General Discussion

An IL-76 was reportedly shot down and crashed. One engine appears on fire but this alone should have not caused a crash so maybe there was additional damage. https://warisboring.com/second-russian-military-transport-plane-comes-down-since-january/?fbclid=IwAR1qGCJ8p9y3aR3l4pv61kOg9aO2A0cqsxkR8654UesdBuUHlDnQsRoZiYw_aem_AaM4aJCKbEEF5pjC1t-0cIyK7ZH9AstX8CqYNQBosEK5FrsdJMUD-sCr3zPPpq06zMw#ltp4tr1qbv0ccfq0vuf

https://news.yahoo.com/us-air-force-may-remove-171141507.html

So, there's a country starting to dissolve in our hemisphere, not far from our shores and I've been casually following the story. It's awful, it's becoming a problem spilling over its borders and starting to directly affect us vis a vis illegal immigration and becoming an ungoverned space that will become a base for illegal activities throughout the Caribbean and Americas. Do we intervene, stabilize and prevent the collapse of the state? I'm fairly cynical on the idea of nation building but I'm not for letting problems just build in our sphere and letting us be affected by them when we could prevent it. I'm not sure it's nation building we should do versus just pl…

Gen. Mark Milley was interviewed by CBS Sunday Morning about the Chinese Spy balloon. Apparently the flight was never intended to fly over CONUS and the sensor equipment was never activated. What was really interesting is that he was never asked (or it got left on the editing floor) about the other balloons/dirigibles that were shot down as well!

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I am a current AD 62E Officer who was lucky enough to get picked up for UPT on this year’s Active-Duty UFT Board. I am thrilled to finally be living out the dream but am seeking advice for those who have been in my shoes.....late to rate. I am a 1st Lt who, pending any drastic UPT scheduling delays, should be completing UPT right around the time I hit Capt. As someone who is currently removed from the flying community, I have all of these aspirations for making the most of my flying time, and hope to get plenty of operational experience, and even have hopes of potentially attending WIC. I also (potentially naively?) plan to retire, as I sit here at a little ov…

Has anyone here been to the above? Its a 3 day course in Austin, TX. My unit wants to send a few COs down to learn stuff unless someone here can tell us that it's a waste of time. Thanks.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/bells-v-280-valor-tiltrotor-picked-as-armys-black-hawk-replacement

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?