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In a gesture of goodwill, Southwest named a row of seats after her.

Merry Christmas from Recce Town!

as an addicted gambler i want in this somehow

Did you slide down the pole to the bat cave when you got the call?

https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html I’ve randomly perused this guys stuff for almost 10 years. He digs up some interesting data on these war machines and didn’t see him posted on here before so I thought i’d share. He catalogs most if not all public military aircraft bureau numbers and their associated history. It’s pretty thorough (imo) and is updated regularly. On a cautionary note...i’ve literally “wasted” hours of my life on this site because i just kept going down the rabbit hole. It is a deep one... Enjoy.

Yup. Consider a 60 airplane buy, figuring acquisition per tail at $20 mil a tail for fly away cost, operation at $2,000 per hour (likely less but plan conservatively) and sustainment at $300k per tail in depot mx, logistics, training expendables and other costs (again very conservative). Program in 750 hours per tail per FY (fly it a lot) and that groks out to $90 mil in flight hour costs and $18 mil in sustainment costs, plus Murphy's Law costs (guess that at 15% extra) so that sums up to just over $124 mil. Spread the acquisition, FTU and other start up costs over 3 FYs and that's about $420 mil (add another 5% per tail when acquiring) Not chump change but affordable when you consider that if you replaced LAAR in CAPs for 4/5th Gens when you could (AOR permitting) - you come up with the money very to pay for it quickly because it is so much cheaper to fly than 4/5th Gens. At $40k per flight hour (figuring in tanker support) generically for 4/5th Gens, to get the $124 mil per FY to afford the LAAR you would need to replace about 3,100 flight hours from the 4/5th Gen fleets. But since you're not flying those fighters to do those missions, you don't need to fly those tankers so in reality its not even that many hours, split it between the fighter and the tanker and now you only need to cut 1,550 fighter and 1,550 tanker flight hours and you've found your money to pay for your new and very useful, affordable and relevant LAAR's per FY operational costs. What you would have to cut / reprogram to acquire in those 3 FYs assuming your rich uncle doesn't come thru with an unexpected windfall is the $420 mil question... likely you should retire your 5% of your oldest / brokest 4th Gens and that would likely pay for all if not most of it. Another cost saver would be to not send selectees for the LAAR program to IFF if they are not already graduates and train them in their mission fundamentals in the LAAR, frees up another slot for dudes selected for fighters. Just buy one AF... the math will work itself out, morale will improve and this will be one step towards getting your mojo back... *Posted in the naive hope someone who is important in the AF with enough authority and clout will read and realize we don't have to take an elephant rifle every time we go hunting.

I'd argue that no, it does not. A chief pilot can be an O-4 just as well as an O-5. I'd love to be an O-5 chief pilot and do nothing but fly every day, but there just aren't that many O-5 billets at the squadron level. No, not every O-5 needs to be a Sq/CC or DO, but I don't think it's unreasonable that every O-5 be expected to be ready/able to command if called upon. I fall into the category of "didn't-go-to-school, won't-be-a-commander", but I wanted O-5 pay and an O-5 retirement, so I took jobs at the Group and Wing level so that I could be valuable to a commander. I didn't get a DP, was promoted anyway somehow, so I'll basically finish my career doing....whatever the Wg/CC needs this non-CC to do. That's my lot in life. But I've been an active flyer in every assignment, which is better than a lot of people get, so I realize that I've been very fortunate. I agree that the OPR/PRF process is a pretty poor way to find and promote talent. The up-or-out system is antiquated and needs to be updated. But it just simply isn't in the interest of the government to promote a guy to O-5 to do an O-4's job.

Jobs outside the squadron prepare you for squadron command. I learned more about how a wing functions in 18 months on a wing staff than I ever knew in years at the squadron. I’m not saying that they prepare you to be a *good Sq/CC but you learn how all the pieces fit together. I understand that in your case you want to do your time, maximize your flying, and move on to better things, and I can respect that. I just get tired of the same old story that everyone in group, wing, or other staff jobs are only trying to climb the ladder at the expense of someone else. Maybe that has been your experience but it hasn’t been mine at all. I’ve had good commanders that did their best for their best people and worked to get them jobs that would broaden their experience and maybe prepare them to work outside the squadron sometime in the future.

https://www.burrusspta.org/395_Combat.pdf 395 F-105s were lost in combat out of 833 produced

Excellent. Terms? I think AFSOC still has no LAA by 2021. Anything past that is vaporware anyway. I’ll collect (or you will!) Jan 2021.

You may be tracking this, but if you don't have any mil time other than RPAs, you're gonna need 1,500 hours. The 750 is only for mil flight time.

Both my interviewers were civilian guys and I’m pretty sure all they saw was “oh another military dude.” Wasn’t asked a single thing. Also I know not all my months will be like this, but if you live locally and bid reserve, there are ways to minimize work. That Chicago snow storm really screwed me. 10 months on property, and I alternate between a line and reserve at my choice. Do not commute! Edit: half those days were deadheads only

Yes

Your WG/CC needs 3 IPZ officers to get 1 DP. the rate is actually 55%, but the AFI specifies a cutoff to get the first one. BPZ officers don't count towards the number of DPs the commander has. He has to take them from the IPZ pool to give to a BPZ officer.

I only had about 1,000 hours before I was yanked to fly droids. The flying came back pretty quick, but it’s the running the mission and dealing with TACC that takes exposure. I’ve been pretty damn busy this past year and I’ve only flown 350 hours. I’d hate to see how little that would be with a queep job that keeps me from flying. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That wing would get 0 outright DPs.

