General Discussion

Terrorists claimed to be holding an American Soldier hostage after a fierce firefight. POW Captured After a closer look... Really? Looks Familiar Seriously though, I hope all our troops make it home safely.

I've had one now for about 3 years, and see them all over the military. If you have one or are planning on buying one, please submit the name and brief history of the hero. Here's the history and background of Cpl John C. Keiper - who's name is engraved on my silver bracelet. ************************************************* Name: Keiper, John Charles Rank: Corporal/E-4 Branch: United States Marine Corps Unit: HAMS 16, MAG 16 Date of Birth: 18 September 1945 Home of Record: Renovo, Pennsylvania Date of Loss: 15 November 1966 Country of Loss: South Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 162535N 1074619E (ZD150045) Status: Missing In A…

What do you guys do to decide what to do when you lose power/have an engine failure on/shortly after takeoff? I fly GA and gliders and in gliders there's a set procedure based on altitudes agl for what to do if the rope breaks and I can never get a definite answer like that when it comes to flying planes. Like I said I fly GA but feel free to talk about what you guys would do in jets too. Thanks in advance, Gannon

I don't have orders yet, so I can't get an "official" move estimate yet. However, due to some TDY's before my PCS, I need to figure out NOW if it's gonna be viable to do a PPM/DITY. I went to TMO today and she did a PPM Calculator worksheet. I watched her look up all the numbers except the Low Baseline Percentage (which came out to 200%). What is low baseline percentage? She seemed really unsure about the final number, and I had to help her with the math - didn't really instill confidence in me. Can someone explain low baseline percentage? Does it make sense to have 200% (which doubles my reimbursement)? Here are my numbers (moving from Columbus, MS to Seattle, W…

Deployed tactics guy. We're going to start using PPR's for certain airfields in theatre. The following question arose: do PPR's have an effective time? (i.e. +/- 1hr ETA). Looked through GP and other FLIP but can't find guidance. Back home, if ETA ever changed, we'd just give OPS at arrival station a heads up over the phone but keep the same PPR. This always worked so I never questioned it. Anyway, now it's an issue.

I'm a recent pilot-select waiting on a class date. I know I have a while before I even set foot into a UPT classroom but I'd like to get ahead if possible. From what I have read on here, the biggest obstacle to UPT studs is formation flying (correct me if I'm wrong). I have access to a couple T-28s and have the opportunity to do some practice formation work. Do you guys think this will benefit me in the long run? Is there anything I should do that would alleviate some of the newness of UPT flying? I'm not asking for any info that shouldn't be disclosed, just some tips or pointers on a way I can familiarize myself with the AF way of flying. Thanks.

Crash pilot who paused to pray is convicted Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:36pm EDT PALERMO (Reuters) - A Tunisian pilot who paused to pray instead of taking emergency measures before crash-landing his plane, killing 16 people, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail by an Italian court along with his co-pilot. The 2005 crash at sea off Sicily left survivors swimming for their lives, some clinging to a piece of the fuselage that remained floating after the ATR turbo-prop aircraft splintered upon impact. A fuel-gauge malfunction was partly to blame but prosecutors also said the pilot succumbed to panic, praying out loud instead of following emergency procedures and then …

I cannot imagine that this situation is very unique, but I haven't been able to find any definitive answers. My wife and I are expecting our first child, but the expected due date falls right in between the scheduled completion of a TDY en route at Little Rock (C-130J initial qual - I'm currently an E/H guy) and our RNLTD to our next base (Dyess). My question: Is there any way to extend one's TDY en route without taking leave until after the due date? It would be good to have some continuity in our OB/GYN appointments and have the baby in Little Rock, then travel to Abilene, versus the other two options of: -Her leaving Little Rock in the third trimester and …

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

I just recieved my slot a few weeks ago for UPT and am anxiously excited to get myself prepared for it. i got my PPL when i was in high school and since then have used my license to more or less buzz around and enjoy myself. This summer i've got some money set aside and want to start flying in a much more disciplined manner to start gearing my mind for UPT... ie serious attention to detail and things of that nature. For example i'm planning on doing heavy 'mission' planning, restudying PPL material, a lot of practice with EPs, and spending time practicing manuevers with narrow altitude limits, etc. in other words doing what i should have been doing anyway. do you gu…

I'm looking for speaker(s) that you know of that give presentations on the threats, errors, and how to minimize risk in low level maneuvering. I recall many years ago getting a mandatory briefing from the Physiology folks at Randolph, and I remember it being well done, though very brief. I figure that the way the CAF has brought down the low-level CFIT rate over the past decade means that there are folks at D-M, Luke, and elsewhere that give a good presentation on the subject, and know it pretty well If you know of anyone that fits the bill, please send me their info... put them in touch with me... p.m. me for more... whatever works. Thanks.

