General Discussion

I know there are a lot of topics that discuss VA disability here and there, but didn't se anything specific to it.. unless I completely missed it while searching on my phone at 3am. As flyers, we document nothing. I decided 3 years ago, prior to retirement, to start documenting everything. This eventually led to me being DNIF and never flying again but also helped in getting 100% disability from the VA. My 100% was from nothing big I claimed.. just a bunch of little aches and pains that added up to 97%. When I got my notification letter, I noticed a number of items on there that are "deferred". I called the VA and asked them what that meant, what was needed …

Well, it is an election year. Tell me if you've heard this story before. 1. Bird flu research by the US and China. https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/project/?accnNo=439621 "Research Project: US-UK-China Collab: Predictive phylogenetics for evolutionary and transmission dynamics of newly emerging avian influenza viruses" 2. Bird flu found in chicken farms: Largest US egg producer temporarily halts production due to avian flu at Texas facility https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/food/story/largest-us-egg-producer-temporarily-halts-production-due-108795657 3. Bird flu jumps from birds to dairy cattle. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bird-flu-hi…

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/t-6-emergency-landing-texas/ ..having executed a belly flop landing.

Good morning all, Board results were just announced and I was one of the unfortunate ones that didn’t make it. Had about 24hrs to soak up this information and I think it’s time for me to start thinking about what’s going to happen next in my life. Here’s some info about my career so far. Commissioned 2015 and went to a non-rated career field. In 2019 I decided to apply for the Late-to-rate boards and got picked up as an early Captain. Currently in a flying unit flying the best MAF aircraft out there (IYKYK). A basic AC with about 1000 total time (UPT/Current MWS). I had an assignment to be an instructor for UPT leaving for PIT in a couple of months, bu…

I was wondering about how logging sim time towards your total time works and if we’re able to do it for military sim training. I’m currently at JMATS in Little Rock, training in their full motion C-130J simulators. I’m a guard guy so after seasoning I’ll be back out on the streets and have to find a full time civilian flying job (hopefully), and I’m trying to plan ahead. With the market as it is, I want to count as many hours as I’m able to towards my total time and hopefully go straight to a regional, or at least a fractional ownership company like Netjets. Does any C-130J pilot out there know if the C-130J sims are FAA certified so that we are able to count them towards…

https://apnews.com/article/holloman-air-force-base-f16-jet-crash-84504e14dbb43837839d4d2e824c08eb Pilot ejected and taken to the hospital and released.

Hey Guys, Looking to gather some info on an upcoming PCS. There’s a potential to go on a marine exchange. Have any of you bros done one? Looking to see if it’s a good opportunity/QOL. Any general experience is helpful, however this is a F-35 marine exchange to be specific. Thanks!

Hello! Mid twenties working in healthcare with few logged hours under my belt. Been considering a career change and try for a guard spot. Current job is somewhat interesting and rewarding, but it just feels like a job and like I am putting my life on pause until I clock out. Does flying ever start feeling like that? I have read enough from pilots leaving service to understand there is a lot of desk work and duties outside of flying, but at the end of the day you still get to do some amazing flying, with amazing people, wear flight suits, and all the prestigious things that come with being a pilot. It just feels childish to quit a stable career I built so far to start from…

Just heard about this... T-6 Instructor Pilot Dies After Ejection Seat Goes Off on the Ground (airandspaceforces.com) An Air Force instructor pilot died early in the morning on May 14 from injuries sustained when the pilot’s T-6A Texan II training plane ejection seat activated during ground operations the day before, the 82nd Training Wing at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, announced in a press release. “An investigation into the cause of the incident is underway,” the wing wrote, adding that the pilot’s name is being withheld for 24 hours to notify his or her next of kin. (full story at title link) 🍺

Hope they got out. What aircraft? EDIT: Looks like they did. "Pilot is being attended to." https://www.facebook.com/KOBTV/videos/2425143644345871