As long as you can answer any Why questions, it will not matter. I had lots of breadth, less depth, and they let me sneak in. They did ask about my bouncing around so much, so I told them how cool it was to fly all these different airplanes doing different missions. They smiled, nodded, and moved on.

I'm just glad you're not drunk-posting like a giant doosh today. 🥃

In theory, shouldn’t old guys like you be able to regain proficiency quicker than a new guy? Not hating, genuinely asking.

They're called patches, and usually make O-5 (though not always).

Same. I've learned a ton about the wing in my OGV and IG jobs that I was never exposed to staying solely within the flying squadron.

Unfortunately, the only way you’re getting out of an ADSC to retire without a waiver is if you sign continuation paperwork that expires before said ADSC. Everything else has to go to the Puzzle Palace for forgiveness. Sorry.

To be clear, the guard does allow promotion without PME through ROPMA. Not a guarantee, but seems like a high Pk promotion for pilots at least. Downside is you lose a few years of O-5 pay, so even for money alone it's probably worth doing ACSC if you're a full time guy and not living off an airline paycheck. Sucks that ROPMA isn't an option in the Reserves.

Prior that that series there was one called Apocalypse World War I that featured a lot of colorized footage as well; but Peter Jackson's effort goes far beyond that by adjusting the film speed to realistic levels and adding audio through lip readers. I will not miss They Shall Not Grow Old, I've been looking forward to it since news of its release first came out!

See bolded. Bro, kudos on one of the most candid and on-point assessments of female military pilot dynamics out there. I've said that shit offline a couple times and get tar/feathered. It is def not a politically correct assessment, but it's hella repeatable and easy to illustrate for those without an axe to grind, let alone those who resemble the remark. Let's not even get started on how these dynamics create tension and a sense of inequity in the squadron when it comes to deployment cycles, work schedules while in garrison, and even post-separation working expectations, especially in the dual pilot couple household. Again, my experience with acquaintances on the post-separation side of things, tracks 100% batting average what you highlight. Problem is that 'thirsty' won't see what they don't want to see. So you're spinning your wheels with these types. Or that poor fuck I know that forewent a Viper for a bomber so wifie T-6 FAIP could join spouse with him, even though wouldn't stop the lamentations in the bar when not in mixed company (aka wifie not there). Just a god damn self-imposed heartbreak. Not all baby turtles make it to the ocean; I used to say that about UPT grads, but Jesus these days it's the late rate Capts, priors, or FAIPS going into second assignment the ones that look in need of better adulting mentorship. LOL

Here's some anecdotal thoughts based on what I've seen amongst friends in this situation over the years. Short answer opinion: Tracking T-1s and FAIPing is highest chance of desired outcome...see below for reasoning. 1. FAIPing together gives you at least 3 years post-UPT together. Even though she's 6 month ahead in UPT, they could align you guys on the same VML down the road to help increase the chances of getting a join spouse assignment to the same aircraft. Not a guarantee of course, but you probably have a higher chance of it working out vs. her assigning X aircraft 6 months ahead of you and you crossing fingers the same aircraft is available in your drop. 2. (N/A if you go to ENJJPT) Consider track and decide if living together is more or less important than what you want to fly. You don't know how either of you will perform or what the T-38/T-1 availability will be 6 months apart. T-1s is the more sure bet based on slots available. If she goes 38s 6 months ahead of you, it's higher risk you don't end up in the same track and thus a lot less likely to be in the same aircraft down the road. Bottom line, I've seen several couples make it happen who ended up in the same aircraft, but generally one of them ends up getting out ASAP. I've seen different-aircraft couples fall apart. I've also seen most of my female counterparts love the idea of flying in their early 20s, but despise their 10 yr ADSC and the AD lifestyle when they want to have kids and stop working 12-15 hrs a day, want to be at home with the kids, etc. It creates a real problem for them, and ultimately they suck up shitty non-flying jobs, balance being an officer/mom/wife, and their husband continues to fly while they punch at the first chance. I'm not judging those couples who go down this road or their decisions to stay/go, but its a real challenge you both should talk about.

Young guys take note. Set yourself up early to be financially independent of the military retirement. Read up on investing during deployments, spend/save/invest your money wisely, and make yourself marketable to the outside world. You will have much less stress when the time comes to decide to stay or punch from the AF.

After witnessing the AF's continued spiral into total Maoist political insanity, I can't fathom why any aviator would ever want to be a commander. This latest case is proof positive that there is literally no hope. Even when you try to do the right thing as the boss, the Blue machine will find a way to purge you and destroy what reputation you've built. Sometimes I have a hard time believing that this is reality and not some Truman-show satirical comedy we're living. Looking forward to the political officer billets opening up in combat squadrons soon. Maybe someone should realize that the real insensitivity is loading people onto a geriatric jet and flying it into combat. Real dick move if you ask me.

The latest Coen brothers movie is out on Netflix. Don't even need to leave the house.

I saw them create a helo slot out of thin air for an engaged couple. So you never know. My opinion, no clue why mil to mil gets special treatment. No one ever asked me if an assignment was compatible with my wife’s career.

Since probably 90% of Baseops wasn't born yet/then,...humor me....I actually look forward to seeing "First Man", despite the Hollywood spin. I vividly recall watching the landing as a Cadet. The Vietnam war was pretty much in full s..t, and we were all looking forward to getting into the game. Little did we know back then...but that's another story...However, we were beating the DRPCBs to the moon. I have had the honor of meeting both Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Once as a cadet, and later flying Neil and his wife to Athens in a MD-11. Anyway, sadly we are again in a s..t show, but it was far worse in the late 60s and early 70s and we will get through this.