General Discussion

Sorry in advance for the weak google/forum searching. What happens if you drop out of/fail UPT? Do you stay in the Air Force and go onto a new career field, or are you kicked out of the Air Force? Sorry again if this has already been answered.

The Wall Street Journal has a subscribers' only article about the Afghan Air Force using aircraft to transport drugs. Here's Reuters' take: https://www.reuters.c...E8270DU20120308 Who knew that the Afghanis had C-5s?

On September 3rd, 1951, a strike force of U.S. Navy Grumman F-9 Panthers was going in to hit the railroad freight yards at Wonson, North Korea. The formation was from VF-51, the "Screaming Eagles," staging from the aircraft carrier USS Essex. While over the target area, one of the aircraft, tail number 125122, was struck by anti-aircraft artillery fire and lost elevator control. The pilot, a 21 year old NROTC aviation cadet, managed to nurse his crippled aircraft back across friendly lines, then, unable to land, ejected from the aircraft near a friendly air base. He then parachuted to earth safely and without injury, though certainly shook up for the ordeal. …

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.

what exactly does AFPC mean when they say I cannot be released? do they mean I can never leave my current airframe, or that right now I can't leave the airframe and i should ask again later? I have another unit that i want to go to and they want me, and despite having 3.5 years time on station, AFPC won't let me go. so i don't know if i should try again, or if this is a permanent thing; anyone else face a similar situation?

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.

Are there any facts or rumors regarding where the CAA mission will be headed in the future? The last I heard is it is totally discontinued with no official plans for reinstatement. https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/ready-fire-aim-great-power-competition-without-combat-aviation-advisors Can anyone with experience there comment on their time there? From the outside, it seems like it was a good time: unique deployments, lots of cool training for skills outside of the plane, and doing meaningful work.

Badass. 'Nuff said. https://www.navytimes.com/article/20130711/NEWS03/307110007/Rescue-swimmers-receive-DFCs-HMS-Bounty-rescue

https://www.yahoo.com/news/officials-probe-first-possible-drone-130500520.html

A friend of mine just got his commercial ASEL. Soon after he got a job in Hawaii towing gliders...or so he thought. Turns out that the FBO really needed him to fly Japanese tourists in gliders. I asked him if he would start to tow soon. He didn't know when he would start towing. He said that he makes more flying the gliders. I asked him if this would help his progression toward an airline, cargo job, etc. He said that he could count the glider time in his "total time". I don't doubt that, question is for all you airline guys out there, how is glider time regarded in the industry? Thanks, -ifrflyer

I'm perusing 11-217 and came acorss the multiple applications for the 60:1 rule (descent gradients, pitch changes, arc to radial lead points, airspeed conversions, distance from VORTAC, etc...) When going through Phase II, did any of you frequently use the 60:1 rule? Which applications were used the most and which were disregarded (if any)? Thanks. Just trying to get a feel for whether the 60:1 rule is simply a helpful learning device or if it is something that is required to be learned and implemented. [ 05. December 2005, 12:18: Message edited by: RJP ]

Here ya go, how American's feel about the military services... Cheers! M2 Gallup Panel Military Perceptions Study.pdf

Nickel on the grass for "Pitbull" McDowell and "Lag" Gramith. They both leave behind wives, and Lag leaves behind twin 7 month old girls. The Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association (River Rats) are setting up 529 accounts for Lag's daughters. I expect donation info in the next day or two, and I will post here when I get the details. Cheers, Cap-10

Are all AF aircraft equipped for MLS approaches? I've seen several KC-135's practice the MLS approach into Boise, but never any F-15s or 16s from Mountain Home or the A-10s and C130s out of BOI. Most of the time they will just practice the ILS with a low approach. I don't know of too many MLS systems out there. So is it just from an equipment standpoint, tactical, or what?

Hi all. It has been a while since my last post of photographs and following a chat with Chris last night he was happy for me to share a few more images taken this year. 19 Squadron at RAF Valley, UK, were the first squadron to be equipped with the Spitfire for the Battle of Britain in 1938 and this year was the 70th aniversary of that historic event. After several months of negotiations with sponsors the squadron and I managed to get this Hawk painted in the original paint scheme of the Spitfire. I was fortunate to fly in formation with the Hawk and the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire a…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15640104 Bad luck...

Does anyone have first-hand knowledge of any Aircrew people being issued Glock 19's? I have a buddy (retired Sec. Forces CATM) that heard that aircrew people were being issued Glocks, instead of the usual POS M-9's. Both of us thought that sounded strange (knowing how much drama is involved in getting people qualified normally, let alone on a whole new weapon), just wondering if anyone else had heard of such a thing.

Anyone know where I can get the sound clip of that back seater having a "major bowel movement"? I can't find it anywhere. Thanks!

Put this into the “I can’t believe it column”. This week I was coming back from Souda Bay when at FL410 and just entering Swiss airspace, I noticed an aircraft approaching us from the opposite direction, slightly higher and offset to the left of our track. I took a quick glance at the TCAS which showed no traffic. I looked back up to see that the “traffic” was going to pass pretty darn close. The old adage if it does not appear to be moving it is very close and about to hit you came to play, when I realized I was looking at a weather balloon. It was about 4 feet in diameter and had a cord maybe 15 feet long with an instrument package attached to it. It passed approx…

I had a student bring up an interesting topic the other day in my graduate level MIS class. We were discussing technology in aviation ( I try to combine my current job of teaching technology and my true love - aviation, when possible) when he asked me why with the advances in technology the black box hadn't been moved and located on the ground (on a server type system) instead of in the aircraft. The technology exists for each aircraft to have a private network connection using satellite or even ground based stations located around the world. All aircraft systems output could be broadcast, voice communication could be captured (internal and external), even passenger ca…

I do not have the time right now to look this up so someone please help. Is the All American LZ in LR considered a "dirt strip" for dirt qualification purposes? It says it is "cemented soil" Thanks [ 15. May 2006, 04:12: Message edited by: RedDog ]

Who and what occupations get to work at NORAD? Can pilots volunteer to work there?

I know this isn't the perfect forum for this question, but I figure a lot of you can help. I'm trying to buy an RV-8 to use for fun flying as well as cross country flying. The basic VFR plane is affordable (at least I'm trying to convince my wife that it is). The problem is if I add the IFR package, it's too expensive. I'm going to be using the plane for cross country flying that eventually will be LONG cross country flying (Montana to Louisiana). My question is, if I don't have the required IFR equipment (btw, presently, I don't know much about IFR flying), how practical would it be to use the plane for long cross countries? Will I end up cancelling a LOT o…

Ladies & Gents, A few of the guys from the 48th at Lakenheath recommeded I put a few snaps up here for you good folk to see. So I just wanted to say 'Hey' and if you're ever in the UK on TDY or PCS'ing to Lakenheath, hit me up and I'll shoot you some pics. All with my compliments, discretion and respect assured. Lots of USAF aircrew character references available! Cheers! Morley morley.lester@gmail.com MLL_7576 Head on 1024 by Morley Lester, on Flickr IMG_3167 GR4 Flckr by Morley Lester, on Flickr MLL_0059 F15E Morley Lester Link Flckr by Morley Lester, on Flickr MLL_7340 Flckr by Morley Lester, on Flickr MLL_1771 1024…

Hi, I am updating our squadron photo board and need some examples.......If anyone would be so kind to send a photo to my e-mail address....wsal46@yahoo.com.....thanks a million in advance....take care...fly safe....Sal