General Discussion

Thankfully, sounds like pilot was rescued via SAR. Glad to hear of a successful water rescue after a spate of bad news. 🍻

I know it's ever-changing, but what exactly is the JSF expected to replace? (equipment, model, block, etc.) Is it expected to trickle down to the Reserve/Guard?

I'm trying to decide between USAA or stay with US Bank. I don't need any loans, just savings and checking. Has anyone dealt with both of these?

Hopefully this is the right section of the forum for this. I'm at UPT right now and I'll just say things have been incredibly rough lately. I was doing pretty alright for the first few rides, but after that the cracks started to emerge in my GK and I found myself falling behind. A hook or two later I ended up on CAP and whipped myself into shape. I started going to the cognitive specialists every other day to assess and fix my study habits and work on in-flight stress management, I started studying harder and better, simming a lot more on my own time, chair flying better and more, having regular GK sessions with my IPs etc. Things were starting to really look up until my …

Hey guys. This has been a topic of late for some of the guys in the unit. 1.)What things can you get VA disability for that don’t hurt your FAA flying or medical? 2.) how do you know what you are eligible to get? 3.) some people have said that whatever you get from VA takes away from retirement pay. However that benefits divorced guys because for example if you are getting 1000 in retirement and 300 of it is considered VA then only 700 of it is able to be considered for divorce pay? I.E. if she gets 50%, she gets $350 instead of $500. So that’s more money in your pocket 4.) so I guess it’s all about maximizing VA without hurting your faa medical or airline abili…

what was or is your effective way of studying (while in college, UPT, aviation career)? everyone seems to have their own distinct study habits, for example, ive heard of someone who watched breaking bad while studying in UPT which helped him retain information better. idk how that works but to each their own. I haven't quite figured out my effective way of studying. as of right now it's just to try and go for as long as I can without breaks (trying to work on that). A lot of people say to take breaks in between, but I seem to contradict that and attempt to read through the lines with my eyes shutting. a more specific question: when you guys enter the fire…

26 August at 2100 on the History Channel. Looks like it's going to be an awesome show, possibly even outstanding. [ 25. August 2005, 23:15: Message edited by: c17wannabe ]

US Air Force legend Robert “Bob” Pardo, known for his selfless action known as “Pardo’s Push” during the Vietnam War, has died Dec. 5 in College Station, Texas. He was 89. https://nypost.com/2023/12/17/news/air-force-legend-robert-bob-pardo-famous-for-pardos-push-maneuver-dead-at-89/

Saw a trailer for this movie this morning. It's apparently getting people pretty riled up. We had just watched "Leave the World Behind" a couple nights ago. There were some thought-provoking concepts, but the movie sucked ass. Dystopian and disaster flicks are nothing new, but it's unsettling to see these plots and storylines using current events, then pulling on what seems to be a short thread. The movie plans to fill people's heads with this stuff next Spring as the election heats up. Just curious as to others thoughts. Think it'll be good?

A P-8 Poseidon slid off the runway and into the water in Hawaii, possibly due to WX. No injuries reported and from the photos the damage looks minimal, but an inspection might reveal a hull loss if there is major damage to the MLG trunnions and engine pylons and wing spars.

U.S. Coast Guard Grounds Fleet of C-27J Aircraft The Coast Guard guys and girls get little press but this is a bit concerning. "The Alert Service Bulletin issued by Leonardo calls for inspections looking for cracks in the area where the horizontal and vertical stabilizers attach to the aircraft’s fuselage."

Anyone have any information on the new AF helicopter only training program? Are they scheduled to use the Bell 505 in replacing the TH-1H now being used? How long is the new course? Is the obligation still 10yrs after winging? Happy Holidays all.

