General Discussion

Thoughts and prayers. https://www.cnn.com/2013/10/23/us/vintage-plane-crashes-texas/index.html I almost went for a ride this past weekend when I was in Galveston visiting the wife's family.

Say goodbye to Manas: https://www.stripes.com/news/kyrgyzstan-bill-likely-to-end-us-use-of-air-base-at-manas-1.226777

https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/no-injuries-as-c-130-makes-hard-landing-in-afghanistan-1.221629 *sigh* Can't wait to see what caused this.

Decent article about the decade-long camouflage uniform screw up that has seemed to plague every service but the Marines.

It seems that Air Force aviation is more competitive than Naval aviation. Is this true? Why do most people choose to go Air Force? Is it because the have a bigger selection of planes? Or do they just dislike the idea of being stuck in a ship in the middle of the ocean?

Is anyone flying this fiscal year? I'm in a bubble here at USAFA and all I know is that we're not flying (gliders, jump, powered) because of the shutdown. Today (most) of our civilians came back to work but no one knows when we will fly again.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/23/vietnam-era-fliers-buried-side-by-side-at-arlington/ Major James Sizemore and his navigator Major Howard Andre were found in Laos last year and were recently buried in Arlington. Unfortunately due to sequestration and being the end of the fiscal year the USAF said they couldn't provided a flyover. Thankfully pilots from the non-profit Warrior Flight Team stepped in and provided not one but two flyovers the second in an A-26; the same plane Sizemore and Andre flew into Laos 44 years ago. No one could come up with 4 hours to support this? I spent 30+ flight hours last week flying "medievac" missions for retired dudes with spr…

Guys, I'm a C-130J pilot (Iraqi air force), we recently bought and started flying these birds. As we are progressing we started to be aware of more issues in the aircraft. One of which is the digimap. I'm wondering if it's possible to create a map format using TASM and what format would that be? or do we have to have a contract with a third party i.e honeywell? the second is updating CNI-MU navdata, how? where from? I appreciate any inputs, Thanks,

Does anyone have any good recommendations for an adaper for the single plug cord on helmets to the civilian general aviation dual plug set-up?

Preface. All you older dudes might think its lame, for the others it's pretty long... "Snipe check" "2" "Snipe Go Channel 3 Crank" "2" It's been a long time since I've been solo. An hour long brief on maintaining offensive advantage, gaining turning room, maneuvering to the WEZ and taking every available shot during the fight was overshadowed by one simple rule of engagement - Don't hit lead. He never said it but he knows in 30 minutes he'll have a cocky 2LT on his 6, fangs out, gun blazing oblivious to the fact that 200 knots of closure equates to a heartbeat from disaster at close range. He signs me off anyways knowing that a handshake and a bottle of…

Wondering if anyone else caught this. I don't know who's to blame more. The Marines or the guy taping this and leaking it out. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/12/panetta-orders-probe-video-showing-marines-urinating-on-dead-taliban/

Has anyone heard of any programs that will send a rated guy to Law School on Uncle Sam's dime? Cheers.

Baseops, I'll be attending UPT in May. I'm a very inexperienced private pilot with just around 100 hours (I'm a teacher so I currently don't have the $ to fly regularly). I was wondering if anybody has any online/study guides/video recommendations for general instrument lessons? I've been told that military instrument flying is 'somewhat' different than civilian but I would just like to have a decent base of how it all works. I've already used some of the helpful info about the T-6 info given on baseops.(Thank you for those that shared those items) Any and all help is greatly appreciated. -Chem

Not much has been said on the matter outside the local Las Vegas news. Sounds like everyone got out just fine though the rumor mill has it the aircraft is VERY badly damaged ("burnt to the ground" was the exact phrasing). Just hope that everyone is indeed alright. https://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/aug/27/nv-marine-osprey-crash/

3 of 5 crew listed as "stable" https://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/22/navy-helicopter-crashes-in-red-sea-5-onboard/

Got an e-mail recently that you can no longer get cold hard cash from finance in the AFCENT AOR. The only exceptions will be in an emergency and if it is signed by your commander. However you are free to and encouraged to use your Eagle Cash Card at all on base locations. Also, there is still no tobacco at one particular "undisclosed location in southwest Asia." Welcome to the fight!

Hello, My name is Kevin Waddle. I am a retired USAF Chief Master Sergeant, aircraft maintenance, working on my Master's degree in aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. As part of my graduate capstone project, I am researching generational and aviation experience related differences in attitudes toward automation in aviation: specifically, as they relate to future unmanned commercial aviation. No personally identifiable information is collected in this survey, only demographic and opinion information. To complete this research I need your assistance in completing a survey. The survey is located at https://waddleweb.com/lime/index.php/462867/l…

Initial reporting says 10 shot (8 civilians and 2 police) and 3 shooters. Does not say any are fatal. https://www.washingto...b549_story.html

How hard is it for a pilot/rated officer (with 96 gate months met and 2 masters degrees) to get an assignment to the Academy? is it easier as an academic instuctor? or flight instructor? is it possible to do both? Will volunteering for some bad assignment, allow me to get there afterwards? Thanks in advance.

"Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs Office 11/26/2012 - Robins Air Force Base, Ga. -- A new proposed Aviator Retention Pay program for Air Force Reserve aircrew is expected to begin in 2013. The ARP plan focuses on retaining aircrew officers to meet basic mission requirements for the reserve. The offer will target only locations where significant shortfalls in rated officer manning exist and will offer a $30,000 bonus over a three-year span. Pilots and combat systems officers who have completed their initial training commitment including those eligible for retirement but excluding those in the 16 to 20 years of service wil…

Precursor to Stop Loss…any other 11F's get an email today that they're being recalled from their whitejet gig (after a year on station) for an F-16 TX course in Nov??? Evidently there's a surplus of cockpits and lack of volunteers. Who would have guessed? C44

https://www.stripes.com/news/juicy-bars-air-force-puts-squeeze-on-businesses-linked-to-human-trafficking-1.238446

Anyone ever done it? I'm considering the option because I don't want to add the miles. I have a short term PCS across the country but will be coming back to the same station after 6 months. Will add +/- 6,000 miles to the odometer if I take the drive. I understand that the GOV will only pay for it if it's cheaper than driving, so I am looking into paying out of pocket as well. Any insights or experiences are appreciated. I'll essentially be moving from the pacific ocean to the atlantic.

It appears the moderators don't want this thread out there. But that's ok, cause the "AMS Robot" took care of the topic for us. Check your inboxes at work, guys. If you're an eligible volunteer, you'll find info there (and lots of it!) S&C

Seems odd to be speaking so late on a Sunday night!