patterns with fixes and all kinds of stuff. What does a military traffic pattern actually consist of? Is a VFR pattern more like an approach or is it just a general procedure?

Well here I am a month from starting my journey to becoming a pilot. I'll be starting college and AFROTC. Of course, I've been pretty lazy this summer and I told myself I need to start exercising to get back into shape. I'm actually pretty busy (work 7 days a week, almost all day... family business) but I plan on working out in the morning. Just curious what all of you do to stay in shape? Just run and sit-ups and push ups? Or have you found it beneficial enough to get a membership at a local gym? I figured just running, sit ups, and push ups would do it but I'm no expert in exercising. I use to lift but I'm not in good 'ol high school anymore where it was free. …

Hey all, I'm waiting to be assigned my UPT base and trying to get things in line. My family has a little Cessna 170, and I was wondering if AD members are ever allowed to land/hangar private planes on active bases. I talked to the Ops manager at Hurlburt and he said he had heard of it, can anyone confirm? I would imagine there is some loophole, but I don't have any stars to flex either. Something to do with the flying club on base? Thanks.

Just wondering why you never see fighters do a mach 1 flyby at airshows? I think it would be a huge attraction to see a plane fly by at the speed of sound. The fastest I've seen them fly at airshows is ~250 kts. Is there a reason for this? If prohibited by FAR's, can't they relax them for the show?

Hey everyone, I just got picked up as a WSO and will be graduating in May. My question is what type of swim requirements are there down at PCola? As sad and embarrassing as it is...I cant swim for crap. I can doggy paddle and that is about it...can't tread water...don't know any fancy strokes (STS). Also, who else graduating in May is heading down there? Thanks -ElRoy [ 12. January 2005, 17:50: Message edited by: ElRoy ]

I recently got tasked to go to Balad for 120 days. I've never been to The Sandbox before, although I have wanted to for some time. I leave some time in March. I just wondered if any of you guys/gals who have had the experience could tell me anything about their trips.

What does it take to become an AF instructor pilot? Do you go to instructor training directly after UPT or do you have to complete some time in a different airplane first? Also, what does it take to be a test pilot? I've already got the Aerospace Engineering degree.

My husband is currently training at Corpus Christi and will be selecting his aircraft soon. Neither one of us have heard much about the EC but we would like to live in Tuscon. We don't want to choose an aircraft strictly based on location though. My question is does anyone here know much about this aircraft and lifestyle? He would really like to get into a special ops plane eventually. Would this hurt his chances later on if he got an EC now? Thanks in advance for entertaining questions from a newbie.

Is everyone in the 38 track required to take a trip on the fuge? How about guys who know they want bombers or FAIP assignments? Just curious. Thanks.

Hello, this is my first post in this board. My name is Pat and I am currently enrolled in AFROTC after coming off 4 years of Active Duty as a C-130 Loadmaster. I have a question about wearing a leather flight jacket with blues. (assuming I get a new nametag and an AETC patch.) I couldn't find any reference to this topic in the AFROTCI 36-2008. Another question is, is it authorized for me to wear my enlisted aircrew wings with my blues. Thanks for any help you give, this board and website is awesome. Best Wishes, -Pat

"MMmm... He looks tasty."

Just wondering what all of your opinions are on this: https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,176935,00.html Kinda sad how PC we've become. It's ok for them to burn, cut up, drag and then string up civilian contractors on bridges However, if we burn some bodies for hygene reasons everyone screams foul-play. Sometimes I think our politically correctness will be our downfall.

I ran across this item in an article in the paper regarding expositng and prosecuting fake SEALs and special operators: Some of you might remember someone named 'Princess' who was posting on another website that she was an F-16 pilot back in 2003. She was exposed as a fake...I wonder if this is the same chick? heh heh The tip off is that she has a Bronze Star, yet no Air Medals or Aerial Achievement Medals. https://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce/pressReleases/2005-Apr-07.html

Anyone know of an actual statement in the regulations that says promotion ceremonies are up to the individual? I want to dispense with the nonsense and just wear it to work, but I am getting some pushback.

I RNLT 4 Oct to Barksdale for casual status. Is there anyone on the boards here that can give me some ground truth when it comes to apartments in either Shreveport or Bossier City. Is it better to live on the Bossier City side of the river for commuting purposes? Any info would be great. Thanks. PS- search function used!

I was always curious about how much fuel the military burned. 128.3 million barrels, or $8.8 billion worth last year according to the article. And I thought $20 - $25 a tank was high. Pentagon battles high fuel costs

Feel free to delete this if you deem it inappropriate. However, many of the posts we have somehow end up showing our disdain for how the new and sensitive AF has shed the traditions of the past. Somehow, we have to begin to swing the momentum back to our favor. What are some suggestions? Realistically? I think just by people talking about it, and doing so publically in the squadron, we can drum up momentum. When folks dont say anything because someone might disagree/get offended, or there is some 0-6 in the room, we do no one any favors. In my squadron, we are pushing to bring a bar back, since it was supposedly canxed a few years ago. While that is gonna be…

I was recently updating an article I wrote on pointy nose weaponeering a few years back. I interviewed the RAF equivalent of a FWIC IWSO for the article, and he talked in some depth about teaching his studs to manually calculate fusing, impact angles, penetration depths, impact speed etc. Of course, theere are also computers that can do all this stuff, but I suppose that the RAF wants to make sure that its FWIC studs don't forget how to do it the old fashioned way. Anyway, it got me to thinking about some stuff I was told about the mission planning software used by USAF strike pilots and WSOs. I was told that you could input, say, a command bunker into the computer,…

Just wondering if the T38 IP's at these bases were U-2 and B-2 pilots or if they are strictly T-38 IP's , and if they are where do they usually come from ???UPT bases or from MWS's thanx for the help. and do they still fly A model or did they get the c model ?????//

Hello everyone I am new to Baseops and I have been a long time reader. I find this website to be one of the greatest resources anyone can come across if one is to pursue a flying career in the military. Kudos to everyone for the great work! I need some advice from those who wish to reply. I am currently a freshman in college studying electrical engineering. I have previous college experience with sophomore credits, but because I changed schools and majors, I am now a freshman….again. I chose engineering because I was involved with an engineering club in high-school. The subject really interested me. But, the real reason why I majored in engineering is because of my mom. …