An update concerning MARSRADIO. An unclassified HF communications backup is reserved for active DoD and Federal Agencies. The net is still very active guarding its frequencies for calls. In the first half of this year, there were just under 2000 requests for phone patches, METAR/TAF weather, message, radio, and SELCAL checks. Additionally, there have been a few requests for updated Avian Hazard information. We were excited about the possibility of improvement in our global coverage with the peak of the solar cycle. Unfortunately, there has been a huge number of strong solar storms that reduce coverage. Some requests have been heard from the Western Pacific, Eur…

Howdy folks, just graduated school and I'm on my way to Laughlin to wait (APT) for an IFT/UPT class date. I'd sincerely appreciate any and all wisdom y'all have on PCSing, inprocessing at a new base - especially Laughlin/UPT, the IFT/UPT pipeline itself, etc. Thanks a bunch! - Ike

Hi All; For a museum project, I am looking for USAF Pilot Training Class patches from Moody AFB from Fiscal Year 2003 to Fiscal Year 2007. I can trade for or buy. Please help if you can Jim Flaviani, USAF (Ret) USAF UPT Historian www.usafupt.com

Hi All; For a museum project, I am looking for USAF Pilot Training Class patches from Moody AFB from Fiscal Year 2003 to Fiscal Year 2007. I can trade for or buy. Please help if you can Jim Flaviani, USAF (Ret) USAF UPT Historian www.usafupt.com

Some of you spent your entire careers fighting terrorists. You sacrificed. Some sacrificed everything. Why? So the DoD could negotiate and strike a deal with a 9/11 mastermind? How many more ways are they going to spit in our faces?

https://afjag.usaf.afpims.mil/Portals/77/AIB-Reports/2023/21AUG23 AMC C-17A JBER AIB Report.pdf Interesting report. GS MEP experiences DCS, onboard med crew diagnoses as hyperventilating and doesn't check on him pretty much the entirety of the return to base. Load has to convince them to inform the pilot but its passed to pilot as nothing big. Dude dies the following morning after sliding towards death overnight in the ER. Additionally, one of the 3 airdrop med techs popped hot for alcohol and THC......

I had heard from a T-1 Bud who went to the retirement event at RND that the T-1 is gone from all UPT bases (not counting the CSO training) A few old friends don’t beleive this is the case.

Anyone know what reg covers gear pilots are authorized to be given through O&M purchases? Trying to spend end of year funds and take care of guys without buying tvs and chairs. Thanks for legit ideas!

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.

Just talked to a buddy who is casual at Laughlin who told me that any T38 grad going to a fighter will do a year in a heavy before going to the b course in an effort to reduce the FTU backup. Thoughts?

Hey all, Facing an FEB in the USAF, my CC just notified me of it. I haven't been given the official reason or letter yet. I know that I don't want to voluntarily give up my wings and that this FEB isn't for a FTU fail to train issue. As I prepare myself for this I'm just searching out any advice or help from anyone that has gone through the process or is aware of what happens during an FEB. Anything is helpful as google hasn't really produced much in terms of results. Thank you!

Is this a National Guard branch or just a catchy recruiting gimmick? Google results confused me even more. https://www.yahoo.com/news/space-force-guardian-command-mission-201854275.html

When were B-1s getting shot at by SAMs? This popped up on my feed: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_m5cDMuotx/

Central Coast AirFest in Santa Maria CA is this weekend, 21-22 Sept. It's right by Vandenburg SFB, and the best warbird airshow in the nation. Two of the only 5 De Havilland Mosquitos will be flying in formation... the first time that has happened since 1987. The F7F Tigercat just cancelled but the flying lineup includes: P-38, F8F, SBD Dauntless, TBM Avenger, P-40, lots of Mustangs, B-25, MiG-15, Yak-3, P-63, Sea Fury, the only P-47 Razorback that files... Also, F-18 Demo Team. And the A-10 Demo Team in their 3rd to last airshow before the team is disbanded (thanks a lot, Frank Kendall). https://www.centralcoastairfest.com/