General Discussion

Gents -- BRIGHT STAR (an exercise in Egypt) is coming this fall. For those that have been, how was it? what should folks expect for flying, living, off-duty, etc.? For those that are coming, what have you heard? I'm not directly involved (yet), but if you're coming out call me at 010-102-1429 (inside Egypt). I'll open the Air Force bar in Cairo for you!

How do we make a patch that is obviously copying a well-known, trademarked brand, without getting fined/imprisoned? Seems like every patch out there is a clear violation of copyright laws, yet somehow was approved by both a patch company and a chain of command. But Mardonco just told me they wouldn't do our patch because it would be illegal. ? Thanks.

I had a student bring up an interesting topic the other day in my graduate level MIS class. We were discussing technology in aviation ( I try to combine my current job of teaching technology and my true love - aviation, when possible) when he asked me why with the advances in technology the black box hadn't been moved and located on the ground (on a server type system) instead of in the aircraft. The technology exists for each aircraft to have a private network connection using satellite or even ground based stations located around the world. All aircraft systems output could be broadcast, voice communication could be captured (internal and external), even passenger ca…

Does anyone else find this ironic: Congress debating the "nuclear option" on the anniversary of America's largest nuclear test?

Prayers for the crew and family. Fox Link

Can anyone point me to a regulation or reference that mandates that the tanker and receiver exchange tail #s during AR? I understand why we do this (mostly accounting, scheduling, but also in the event that bad gas gets passed), but i need to find some place where it is written down for instructional purposes.

I searched but couldn't find any good info. Question for the masses... I've been in for 4 years, met my service obligation, and am planning to get out. I was going to separate under the "Completed ADSC" option but just recieved an assignment RIP and now have the option of separating under the 7-Day Option (AKA "Decline PCS or Assignment"). MPF says there is no difference when choosing which provision to separate under. However, I'm not so eaily convinced. Does anyone have any gouge on which option to chose? Does it matter for your DD214? I'm suffering at the 'Deid so any help would be much appreciated!

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?

Just a reminder that so far we have 130 posts on the thread to win yourself a 2011 HeliOps calendar. Once we reach 200 posts then the thread gets closed off and those posters win a calendar each. So there are another 70 calendars waiting, is one of them yours, click on the link, sign up, make your post, and get your name on one of them, its that simple. https://www.heliopsforum.com/index.php?threads/200-heliops-2011-helicopters-at-work-calendars-to-be-won.264/ Cheers and have a great New Years.

Dudes, I'm about to buy my first house and I was curious what y'all do to prepare your house for both long deployments and 3-6 week trips and TDYs? I'm expecting about 250+ days gone in the next year... I'm single and was just wondering if y'all have a checklist of things to do/shut off/hire people for, since no one will be there to take care of the day to day stuff? Googled a bunch of stuff but it was just random things here and there. I'm looking for more of an all/mostly encompassing checklist. Thanks, Banquet

20 years ago today, on 31 Jan 1991, SPIRIT 03, an AC-130H from the 16th SOS was shot down by a MANPAD while providing close air support for Marines during the Battle of Khafji. All 14 crewmembers died. It was the single largest loss of Air Force personnel during the Gulf War. Please take a moment to remember their sacrifice... Major Paul J. Weaver - Pilot Captain Clifford Bland, Jr. - Co-Pilot Captain Dixon L. Walters - Electronic Warfare Officer Captain Arthur Galvan - Fire Control Officer Captain William D. Grimm - Navigator Senior Master Sergeant Paul G. Buege - Sensor Operator Senior Master Sergeant James B. May II, Gunner Technical Sergeant Robert K. Hod…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-middle-east-12588947?SThisFB

US Military Plane Crashes in Germany Anyone have any more information than the 1 liner on Fox News?

I just applied for the LEAP program and am waiting to hear back about it. Has anyone on here been involved in the LEAP program at all? Also, I have been looking into the Olmstead program, which looks awesome. On the official site it says that each service gets 10 people per year but it looks like the AF only selected 6 out of 61 last year. Anyone been involved with this as well and have some info on the process and how to get selected? Thanks!

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

Feel free to move if this would go better elsewhere. My wife and I were curious if it is possible to use the military to help get lower interest rates on her student loans (currently at 6.9%)? Anyone have any familiarity with something like this?

https://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/05/18/t-ts-wpafb-batman.cnnmoney/ Interesting to note the ground forces are going with Android while the air component is going with Apple...

https://latino.foxnews.com/latino/community/2012/05/28/our-american-dream-meet-first-latina-us-military-pilot/. Granted, this occurred awhile ago, but it was on FoxNews.com today; it seemed to fit with the trend of recent firsts getting mentioned in the press.

Another well-deserved recognition in line with the 2d Lt receiving an AM (as opposed to a finance troop and the BSM). https://www.spangdahl...sp?id=123305486

My wife has a job opportunity that is too good to pass up back in the city we moved to our current base from. I posed the Tricare question to my local office and they were, let's just say, less than convincing they knew much about the benefits. My wife and I have no children. Does anyone have experience with Tricare when your spouse lives 2000 miles away from you? Are there any "gotcha's" with her coverage since she wouldn't reside with me? I plan to relocate back to said city when my ADSC expires in 18 months (hoping for the Reserves).

This is probably a question for finance guy. When you elect to take a pay advance when you PCS, when would you be taxed on the income? I will be deployed all 12 months in 2012 so I have zero taxable income. I’m trying to figure out if I can take 3 months of advance pay in December while it’s tax free, then pay it back next year resulting in essentially 9 months of taxable income in 2013? Any help is appreciated.

China Unveils New Killer Drones, Aims Them at Russia

I've heard the term used by Marines meaning "Person Other than Grunt." Urban dictionary said it also means "Permanently On the Ground" for AF, Navy and Army aviation. For you flyers, how accurate is that statement?

Does anyone know where to find some?

My unit is only allowing us to do UTAs and FTPs on our furlough days, and then only with prior approval by an 0-6! This is incredibly lame, and just wondering how other states and the reserves are handling this?