General Discussion

by Capt. Eric Badger 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs 12/5/2005 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Families normally get together for holidays -- but at 25,000 feet? Not hardly. But two pilots from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing found a way to accomplish a mission and have a family reunion at the same time. Capts. Greg Matthew Amig reunited in the skies over Southwest Asia, where Greg refueled his brother’s aircraft on Thanksgiving Day. The brothers are stationed together at this forward-deployed base. Greg is 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker pilot. He is deployed from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Matthew is a 16t…

Hey everyone, I'm a Navy guy making the short trek over here from AirWarriors, thanks for having me! I recently found out I'll be headed to Vance to be a T-6 IP. Vance is usually pretty rare on our options list, and since none of us go through training there anymore and we have a small IP footprint there, no one really has much gouge. I used the search function a decent amount, but haven't found much regarding what life is like as an IP. I've chatted a bit with a navy guy who's currently there, but just wanted to get some more data points. Just trying to get a general feel for overall job satisfaction, how the flying is, how the squadron culture is, and what th…

The 41st AS was officialy re-alligned from Pope to Little Rock today. To my utter horor I had to take off the "cloud 9" patch and put on a weak ass 2 AS "Flaming butt dart" patch. The J model guys stand up at the Rock next month from what I hear, but it's definitely sad to see the flag rolled up and shipped off. To all the current and former Blackcats (Mr. Baseops.net himself included) Here's to 31 years at Pope; hacking the mission and getting sh*t done. Anywhere, Anytime.

How often do you run into a pilot on active duty that could be a top notch officer, but doesn't fit the role of pilot well due to attitude or personality issues? Currently I know of a cadet who will be going to ENJJPT once she commissions. She is certainly a top notch cadet when it comes to everything that factors into pilot selection, but I have a VERY hard time envisioning her dropping ordinance on another human being, regardless of how vile an enemy. In addition, I wouldn't have much confidence in her reaction to a life or death situation in the cockpit since she seems to want to fly because in her mind it will be all fun and games, not realizing it could be fatal…

On average, when do pilots stop flying and end up behind a desk? Can you avoid this outcome by getting a C-37 or similar job?

Defense Contractors must see the USAF as a bunch of small town rubes running down the Midway with overalls filled to the brim with $20 bills. A seven-year, billion dollar investment by the Air Force in a new logistics management system has turned out to be a bust, officials say. “I am personally appalled at the limited capability the program has produced relative to that amount of investment,” Air Force Comptroller Jamie Morin told the Senate Armed Services readiness and management support subcommittee on Wednesday. The Air Force is now trying to sort out what can be salvaged from its investment on the Expeditionary Combat Support System and map out a way forw…

Nickel in the Grass for a 7+ year Vietnam POW. RIP Brother. From vansairforce.net on 9 Jan 2014, Link: https://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=108462 One of the pioneers of RV [Van’s Aircraft, homebuilt experimental aircraft] formation standards and a founding member of the Blackjack Squadron, Wesley Schierman passed away this weekend. Wes, Marty, and Dick began flying their RV4s in close formation together in the late 80’s and expanded their group by developing a structured training program in the early 90’s that continues to this day. Over the years, nearly 50 fortunate aviators have been ‘patched’ to fly as Blackjacks. There are extraordi…

Anyone have any experience working with the Collings Foundation? Specifically in coordinating with them for appearances at military airshows or functions. The 450th BG is having their last reunion, and I was thinking about how great it would be for these guys to have one of their planes here for the reunion. Our WG/CC mentioned pulling out all the stops to host the 450th Reunion, but I imagine it'd be difficult, not to mention of questionable legality, to pay Collings the $4000/hr to operate their B-24. I'm sure it is a pipe dream, but I'd love to hear any suggestions that could lead to a B-24 sitting on the ramp in October.

In today's AFA Daily... I didn't know the BUFF was "conceived" in a hotel room! Cheers! M2

Just an FYI, Pope took 4 Herks to the boneyard a weekish ago. Our 70s AWADS birds are being replaced by 64 Guard Dumb birds and AWADS is now out of our DOC statement. Birds did their job, couldn't ask for anything more but damm we need some new blood and I'm not talking guard planes from the early 60s that just have less hours. Some retired general who went with the J vs new H3s in the 90s should have his pension revoked...and I think we really need term limits for congressmen so they are less worried about being reelected and more worried about what is right. But I'll take a good decision now vs a perfect one tmrw, any more rumors on the J??

