General Discussion

I’m currently deployed and a buddy of mine recently called crew rest/safety of flight during his alert sequence. Apparently he was unable to sleep and had already been up for approx 16 or so hours. We fly combat basic and the mission was routine, meaning there was nothing vital to move such as AE, HR, etc. However, it seems that when he called safety of flight, TACC grilled him and the amount info requested seemed to be slightly over the top. Apparently, it goes all the way to the top and a general has to be briefed. When I attended GRACC I remember TACC telling us that if safety of flight was ever an issue, call it and they would have our back. Yet when a crew m…

I'm in UPT right now about 3 weeks out from drop. One of my dream planes is the AC-130 out of Hurlbert but I'm having some friction with my wife about the deployment schedule and what AFSOC does to family life. During our MWS brief, we had a major (not AFSOC) come up and tell the wives that AFSOC kills families and that if we were to go to a AFSOC platform you'd better be single or you'll wind up being single. Obviously this freaked my wife out and she went from "meh" to "hell no". I'd like to hear some opinions from people that have been in AFSOC or have flown the AC. What's the deployments like? Does it kill marriages? Will I miss every single milestone of my so…

After reading through these threads for a week or so, there seems to be many unfavorable aspects to being a military aviator such as long hours, large amounts of time away from home, random schedules etc... This brings me to two questions: 1) Is being a pilot worst than, the same as, or better than what you expected? 2) Do the pros outweigh the cons? Obviously these are opinion based questions. Just some things I'm curious about, thanks in advanced for the input.

The USAF can't even outfit the A/G fighter with pods continuously.......how are they gonna get 177 for Eagles. Any 15C model guys know if/when this will happen? https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/10/air-force-f-15-upgrades-aim-double-service-life-102912w/

Unmasking advanced education for promotions has always seemed like a bad idea to me. I finally decided to write an op-ed on the subject and it got picked up by the Baltimore Sun. I am wondering if anyone really thinks this policy is good for the Air Force and why it has not been changed if almost everyone I know thinks it's an abomination. Here is the article. https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-air-force-degrees-20140204,0,2245525.story

I'll just leave this here https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-air-force-general-could-be-the-first-female-chief-of-staff Best part... "Robinson is also a unique choice because she would be the first non-pilot to be named CSAF. Her experience, however, includes more than 900 flight hours as a “senior battle manager” in the E-3B/C and E-8C aircraft"

Just saw this: https://www.8newsnow.com/story/13516891/alaska-military-base-says-f-22-fighter-overdue

Can't find the original thread using either the SF or Google Search Site... ...but the outcome of the Ohio State flyby has been released (although the investigation is still ongoing, apparently). Pilot has relinquished his wings in exchange for honourable discharge. Non-AF Times linky: Press-Citizen

Other threads have touched on the actions of Facebook, Twitter and other big tech and social media companies as a result of their actions during the election. We have also talked about the pros and cons of eliminating the protections they enjoy from section 230. Twitter suspended a major news organization (NY Post), because they didn't like the Hunter Biden story and labeled it "fake news" when parts have now been proven to be true. Twitter and Facebook have also killed President Trumps accounts. Now Facebook is in a war with an actual country as the battle for control heats up. Facebook Unfriends Australia Interested in the thoughts of others.

Apparently according to my COC, flight suits are now authorized for Space & Missiles cadets. Makes a lot of sense that the first thing the new AFOATS/CC (or Holm Center/CC) does is authorize bags for S&M guys; she's a space officer, go figure. Any thoughts?

AF gets new BDU's, if you can call them that.

Does anyone have any information or a link to some information about ASBC?

