General Discussion

Does anyone know where I can find contact info for a RAPCON? I'd like to talk to a local controller (ABQ) regarding some recent SIAP changes...my google-foo does not appear to be strong tonight, however. Don't think the ARTCC (ZAB Center) guys are the ones to talk to - since the ABQ Class C isn't in their "lane"...if anyone can help, I'd much appreciate it!

Does anybody know anything about flying this aircraft?It seems to get a bad rap.I know Holloman is not the greatest.But there TDY rate is low.

China urges U.S. to halt surveillance near its shores By Lucy Hornby BEIJING (Reuters) - China called on the United States to reduce and eventually halt air and sea military surveillance close to its shores after a series of territorial disputes this year. The request was made during a special session on maritime safety between the two countries' militaries on Wednesday and Thursday, Xinhua news agency said on Thursday, citing China's Defense Ministry. Five times this year, Chinese vessels have confronted U.S. surveillance ships in Asian waters, the U.S. Defense Department said in May. China said the U.S. vessels had intruded its territory. There has since be…

How often do you use live bombs in training? How often do you get to shoot down aerial drones? Thanks

From what I have read, Altus trains only C5, C17 and KC135 crews. If this is true, where do KC10 crews get their training? At their home bases, ie: Travis, McGuire? [ 13. September 2006, 13:22: Message edited by: robot_chicken ]

Heard about this through the grapevine, but didn't find anything about it on this forum. Looks like a FAC-A, but with a wescam MX-15Di FMV camera, similar to the MC-12. Anyone know more about this? https://www.airforce-technology.com/project...b-light-attack/

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).

https://www.aopa.org/...&WT.mc_sect=gan

Obviously there are a lot of (more) disgruntled rated dudes after the VSP debacle who are still meeting the RIF. Hypothetically speaking, if you were given the option of a "do not retain" on your RRF would you do it? Thoughts on chances of being RIF'd after VSP denial? Potential repercussions of a "do not retain" if retained?

The DoD is the one place that is allowed to discriminate! Bad vision, flat feet, obese, health issues, too old, etc... sorry, can’t be in the US military. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/05/30/the-pentagon-is-being-sued-for-allegedly-discriminating-against-people-living-with-hiv/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=Socialflow&utm_medium=social

Came across these articles while while doing some thesis research, thought i'd share. Cliff Notes: 1. Beijing asking Russia for Su-35 Super Flankers due to an inability to use the word engineer without using reverse in the same sentence: https://the-diplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2012/03/04/china%E2%80%99s-sukhoi-submission/ 2. China's fighters suck and will get their ass handed to them by the USAF (surprise!): https://the-diplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2011/03/10/chinas-fighters-wont-match-us/

1. Since when was it called Joint Base Balad? Does this mean the AF runs it or the Army? Guessing AF, since it would probably be called JLSA Anaconda if the Army was in charge... 2. How the fvck did they get 5 53s in the air at the same time? Those must be the last 5 waiting to go to DM...

So my unit is taking a jet to the Travis airshow and figured this would be a good opportunity to try and help out our morale fund/booster club and sell some swag. Anyone have any advice on what actually sells? Zaps, patches, tshirts, water bottles, etc? Any big differences between civilian airshows and ones on military bases? Thanks.

I'll be starting in the T-1 in a couple of weeks and I've noticed that most everyone has some sort of Nav bag they carry with them. I've been looking at the Jeppesen Navigator bag as an option. I just want to see what you guys have used (or seen used) and what works the best. The bags are pretty expensive and I don't want to end up buying something that sucks. Thanks

Sounds like the pilot got out safe https://www.cbs47.tv/...CWiGM_vGDA.cspx

Did anyone on here look into flying for the Coast Guard prior to going in the Air Force? I'm not saying that have it better by any means, but it seems they are doing 'real' missions more often b/c there is always somebody that needs help in the ocean. Does anyone know of a Coastie aviator that I could talk to? Thanks. Thought about posting this in pilot selection, so sorry if it's on the wrong forum...not trying to open a can of worms either on this one...

Look at this guys https://www.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery...10748-1,00.html You'd think these guys would watch wear they are going over in England

I'm a few weeks away from receiving my UPT assignment and have found out we have the opportunity to put down a preference for our FTU location after IFF. I've been unable to find anyone at my squadron who's spent any time at the Guard FTU in Klamath Falls, and was hoping I could get some first hand information from some of the guys on this board. Is that part of Oregon a nice place to live for the 6-9 months you'll be there? How does it compare to the "Redneck Riviera" that is Panama City? Appreciate the info.

I believe the AF SUPT max age without a waiver is still 30. As of last month the Navy increased their age for pilots and NFOs training to the age of 32. For those AF SUPT applicants that were turned down for age consideration, the Navy may be an option. No word on USMC age changes. Remember in going Naval Air, approximately 50% are assigned helos as an initial assignment. But they do have P-8 (737s) waiting in the wings for all you future airline pilot hopefuls.

This topic should get some decent discussion going... So what do you carry in your flight suit pockets? What about your G-suit? Other pockets? Here's mine: Flight Suit Right chest pocket: Wallet and SQ coin Left chest pocket: USB jump drive and elastic "pen band" Left Sleeve: Cell phone, chapstick, earplugs Thigh pockets: Nothing Knife pocket: Gone Left ankle: Nothing Right ankle: Flight cap and Oakley soft vault/sunglasses G Suit Left pocket: Checklist Right pocket: Red "crack to light" glowstick, silver mylar blanket, piddle pack, LED flashlight (clip to zipper type), and (if I'm going off-station) my Garmin 96C Helmet bag pockets Extr…

Good news, especially for you AETC folks in Texas and Vance: The Million Air FBO's at Hobby and Fayetteville Arkansas just got the military servicing/fueling contract. Although EFD is close by, swing into HOU next time you're in Houston. We went through Hobby back in Feb, and it is top shelf: good flight planning, professional line crew, free snacks/drinks,... even the crew car is a BMW 5 series. FYV probably has the same, as this is a Million Air standard. The movie theatre is impressive too. The tower guys at Hobby are great, and give you whatever they can. Hobby has 7600', and Fayetteville's 6000' of runway. You T-38 pilots are out of luck at FYV, but HOU…

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.

The only remaining example of the N-9M, of which Northrop only ever built four, has crashed in a prison yard in California. The plane was destroyed and the pilot, the sole occupant, did not survive... https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/27594/rare-and-historic-northrop-flying-wing-crashes-into-prison-yard-in-california

If you know anyone who flew the T-38 and their GRANDFATHER flew the T-38, please drop me a msg. I'm looking for 2 or 3 generations of pilots in the aircraft. Sluf

I wish I was making this up. From the Newport News, VA Daily Press newspaper, the following in the Letters to the Editor. Man, people don't know how good they've got it. This partly infuriates me, but putting it in perspective more makes me laugh. --------------------------------- Disrespect for victims At noon on April 20, when people all across the state were gathered for a time of remembrance and memorial for the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings, aircraft from Langley Air Force Base were flying extremely noisy exercises. The loud noise significantly disrupted the solemn ceremony that NASA Langley Research Center was trying to conduct. The person or …