I just finished reading Charlie Wilson's War, about the Texas Congressman and his efforts to support the Muj during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (it's a great book if you are interested in the subject), and it got me to thinking that we could get a thread going on some recommended books. I know we've touched on this before, I just want to revive the topic. I just got my paperback copy of Tommy Frank's American Soldier and can't wait to start that, but I am also trying to finish Tom Clancy's Shadow Warriors--Inside the Special Forces (great insight into the development of US SF during VietNam, many of the lessons learned there parallel today's challenges in…

People often asked me if there is anything to do at an overseas base if you could not get off-base. They were surprised that there were restaurants and clubs to go to, I guess they assumed that that it’s something like Full Metal Jacket. I joked that at Ramstein the Belgiums sole purpose in NATO was to run a night club! Apparently I’m not alone in my belief that they are the black sheep of NATO! https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/09/shared-threats-unequal-efforts-belgiums.html

https://www.laughlin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1377774/media-release-downed-aircraft-in-del-rio/ "LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- An Air Force T-38 Talon assigned here at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, crashed at approximately 4 p.m. today approximately 14 miles northwest of the base near Spur 454 and U.S. 90 in Del Rio, Texas. At the time of release, Laughlin emergency response personnel and local responders were on scene to assist in recovery efforts. A board of officers will investigate the accident. Additional details will be provided as information becomes available."

I am an "other" service guy who is going some place where I need brown desert boots. I have been told that there are some specific brown desert boots approved for aviation duties and these are not the normal grunt boots. My unit must MIPR purchase these and my flight suits from the AF supply system. Can anyone give me some boot names or NSN's or some info I can provide to my S4 type? Do they come in hot weather and cold weather types? Thanks.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-military-aircraft-crashes-mediterranean-sea-after-training-mishap-no-indication-hostile-activity Interesting that they haven’t even released which aircraft it was. They usually get that info out fast. Is it me or is the military being “tight lipped” a little out of the ordinary? Anybody have unclass intel on this?

Apparently some Danish F-16s recorded this damage to the Nordstream pipeline after three underwater explosions were detected: https://www.forsvaret.dk/da/nyheder/2022/gaslakage-i-ostersoen/?fbclid=IwAR3c3zuQW7yg8FfkE4sq4HMsOT1DW-CZec4zGmOTA4ba0LCa9YAlYVKQOuE

what's up guys, sorry for the surplus amount of questions. to keep it short, i'm trying to decide if I should pursue a BS in psychology or a BA in psychology. I am planning on applying for the guard and I know GPA weighs heavier than major, but there are a few factors that are in play. I am confident if I pursued a BA that I could graduate with a decently higher GPA than a BS as a result of less math, physics and science classes. However, a BS instead of a BA would challenge me more, improving studying skills and work ethic. ultimately my question is, would it be worth it in the long run if I pursued a BS, improving my studying skills and possibly preparing mys…

I recently filled out the TSP form and decided to put all 10% of my pay in the C-fund. My reasoning for doing this is that I was shown how the different funds did in the past 10 years. The C-fund led at just about 12%. Is this a good idea to put all my eggs in one basket so to speak, or should I diversify my pay into all the funds? (I am a brand new 2nd Lt, planning to be in for 12 years.) Thanks

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/04/ap-air-force-axes-a10-f15e-f16-air-show-demos-042012/

As a former FE in the AF as well as civilian life I never had the pleasure of flying an aircraft with wings the size of credit cards so this video was very informative. I never realized that the T-38 was a category E approach aircraft but it should have been obvious since the wings are essentially scaled down from an F-104. The author states that we have been crashing T-38’s on circling approaches for 50+ years so I have to ask, is this type of training really that necessary on the T-38? https://youtu.be/huYvrZm_Y_M?si=UnqokXrEaumim5Mi

Any of the more seasoned folks on here ever heard of this Colonel? https://ambaker9.wixsite.com/vdpcc/2022grandmarshall?fbclid=IwAR2KGTZa_g7M3v63qi5XkjU0dWSuaTKnT_OnJL56l5IQyLnbdZG7We9r_w4 Bunch of possible flags on this one. 1975 as a female flight engineer? Have been told they didn't exist yet. Then on to 'OCS' and eventually F-16s. Made Major as a 16 driver but crossed over to helicopters. Flew three different airframes to include the huey (not the flight school model), the 53, and finished in the 60. Many deployments to Desert Storm, Afghan, and Iraq. Even got shot down in a 60 as a full bird flying misssions in Afghanistan rescuing a bun…

Army aviators, ready to leave the military, are told they owe 3 more years instead

They claim it can be flown manned or unmanned. There goes the Per Diem. Oh well.