General Discussion

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

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.

Does anyone have any stories of buds they know being a single parent going through UPT? Please provide details on what the flight commander's thought, tactics they used to be approved for it, etc. I know that some may say it is going to be impossible, but I think it would be much harder if my wife leaves me and takes my daughter away from me. I hope this is not too personal...I am just desperate for information regarding this. Money is not an option and I would be willing to pay for the best of the best as far as a Nanny is concerned. If anyone can do this, it is me. I appreciate all of the advice I can get, I know it is bad timing expecially since I am supposed t…

When in a cell, when does lead pass the AA Tacan to 2? Us heavy guys don't see a cell often, but lately I've been on several locals where we have. Everyone seems to be passing the AA at different times. Couldn't find it in any tanker manuals. Just curious.

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…

Lost my pilot slot in ROTC on a eye technicality, going to Minot as a contracting officer. Anybody know anything about the base such as what the VOQ are like, living off base and what that is like, typical rent, wx info etc etc? Any input from those in the know would be great, thanks.

Hey bros, Anybody have a copy of the little business card Florida sends out that says military members can use an expired license? My bro is renting a car tomorrow and needs it.

THE COST OF BEING A PILOT.. But then what? Once you pass the check ride and get the license, what comes next? Often it is the desire to get an Instrument Rating. But then how do you justify another $6000 - $8000 in expenses to get there? How do you get past the almost $9000 in expenses to get that Private Pilots License. Most people answer the good old fashioned way, save up or get two jobs. We do a great job promoting General Aviation to get to the Private Pilot level..but then what? How many of you have had that pilot as an Instructor or Check Airman with 4 or 5,000 hours and they are in their 60’s. So this is why I am writing about this topic. Those pilots, t…

OK guys, I have some Brit buds who volunteer at the Bentwaters Cold War Museum and they have been working every angle they can to get a static display A-10 and/or F-4C for their facility with no success, so they asked if I had any other ideas. They've already contacted USAFE who tried getting the Spang BDR jet sold off to them as scrap, but the proposal never got anywhere and returning that particular airframe to display condition would have been too costly for the museum. They also asked for a Hog via the NMUSAF, but that organization changed its loans legislation after 9/11 so that it does not provide artifacts to non-government based agencies outside of the US.…

All, I’m an active duty Navy helo dude that has been offered an active duty KC-135 slot. I’m an O-4 and if I switch I will have a 6 year comittment that will put me right over 20 years. What I am looking for is gouge on the tanker/KC-135 mission, deployments, homeguard work, family life, preferred duty stations, etc. What are realistic possibilities of keeping flying for those six years? Is it possible in the Air Force to volunteer for a DO job to stay flying or is the DO a screened position? I’ve searched but can’t seem to find any threads newer than a few years old. I’m trying to wrap my head around the Air Force as well as the tanker life…

NATO Is Acting Like It’s 1985 ‘Maskirovka’ Is Russian Secret War Good articles on next-gen warfare as practiced by the Russians. Question comes to mind: Can we do the same to them in areas that they tenuously control or destabilize their allies the same way? If so legally, then morally? Thoughts?

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…

Picture and article at: Link

Glad everyone's OK. A couple Herks are going to need some TLC, however... From AFA's Daily Report: FlightGlobal: Full article/post with pictures.

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…

" Unknow Rider - Unknown Rider..." Bombers to Cuba

Several years ago I stored my POV when I went to Japan, then did a COT to USAFE. I had a POV in storage on my original orders and was briefed by TMO that I could just keep my car in storage if I wanted to. I did so, spent a few years in USAFE and got back to CONUS and picked up my car this past summer. Last month I got an email from an accountant at TRANSCOM giving me a week or so to give my authorization for storing my car. I sent in both sets of orders. TRANSCOM comes back saying that my Japan storage is okay but I will be billed $7k for keeping my car in storage for my USAFE tour. This is the first I've heard that it may not have been authorized. I sent my follo…

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?

The old girl is completing her final combat deployment...sad to see her go, but she is tired and it is time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRsYDYnv1rg

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?

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 have recently been considering joining the Air Force Reserve. Military service has been attractive to me for a long time, but I am only now giving it serious thought. Previously, I was very focused on a civilian career. For background, I am 28 years old and in the first year of law school, which is a three year program. I have an undergraduate degree in electrical and computer engineering. I intend to finish law school, and I will be 30 years old when I do. I am married with three children under the age of 5. I intend to have a civilian career at a large firm (not interested in JAG), during which I should be well-situated financially. I am motivated by a stron…

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 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…

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 ]