General Discussion

Im sure that this is a common topic but I need some advice. First off I should have my degree and pilots license by the end of summer. I have been an aircraft mechanic for 7 years active duty and about 2 years as a full time reservist (ART) with the KC-10's at McGuire AFB New Jersey. I work along side the reserve pilots but I really don't know any closely. My question is how do I go about letting them know that I am interested in a pilot slot in the reserves. Who should I talk to? Should I just go talk to them one day, or is it supposed to be a more formal meeting? Im trying to get this rolling but I still feel a little clueless about how the whole process works. Than…

It looks like a lot of kc-10 guys use single ear headsets. Anyone know the deal?

From what I have read, Altus trains only C5, C17 and KC135 crews. If this is true, where do KC10 crews get their training? At their home bases, ie: Travis, McGuire? [ 13. September 2006, 13:22: Message edited by: robot_chicken ]

https://taskandpurpose.com/marine-aircraft-crash-off-japan/ Haven’t seen anyone post this yet. No words on the crew but a total of 7 to be involved. Hope they all made it. 🍺

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3060026/US-Air-Force-refuelling-aircraft-falls-radar-English-Channel.html Anyone know anything about this? I couldn't find any other articles. Thoughts and prays with the crew.

Hi, Could someone tell me the minimum runway length a KC-135R needs for a landing at an away base for an airshow? Thanks.

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.

https://www.flightglobal.com/assets/getAsse...px?ItemID=20741 https://www.flightglobal.com/assets/getAsse...px?ItemID=20742

KC-46 boom severed, hoist cable snapped during AR with F-15 over CA causing the KC-46 to land with half its boom in trail at Travis AFB and F-15 to divert.

The new name has been chosen, Pegasus.

" Air Force Announces KC-46A Candidate Bases The Air Force announced today Altus Air Force Base, Okla., and McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., as candidate bases for the KC-46A formal training unit (FTU). Altus Air Force Base, Okla.; Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.; Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.; and McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., are candidate bases for the first active-duty led KC-46A main operating base (MOB). Forbes Air Guard Station, Kan.; Joint-Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; Pease Air Guard Station, N.H.; Pittsburgh International Airport Air Guard Station, Pa.; and Rickenbacker Air Guard Station, Ohio, are candidate bases for the fir…

I started a new topic for this to consolidate all of the 46 info since they will be coming on-line in the next three years. McConnell has been selected as Main Operating Base #1. https://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130522/NEWS/305220007/McConnell-AFB-selected-new-tanker-base Pease is in line to get the first for the ANG pending an environmental impact analysis. https://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130522/NEWS/305220012/Pease-get-new-line-refueling-tankers Still no word on where the school house will be.

From the searching I've done on this forum, I've noticed a trend. "Good family life" tends to be associated with the KC10, and "gone all the time" seems to be associated with the C17. Can anybody confirm or deny this observation? Thanks in advance.

Just a new pilot musing here, but why wouldn’t the Pegasus have some form of winglets or raked wing tips? Although they would probably add some weight and development costs, it’s been done before on 767s and seems to be a cost-effective measure to increase fuel efficiency on all kinds of commercial aircraft. Given the thousands of hours these aircraft will fly, wouldn’t the extra cost be recouped in fuel saved quite easily? Is there something I’m missing here? Appreciate any input.

Apparently Rotax engines are a target of organized crime (at least in Europe for now). They are showing up in Iranian drones purchased by Russia and being used in Ukraine. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/bizarre-theft-wave-targets-same-rotax-engines-used-in-iranian-drones?fbclid=IwAR2BeFr1ribbpa62UkTrl4klDu-wzhr_O867JfQmLCzbN3EcM0OeTQ7D9mk

This is a question I've always had: I know a guy who is a retired Air Force pilot. He has his old helmet (complete with oxygen mask) on display in his office. Does the Air Force typically allow you to keep your helmet or at least let you buy it or is this not done anymore?

