General Discussion

Russian stealth plane, Now Russia has its own stealth jet bomber. They promise to have it here already this year and start producing it in series starting 2010. They tell that the design of the plane is still kept secret and those sketches are the only clue that people have, but as it is known it would be a decent F-22 competitor. From:DefenseTech.org https://www.defensetech.org/archives/004940.html?wh=wh +++++++++++++++++++ Any one have any other juicy details about this? I am rather intrigued by this.. --edit to fix link of site referenced

Anyone care to comment on the QOL and Ops tempo of a C-5 Reservist? Is transitioning to a civilian flying job after initial training easier than the fighter guys because of the airframe? I spoke with a JSTARs Active Duty pilot a couple months ago who kept b*tching about the flying he was doing - and I'm hoping that's not the general feeling throughout the non-fighter community. Any insights would be great! Thanks!

https://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9...;show_article=1

USAF teaching Iraqi's to fly airstrike missions. Iraqi crews ‘ready to go’ on mission Part of slow transition from Air Force reliance By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer Posted : Sunday Jul 12, 2009 9:42:57 EDT Airmen deployed to Iraq are teaching their Iraqi counterparts to fly airstrike missions. Today, after fewer than a dozen training flights, two Iraqi aircrews — a pilot and a mission-sensor operator make up an aircrew — are qualified to fire Hellfire missiles from AC-208B Caravans, a military version of the single-engine turboprop Cessna Grand Caravan utility airplane. A third aircrew is in training. “They are ready to go,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Spi…

linkage Published: Saturday, July 11, 2009 Skillfull pilot may have saved Obama plane Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Skillful piloting may have prevented a disaster for President Barack Obama and his campaign last summer, a former federal safety official said Friday. A report released by the National Transportation Safety Board indicates an inflated slide may have pressed against critical control cables, forcing the emergency landing of Obama's campaign plane on July 7, 2008. The slide inflated inside the tail cone of the campaign's Boeing MD-81 shortly after takeoff from Chicago's Midway International Airport, the report said. Investigators found evi…

Back in the day, there was this term BAI (battlefield air interdiction)...but in doing a little Googling, I can't seem to find it...or at least can't find a reference that says the term is still in USAF doctrine. You folks who have been thru PME recently...can you help on this question? TIA.

Just wondering what the situation is with the dorms at UPT. Are bachelors required to stay there, and are there dorms at all of the UPT bases? Also, if it's not required to stay there, what do you all think is better...dorms or off base? Thanks.

New budget to be reveiled today - Im sure it will lead to some heated debate on here but here is some news Im sure many of us will find not too surprising... Defense Secretary Robert Gates unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the Pentagon's top weapons priorities that he said will orient the U.S. military toward winning unconventional conflicts like the one in Afghanistan rather than focusing on war with major powers. Among the major changes he is proposing includes ending production of Lockheed's F-22 Raptor at 187 jets. Gates said funding for another Lockheed program, the Joint Strike Fighter, will be increased in 2010 to $11.2 billion, which will now buy 30 jets, up f…

Just looking for some information on flying C-37s in Belgium. How big the unit is, how much flying, where most live near Chievres, etc. I might have an opportunity to go out there, but have never lived in Europe. I haven't heard too many people say they hated their time overseas in Europe, but just want to make sure the fam is happy there. Thanks! Techsan

Haven't seen this discussed. Article was found the the Salisbury News 06 March 2009. Interesting read if you have the time. Bet that guys feels about 2inches tall.

Well, just when you think you've seen it all... Yesterday, I was driving on base. As I pulled up to the gate, I saw a man with facial hair (a mustache out of regs with the military) wearing BDUs. He looked like an overweight, beer belly, slug. I couldn't believe my eyes! This guy was in the AF BDU with the service tape saying Military Civilian or something like that. Now, I can understand maybe why civ's would need to wear BDU's in forward operating areas...but here in the states? Come on! WTF is our government thinking! This just makes us look bad. I think that if they are going to wear our uniform...they better damn well be clean-shaven and in weight…

In reference to my SURF, I don't know what this acronym stands for, or what it is for. Any ideas?

How does the AF adapt students to high G flight?

My Dad recently told me that it was tradition to to turn you squadron patch upside down the week you leave for a PCS, PCA, etc. He never could tell me where or why this got started just that it was "What was done". (Much like party suits) I have seen it done in a couple of places, but was wondering if anyone knew where this tradition got started and what the significance of it is? Maybe some of the old-heads on here can help me out so I can justify bringing it back. Anyone else out there do this the last week? Edit: Spell'in

For the F-15 A/C I have read that the wing loading is lower than the F-16 under most circumstances. I have also read that the F-15 has a higher thrust-to-weight ratio under most circumstances. The body and control surfaces of an F-15 are larger, allowing airflow to be diverted for a higher turn rate. The overall surface of the bottom of the F-15 should allow it to fly at slower speeds, and the higher thrust to-weight ratio should allow a lower loss of altitude during a turn-battle in a dog-fight. How is it that I have read about and seen videos of F-16s winning dog fights against F-15s? Obviously don't violate OPSEC.

If there was ever a left wing nutcase it's Al Franken. How anyone in their right mind could vote for him I have no idea, but of course Minnesota voters are about as weird as they come based on past results. I believe this guy is the dictionary definition of a total dick.

I heard there was a huey crash at Rucker today...any info?

From the BBC

I've been thinking about putting a flag pole in my front lawn, and with the passing of President Ford, I've noticed that during my drive to work, some of the local stores still have the flag at half staff, and some are full staff, which got me wondering about the actual rules about flying the flag at half staff. I include the attached link for everyone's flag education. Cap-10

Criticizing maintenance got airman ousted By all accounts, Adam Lucero was a hard-charging airman. When he didn’t make it into a summer camp for the Air Force Academy, he enlisted at age 17 through the Delayed Entry Program and had his staff sergeant rocker by the time he was 21. But Lucero, now 24, dreamed of going to Officer Training School and earning his pilot wings, so he poured himself into his work and studies, hoping he could one day fly the fighter jets he maintained at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. That same passion, drive and singleness of purpose may have led to his downfall. When he discovered what he considered to be unsafe maintenance practices by …

From today's AFA Update... Cheers! M2

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Hi everyone, I'm currently seeking to complete my PPL and was wondering if any of you hopefuls on here could point me towards the best loan I can get say like $10,000 and which bank provides the best deal. I hope to go instrument after that so the $10000 will help a lot. Thanks for your input.

Miranda Rights for Non-American terrorists Weekly Std. Article "Miranda Rights apply to terrorists, says Obama" So... I guess the question is who is really going to be paying for their lawyers if they have a right to one?