General Discussion

After investing $20 billion over 25 years and losing 30 lives in the development of the controversial V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft, known as the Osprey, the U.S. military might like to think that its long-awaited combat debut would go relatively smoothly. But even as 10 Marine V-22s have just arrived in Iraq, the Air Force - which is buying V-22s for special operations missions - has decided the gun on the marine's version isn't good enough for an aircraft expressly designed to ferry troops into hot landing zones. The Marines now flying the $120 million aircraft have insisted that the small gun slung from the aircraft's opened rear ramp is adequate for war. That's a claim …

Anyone have a good copy of the subtitled Downfall video about AETC students and fix-to-fixes? My google-foo is failing me.

Anybody here had one of the accompanied assignments at Al Udeid? If so, I had a few questions about family living in Doha.

I'm waiting on my first set of orders. The NCO in my ROTC office has had them done since Monday, but he's waiting on Finance to approve the Funds Cite. What is this, and how long does it usually take? Thanks BLud

Can't believe this hasn't been posted yet. www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/22/eric-fanning-air-force-secretary_n_3483390.html Opinions?

I'm trying to do some research on the history of my squadron but I'm not having much luck. I've beeen to the AF Historical Research Agency (https://www.afhra.af.mil/) and of course Google, and it looks to me that perhaps my squadron was deactivated/reactivated in the Vietnam timeframe but I can't find much to confirm or deny. You guys have any solid resources for AF history research? Brick, any advice? Square

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/08/30/ISIS-says-it-forces-abduct-pilots-to-train-fighters.html

Has anyone been able to get their CAC reader to work on a MAC not using a windows partition, just plain ole OS X?

Has anyone requested and been approved permissive TDY to attend Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) ground and/or flight training? I'm scheduled to attend a course next month and was planning on taking leave to knock it out, but wanted to look into PTDY as an option. What is your experience and/or take on the idea? AFI36-3003 allows a commander to grant permissive TDY status "to attend meetings or seminars sponsored by non-Federal technical, scientific, professional (e.g., medical, legal, ecclesiastical, Information Technology, and mechanical) societies and organizations" as long as it has "a direct relationship to the member’s primary military duties and clearly enhance h…

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!

https://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/2016/10/bob-hoover-one-of-nations-greatest-pilots-dead-at-94/ ATIS sends.

Does anyone know the convention that the USAF uses in its B-courses? I can't find any regulation or any other document that dictates how it is decided. For example 16-EBG at Luke or 15-BBH at Holloman. They aren't always the same even at the same base. Does anyone know what or how the letters are decided? Thank you for your time! Redshift

https://fox13now.com/2014/08/17/photo-air-force-plane-makes-hard-landing-at-hill-air-force-base/ At least they tried to get the gear down.... Sounds like the crew made it out safe thankfully.

Or is it just WRI that can't seem to figure out how to properly get our computers to mesh with another USAF network??? We haven't been able to get into AMCART reliably since November, and the civilian fuels dude (who AMCART was supposed to replace... yet he's still in the same job) insists we're the stupid ones, and AMCART works just fine.

Anyone here know if the reduced oxygen breathing device / hypoxia familiarization trainer (ROBD/HFT) is now interchangeable with the chamber as far as currency is concerned? edit for correct verbage

Decade forecast from Stratfor, sounds plausible, world somewhat FUBAR somewhat functional. https://www.stratfor.com/forecast/decade-forecast-2015-2025 Here's the Jack Ryan part: It is unlikely that the Russian Federation will survive in its current form. Russia's failure to transform its energy revenue into a self-sustaining economy makes it vulnerable to price fluctuations. It has no defense against these market forces. Given the organization of the federation, with revenue flowing to Moscow before being distributed directly or via regional governments, the flow of resources will also vary dramatically. This will lead to a repeat of the Soviet Union's experi…

Hawker Hunter Mk. 58 out of Pt. Mugu. No ID yet. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-plane-crash-port-hueneme-20141029-story.html Him him....

I know the general rule is 2-3 years at a base - less as you go become more senior. But how long should a non-rated new Lt expect to stay at a particular base? I remember hearing that between on-the-job training, ASBC and if you get out after the min 4 years you can expect it to be your first and only base. (?)

How are you guys dealing with wearing AERPS? I freaking dread it more than anything. As i am sure evereyone else does. I am kind of being a whiner here, but do you guys have any tricks/advice or ANYTHING for dealing with it? I already heard suck it up and deal with it, but was wondering if there is anything more concrete out there. I know the whole point of wearing in peace time is to know your limitations with it (loss of dexterity, heat exhaustion, limited comms, and of course pannicking/claustorphobia) and it is something you gotta do. I seem to be fortunate enough to experience all of the above. Anything? Also, is this system for all aircrew and platforms or…

What's something you've experienced recently from the Air Force that's been positive? Doesn't matter if it's something the Air Force officially is doing, did for you, or something good you got from it. Let's get some enlightening posts shared around here!

Apologies in advance for the anal question. Hit the back button on your browser now if you have a life. When the T-Birds pilots do their robotic dancing to the jet, up the ladder and then into the jet, they momentarily stand on the seat. My question is: on the two occasions I have flown in the back of the F-16, I've been told never to stand on the seat. Looking around the ramp it's clear it's not just because I am a fat bastard that I've been told that, because everyone else has to do the contortionist’s entry and exit from the Viper 'pit, too. So, how come the T-Birds can do it? Incidentally, the only reason I was ever given was that the F-16's ACES II has a fibreg…

I have heard that some planes get very hot inside and I'm just wondering how hot do they get? Are they hot when you get in them but cool of once you get in the air or what? The reason I ask is I don't handle extreme heat but I can handle Extreme cold, I love the snow. Also when you are in somewhere like iraq what are the living areas like? Tents?

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

https://m.ktxs.com/news/small-plane-crash-near-abilene-regional-airport/27818540 RIP...

I am in need of the IBM Forms version of a travel voucher. E-Pubs has removed the form as has every other outlet I know of to push people to DTS, but my unit still uses paper. Does anyone by chance have a copy saved they could send me? It would be much appreciated. Thanks.