This is the type of innovation we need. I want to be optimistic that this will become the new AERPS, but I'll be a realist. Although it's been quite some time since I last wore AERPS, this looks much more comfortable and practical. https://www.stripes.com/news/yokota-airmen-improve-gas-mask-with-3d-printer-potentially-saving-air-force-8-million-or-more-1.531504

Thanks for reading! I am a 10 year active duty Marine Special Operations Officer with Marine Special Operations Command. I recently hit the lottery and got hired by an Air National Guard unit to change career paths and go to flight school and fly jets for them. The day before my flight physical Wright Patterson called to let me know I can't do the physical because I have a back surgery on my record. In 2011 I was wounded twice in Afghanistan and had some minor surgeries to recover in the coming years, and one was a micro-discectomy L5-S1 and was back to full duty two months later. I have done over two years of operations since the minor back surgery and multi…

I was watching the movie "The right stuff" in the breakroom. Never realized it was from 1983. trailer: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086197/traile...lay-vi770900249 I want to rent and watch the whole thing. Idk. seemed like a really good movie from the parts I seen.. figured there were others who live under a rock like me and never seen it. Anyway.. How many people on this board, whether pilot, civilian, or just an officer of some sort, are interested in one day trying for NASA(astronaut)... Or pilots... How many are looking to apply for a test pilot slot? What is it that you guys do to stay competitive? Just wondering...

Anyone know of an actual statement in the regulations that says promotion ceremonies are up to the individual? I want to dispense with the nonsense and just wear it to work, but I am getting some pushback.

Commentary from a recent WSJ The Rewards of the Obama Doctrine: Offering a helping hand to America's enemies in Iran, Russia, and Cuba will ruin lives and many more will die The Rewards of the Obama Doctrine - WSJ.pdf Mr. Kasparov feels fairly strongly against the power vacuum he perceives our current foreign policy is creating.

https://www.dodbuzz.com/2017/09/07/air-force-taps-l-3-develop-future-ec-x-compass-call-gulfstream-550/

Llyas Kashmiri He was a heavy hitter in S Waziristan. He seems to be the facilitator between UBL and field jihadis. There was no love lost between him and Pakistan either. Whatever, props to those who bagged him and tagged him. Hopefully there will be someone left for me to kill. EDIT: linky

Hoping someone knows some history of the USAF PJ community and might be able to help shed some light. I met someone at a party who says he was an officer PJ, essentially, back in the late 80s and early 90s. The time/location/atmosphere of the discussion didn't really allow me to pin down much in the way of specifics; he said he had been a USAF doc attached to JSOC at Ft Bragg, and had done the same training that the PJs did in terms of Airborne school and some Navy diving school, but he was quite clear in saying, "I wasn't actually a PJ, though." He described being part of a couple of SOF-type adventures abroad, pretty entertaining but seemingly humble storyteller.…

Very, very well done, Jack. https://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/783640/edge-of-space-emergency-tests-aviators-skills.aspx He's the 4th U-2 pilot I know to earn this distinction, and the 3rd since 2003. I believe the Kolligian Trophy is the only individual award given by the CSAF.

==From Wikipedia== One wing is enough? On May 1, 1983 during an Israeli Air Force training dogfight, an F-15D collided with an A-4 Skyhawk. The right wing of the Eagle was torn off roughly two feet (0.6 m) from the body. The pilot, Zivi Nadavi, disobeyed his instructor's command to eject and managed to land the crippled aircraft successfully. The aircraft was able to land because of the large horizontal surface area of the tail and the amount of lift generated by the engine intake and body ========================= Thats amazing. Could you imagine being that stud, hearing your IP telling you to eject and saying "Nah, i got it... sir"

All clear has been given in one area Now reporting there was a training exercise and a possible negligent discharge...must have been someone's first desk pop https://on.whio.com/2KlOWs8 https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/08/02/active-shooter-incident-reported-at-wright-patterson-air-force-base/ *edit for more info

I think joint basing would work and save money if independent auditors were allowed to select the most efficient way of doing things. Either combining the AF and Army way, choosing the best process from either branch, or doing it a completely different way. Imagine airmen having having to cut grass in front of their respective buildings like the Army. What are your experiences on joint bases and does it work?https://www.google.com/amp/www.military.com/daily-news/2016/10/06/army-chief-calls-for-joint-basing-review.html%3Fvariant%3Dmobile.amp

https://www.washingto...es-flight-boom/

If you have a chance, look at the inside cover of this weeks Air Force Times. You'll see the photo of a personalized 5x7 card Gen Pace left for a fallen comrade(s) at the Vietnam Wall. I wish not to spoil it for those that haven't seen or read the brief article. Character. All of us can learn from his simple display of humility. Thanks for your service sir.

George Sr., at 89 along with his protective detail, shave their heads in solidarity with Patrick, a two year old Leukemia patient. Thank you Mr. President, and those that serve around you. Pic of his team: Website set up by the SS folks: https://www.patrickspals.org/ FM