Check out this article from Air Force times. Apparently this particular FAIP thinks hand flying ability no longer matters since the T-1 students are going on to fly autopilot aircraft anyway. I am 69% certain we have a Wing Exec here....I feel bad for her poor students. https://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130513/NEWS/305130012/Vance-AFB-pilot-instructors-take-pride-job A few of my favorite excerpts are below: During transition, the first phase of T-1 training, instructors look for “good hands,” or pure flying ability. “After that we don’t,” she said. “We know the people we’re sending on, they’re going to go to aircraft where they’re going to fly wi…

The AF Times has an interesting story w/ pics for the new place, 'Millenium Village'. Looks decent, although I'm not really sure I understand the rationale of the rooms sharing a kitchenette...I'd rather have my own room/bathroom, thank you. What'll be REALLY nice is now we won't have to stay in the goddam tents whenever we come through as transients...transient aircrew don't get the trailer billets, just a tent w/ a dude working a jackhammer outside. Wonder how much of CC they'll tear down though...

Saw this on FB...have heard the pictures are legit but no other info... whatever the cause, it's going to be pricey!

Has anyone finished the new SOS i-c? Everyone in my unit finished the old easy version years ago or hasn't even looked into starting it. How quickly can you finish it if you put a lot of focus on it?

I tried the search function but to no avail. I am looking for a site where I can get the David Clark headset comfort kit. Its the one with the big ear pads. Mine took a fall and I need new ones. Does anyone have a site or a direction they could point me in? thanks.

Here's your chance to post your favorite airshow conversations. Mine is: Japanese guy: Can I take a picture of you and my girlfriend together? Beaver: Why yes, you can.

Just looking for peoples insights and commentary from a more involved group than the retired hacks that flood John Q's message board with stories from the 80's. https://www.facebook.com/jqpublic The most recent/popular article is about Altus' OG/CC requiring mandatory blues this following monday for a DUI that occurred at the front gate this past friday night. To my knowledge, this was the fourth DUI in the OG this month, and these are from cadre for the FTU. Thoughts on the blues being "punishment" vs "a refocus on professionalism"? And the best way to approach from a leadership perspective to actually get people to follow and preventing DUI's? At this point it'…

Email traffic has been circulating in the RPA community that manning in going to be "healthy" come late 2016. As a result, the wizards at AFPC are estimating that ALFA tour pilots are going to start being released back to their previous manned aircraft, albeit slowly, starting Spring 2017. As a current non-vol stuck in RPAs, I'm hopeful and excited. I was pulled from AMC only after 9 months in my squadron, barely broke over 100 hours flying (boo hoo). I felt robbed, but this opportunity feels like my one chance to get back to what I love. Unfortunately, I don't believe the Air Force is going to follow through with it; I don't think they'll have a choice. After talkin…

As to our current force structure, are we built to win the next fight(s) against China / Russia? I've been thinking a bit on this lately and a few articles I've read are making me believe we need a change. Peer competitors will not allow us to build up and then operate with impunity from MOBs near their territory or newly captured territory or areas they now assert control over in conflicts or high tension periods. One of the articles I read (WHY THE PENTAGON SHOULD FOCUS ON TAIWAN) and for the purposes of this thread's debate I will say we accept it. One of the arguments from article is that if we use this scenario to primarily prepare for, it will also pre…

I've been surfing some GA websites lately and wondered about the cost of ownershi, maintenance, and operation cost for a few different airplanes. Anyone with any experience out there? Specifically, I'm talking about Bellanca Decathalon and/or Citabria, Christen Eagle II, and the various Pitts models. Any other good aerobatic GA airplanes I'm leaving out? How about the Van's RV-series?

OK, I looked through the search function of the board and couldn't find it. I'm looking into applyin for a boomer position and wanted to get the skinny on the process. Is there an age limit? I have going on 15 years AFRES/Ang time. I am a pilot for a law-enforcement agency here in Ohio, so I do have some idea of the CRM aspect of things. I looked into trying to go UPT, but I'll be 35 in March '07 so I'm pooched on that avenue. Is being a boomer worth it? Although I won't be a pilot on a 135, will my interaction as an aircrew member give me valuable experience that I can bring back to my civilian flying job? Any hints, suggestions....etc gladly welcomed

Obama to announce plans to begin withdrawal of 30,000 troops Wednesday night. Stay tuned. I won't miss the B-huts one bit but then again I think some of us are still gonna be there for a long time. Maybe he had this on his mind...

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