Disclaimer: This is an adult discussion about air show related crashes and what can be done (if anything) to prevent them. It is intended for mature forum members only. So, all of you ROTC, Academy, and 4Chan fucks need to stay out. Since the Barnstorming days, accidents have happened and aviators and spectators have died. How can we help to prevent it? Now I can only speak for AMC, and we have had our fair share of accidents though time. My question is really related to dedicate vs. “available” Demo crews. Now I know ACC in the past has had specific A-10, F-16, ect. Demo pilots. As I understood it this was their job for a time. Am I correct? Now in AMC there ar…

Interesting info. It's important for folks to understand what is being funded and how much things cost. Defense Appropriations Bill

Current Army C-12 aviator here. Since the demolition of the Air Force FWQ, I'm assuming that on occasion you get some high hour Army fixed wing bubbas and/or prior helo guys in upt. I was just curious if they go through the exact same curriculum/same hours/etc as the regular students (Seems silly that I'd need the full academic curriculum/the full flight hour load if I already had 1000+ hours in a C-12 and 500+ in a Hawk). Also curious how many guys you all see going through UPT above age 30. Thanks!

Hello all. I'm a UPT hopeful for this AD board and I've got a quick question. In your opinion is it worth it for me to get my instrument before I go to UPT? If I don't get selected I'm going to get it anyway to be more competitive for next year. However if the stars align and I'm blessed with a class date is it worth the +7K to get a leg up? Any opinion is welcome. Tnx -MX that wishes he was Ops

I know that a PPL is not necessary, but most people say that it is very beneficial to increasing your chances of getting a pilot's slot in the Air Force. I am thinking about taking the Air Force ROTC route and attempting to get a slot that way. Has anybody else here got their PPL before trying to get a pilot's slot? If so, how much did it help you? Is a PPL enough, or should a person also get an Instrument rating (which usually takes longer than getting a PPL and is very expensive)? I have talked to many people involved in Air Force ROTC and they say that the major you take is not a force at all, just as long as you get a bachelors and a good grade. Considering thi…

Story from California newspaper

Looks like the Navy is going to get some attention like the Air Force did a few years ago. These things are never good for anyone involved. https://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2339317

Here is the situation, I am prior service with ten years enlisted. I have recently completed a commissioning program and have been on hold to enter active duty due to the draw down. I am two weeks out from my training start dates and I still do not have orders. What we have been told is that AFPC finance is backed up with thousands of orders and apparently no method for completing them for individuals who are leaving in the next few weeks. My concerns are the following: can I proceed to training without orders, how can I PCS my family to my gaining station without orders, and how do I cover the cost of my training since I do not have a GTC. I would appreciate any advice a…

They say that if you get paid to do something you love, then you never work a day in your life. But they also say that if you throw money in the mix, it makes that 'hobby' feel more like work. When you're off the clock so to say, do you ever still feel like flying? I've heard stories of certain people getting out of the Air Force or Navy and never flying again but it seems like a lot of people enjoy the career path. I feel like I won't ever get tired of it but how has it affected you? Do you take your family flying for fun? Ever have planes on buying a small plane? Are the huge amounts of commercial pilots from the Air Force an indicator of a lack of flight time…

Is there any pilots here that did not get a DP, but just a "p" on their PRF and still made major? Just curious at what this rate is roughly. Im in a platform where im going to compete with backend people for a DP and curious of what my chance of making major are if i only get a "p" Thanks [ 01. September 2006, 19:29: Message edited by: Toro ]

I want to start the exercises but I need further explanations. My issues are concerned about the position of the elbows, hands and shoulders during push-ups. The issues about the starting position. In the starting position, are my shoulders, elbows and hands in the same vertical line? If the answer is yes, that means that the distance between my hands is the same as the distance between my shoulders. If not, that could mean the distance between my hands is bigger than the distance between my shoulders. It could mean also that the line that would link my shoulders is behind the line that would link my hands. Is this right? The issues about the final position. In the f…

I know that there has been a lot of talk about what people like and dislike about certain a/c they fly. I fill out my "dream" sheet here very shortly on the T-1 side of the house and am trying to decide where I may want to go. My question is for those who are currently flying in the Air Force (MWS and FAIP guys). In a sentence or two, what do you like and dislike the most about your a/c. I am mainly concerned with the heavy world but you fighter guys feel free to chime in as well. Thanks for the input.

I'm not sure why I'm linking this news story, other than it just angers me so much. I've thought about terrorists trying to kill as many innocent people as they can and how screwed up in the head they have to be....then I read about these people in today's paper. protesting at several American soldiers' funerals

I'm an old(somewhat) Vietnam Era Army officer who has had the privilege of watching my daughter grow into her dream of flying by first getting her PPL in High School, then getting commissioned a 2lt in the USAF with a pilot slot after a great college run, doing IFS, UPT and FTU and loving every minute of it and now finally returning after her first deployment last week from the desert. My hat is tipped to all of you young pilots(and the rest of you like me)who do what you love and make this country safe for the rest of us. Our family is blessed to have been a part of this journey so far, meeting everyone we have along the way and watching in awe as to what you all are doi…