General Discussion

Interesting. Any A-10 drivers out there up for this? "The U.S. military’s veteran A-10 Thunderbolt II is built for battle: a titanium-armored cockpit protects its pilot from explosive projectile hits, and it can carry weapons like a 30-mm nose-mounted cannon to take out enemy tanks. Now the National Science Foundation (NSF) plans to arm a retired Thunderbolt not with bombs, but with scientific instruments, and use it to study the inside of violent thunderstorms—where winds, hail, and lightning would take down lesser planes. The NSF recently awarded a $10.9 million grant to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., a to refurbish a retired Thunderbolt fo…

I just received notification that my US Standard Issue (Oakley's military program) account needed to be renewed. As a part of that process, I was instructed that a copy of my military ID card was required... I informed them that photocopying U.S. Government identification cards is a violation of Title 18, U.S. Code Part I, Chapter 33, Section 701 and punishable by fine and imprisonment. And asked for instructions on how to renew my account without this requirement. Then I started wondering if everyone on here--especially some of the younger crowd--was aware of this, so I am posting the info here. From what I have been told, there are exceptions f…

Anyone have the 411 on this gig?

And the pendulum swings again. https://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123280212

https://www.wtkr.com/news/military/la-fi-bunker-buster-bomb-20111117,0,7519435.story Pretty cool, but by my math that's over $15M per boom. I hope we're getting more than just 20 for our money.

Now, that the ANG has the C-27J mission in total, where is the C-27J School House? I have no idea if the AF senior leadership truly wanted this mission, but it's great in receiving new airframes regardless of size. Nice decision on the part of Sec Def Gates, who made it possible. He cut the legs from under the Army on this one. Since the AF likes to play down and dirty by playing Army with new PT standards and JET/ILO assignments nowadays, why not transfer all of the Army's fixed wing aircraft to the AF as well. That will be an additional 250-275 airframes. Possibly another 800-900 pilot positions. Let the Army specialize in helos, that's their bread and butter anyway…

Sent on behalf of SAF/FM ALCON, After more than 46 years of service, Maj Gen Alfred Flowers is retiring on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 as the Air Force’s longest serving active duty member and the longest serving General in U.S. military history. For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be broadcast live via Defense Connect Online (DCO) webcast. Please join us for this historic event! Date: Wednesday, 16 November 2011 Time: 1000 EST Location: https://connect.dco.dod.mil/mgflowers When prompted for your guest name, please enter your name (First, Last, Office Symbol). Thank you!

https://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123279851&channelPageId=s6925EC1356040FB5E044080020E329A9&programId=tA1FBF31D25AE0DF20125FF41AF4B0E56 Cool stuff, 70 guys going for a camp is no joke. Wonder how surprised they were to have those bombs dropped on them, and if the bad weather was part of their plan of attack.

Report says so: https://www.smh.com.au/national/us-marine-base-for-darwin-20111110-1n9lk.html

I am about to enter active duty and go to pilot training. I've talked with a lot of people that served in the AF and it seems as though most people rent homes or they purchase a home and sell it when they get transferred a few years later. If possible, I would like to purchase homes wherever I'm stationed and then rent them when I get transferred and have a property management company take care of it. This way when I get out of the AF I will have built up equity in these home and I would then transfer that equity to the home I would move into. Does anyone know of people that do this successfully while in the AF active duty? Is it possible to successfully own …

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15640104 Bad luck...

Anyone have a line on a brand of t-shirts that doesn't either have a 3 inch neck line or stretch down to your balls after one use? All the mil clothing brands suck...only one rocking the black T today so I guess my union failed and I need some new shirts...

I pray the pilot got out! 6/28/2011 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- An Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon from here crashed June 28 about 5:30 p.m. PDT near Caliente, Nev. The F-16 was participating in an air-to-air combat training mission. One person was on board. The individual's condition is unknown at this time. As soon as additional details become available, they will be provided. The accident is under investigation. https://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123261945

I hope the link works: From AirShowBuzz.com's video library

Morning All, Making this easy for everyone. We have just launched the new VIP area for our new website Kia Kaha Media where we have downloadable PDF files for HeliOps (Civil helo ops) and Cleared HOT (Military helo ops), as well as our other magazines such as P1 (Motor Racing). Anyone here who would like access to the VIP area just do the following: Click on https://www.kiakahamedia.com At the very top right there is a button titled VIP Login, click on that. Then on the right hand side it takes about 30 seconds to fill in the form. We then approve you and you can log in to the VIP area and download all the mags. Once you have access to the VIP area there its g…

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 …

Read this article while snooping on Air Force Times... Consider it a learning tool for all... ********************************************** Military pension would be hard to match By Barbara H. Pietrowski - Special to the Times It's fairly easy to calculate the dollar amount of a military pension after 20 years of active service, and we know a military pension is indexed for inflation so that it goes up over time as cost-of-living increases are granted. But what is it really worth to you? One way to answer this question is to ask: "How much money would I need in a retirement nest egg to give me a monthly income instead of my military pension?" …

Just wondering if there's a potential VSP in 2012; any word out there???

Sorry if this has been beaten into the ground I tried using the SF and nothing came up. Additionally this is not a thread to expose or raise any BS flags regarding this individual, Im sure there is useful information included in this program. Im only inquiring the thoughts or feedback from anyone using this program? Is it mostly rah rah get off your a** stuff? or what? More specifically Id only use it for info regarding the Age ETP process.....

https://www.nellis.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123277124 Pilot ejected and was picked up. Not much else to say at this point... stay tuned.

From this morning's AFA Daily Report: Plan B: Procuring F-22s is a viable option for the Marine Corps in place of acquiring the F-35B strike fighter, according to one Marine Corps officer. Doing this "may seem like an extreme course of action, but it makes the most sense for the Marine Corps for several reasons," asserted Maj. Christopher Cannon, an operations analyst with Marine Corps Combat Development Command, in a September article in the Marine Corps Gazette, the service's professional journal. Cannon argues that the Marines could purchase F-22s for less than the F-35's current flyaway cost. Plus, F-22s would "cost less" to maintain than F–35Bs, he states, citing …

Hearing rumors that the T-6 is grounded AF-wide. Anyone know what's going on?

Evening All, Just wanted to invite any rotorheads here to partake in our complimentary subscriptions to our new digital publication for the military helo world. We are up to Issue 3 of Cleared HOT and thought we would extend some complimentary subs to members here. If you would like to enjoy the magazine, a totally digital publication, then please drop me a PM here with name and email address and will send you the invite to our new VIP section where you can download Cleared HOT as well as HeliOps, our civil helo mag and also many of our others. Cheers Everyone, Rick Admin Manager Cleared HOT

I'm curious if anybody has been to JAOPC or CWPC in the past few years and if either, or both are worth the time. I have been offered both but don't want to waste my time. On the flip side an old boss also said to take whatever schooling they'll give to ya. Thoughts?

Hey all, hopefully someone has a clue regarding my question... Currently, I'm a guardsman on AD for nav school. I was a guardbum loadmaster before leaving for training, but am unsure of how good bumming will be when I get done with training. I've started to look at my options in the federal civilian sector on USAJobs. My question is, am I even eligible to apply for a civilian fed job while on AD? If I am, will they even look at my application if I'm putting my first available date isnt for a year (UNT/follow on 130 school)? Or is it possible to apply and if I'm the most qualified applicant, to get a job and just not start until I'm off AD? Anyone have any exp…