Anyone have any plans or schematics on how to assemble a kegerator from a normal fridge or a mini-fridge. Just got a house on base and I need a project for the garage!!! [ 02. March 2005, 17:11: Message edited by: AlphaMikeFoxtrot ]

Well here we go again; Kentucky Derby is upon us. Tomorrow is the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby, the first and most coveted race of the Triple Crown. This year boasts a newly renovated Churchill Downs and absolutely beautiful weather. The combination has brought more corporate jets to Louisville International than I've ever seen in my life! Be that as it may, we can't let the CEO's and top execs of corporate America have all the fun! Enter the USAF and USN! I walked over and spoke with two of the Lieutenants from Vance. I thought they were just passing through...nope! They're here for the ponies! They flew in today and don't leave …

Kim Jong Un assasinated.....maybe.....probably not.

This is a video the pilots in the scout platoon of the company I was in made in 1988 (B Co. 4-229th AAHR) at Ft. Hood, TX during our unit's start-up and reciept of the AH-64 Apache. It's a parody of the "Apache on the Move" video made by MD to tell the world how awesome the Apache was back then (and it really is, but after a while it got tiring to always hear about the Apache -- I mean the OH-5.8 had been around since the late 60's)! To really understand the parody, you should watch the actual "Apache on the Move" video, if you have time (about 10 mins). Here's the link: As far as the OH-58 Parody (called "Kiowa on the Move"), it's here, and is also about 10 …

OK, Folks... I'm 2 weeks out from rejoining AETC and going BACK to school. Back to Inital Qual for Linda. Anybody got some words-o-wisdom for us Kirtland-bound folks? Good folks at my future squadron, but nobody's got any good info to pass along (other than some incredibly good gouge on off-base billeting)! Request picture, words, and uh... my parrot just dropped dead.... bent... bent... uhm... wake up, Polly! I've got some Ritz for ya'! No, give me the eye-patch! I'm the Pirate! Sorry, folks... having movers at my house all day has twisted my soul even more than I imagined. Off for a Gin & Tonic followed by some good British Stand-Up from Eddie Izzard. Ch…

I'm a few weeks away from receiving my UPT assignment and have found out we have the opportunity to put down a preference for our FTU location after IFF. I've been unable to find anyone at my squadron who's spent any time at the Guard FTU in Klamath Falls, and was hoping I could get some first hand information from some of the guys on this board. Is that part of Oregon a nice place to live for the 6-9 months you'll be there? How does it compare to the "Redneck Riviera" that is Panama City? Appreciate the info.

Perhaps a relatively minor victory in the grand scheme, but a major win in terms of tactical application/integration of airpower in a challenging urban environment. https://www.wsj.com/articles/kurdish-forces-declare-complete-victory-in-kobani-1422362163 In case you haven't been following the news, the U.S. has been striking ISIS positions in the city on a daily basis since October. I'm not sure why the brass, especially in the USAF, aren't trumpeting this one... Too preoccupied with SAPR down days and providing dissertations on the fast track to promotion?

I just discovered the trailer for the Korean film R2B (English title "Soar Into the Sun") on the Aviationist. It looks like pure cheese, and it's drawing the inevitable comparisons to Top Gun: https://www.latimes.c...,0,303239.story And speaking of "Top Gun," has anybody seen the 1990 Japanese Top Gun knockoff "Best Guy?" My JASDF buddies were telling me about it; apparently JASDF F-15s were heavily involved in the filming. It tanked at the Japanese box office.

I am surprised that this hasn't come up on here yet. Kosovo has declared it's freedom from Serbia. Russia has denounced the action and the US is calling for calm in the region and there are still 16,000 peacekeepers in-country. Thoughts? https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,330951,00.html Kosovo Declares Independence From Serbia Sunday , February 17, 2008 ADVERTISEMENT PRISTINA, Serbia — Revelers fired guns into the air and fireworks lit up the skies over Kosovo on Sunday after parliament proclaimed independence, defying Serbia and Russia with a historic declaration as the world's newest nation. A decade after a bloody separatist war with Serbian forc…