Leaderboard

Agree 100%, and of the options in the running I like AT-802 best (Scorpion should have been in the running but wasn’t). However there is a segment of our leadership class that believes no risk is ever worth it. This is the same leadership that recently lost a war, and cannot put 2 and 2 together. Caveat: I’m 0% involved in the decision; just offering an informed opinion.

I think the Democrats have also forgotten that The Revolution always eats its own, always.

I was at Nellis last week at a ceremony. Mask nazis out in full force including a fat shoe clerk that went out of her way to complain to management at the class six that I wasn’t masked when I walked in not knowing I needed one. Just insane. No mandates at Luke except in med group. If I need to wear a mask to work, I’ll work from home when not flying = pool day like all the shoe clerks during the pandemic.

I don't post here much (if at all mostly reading), but my family and I were there Friday night to see his night show and also stayed for Saturday's show. So tragic and honestly unbelievable witnessing something like that. Words cannot explain what we and the entire crowd witnessed and more importantly his family. Our prayers for the family have been spoken each night as this is such a hard time. It was nice to see the Battle Creek Field of Flight took donations for the family during the rest of the events over the weekend and last I saw they took in over $3,000. Sunday's air show started with the missing man formation with Rob Holland, Bill Stein, Nathan Hammond, and Ken Rieder. It was also ended with the missing man formation by the USAF Thunderbirds. The crowd was silent and it was very emotional, both times. May Chris Darnell rest in peace.

Seasonal COVID

Denver has definitely got a sizable contingent of mask zealots. I’d say Buckley participation is not nearly that zealous, but the official policy is for indoor wear. Last I saw from the Redeyes they were running around in loin cloths and throwing spears at the monster rabbits running around the back gate. Nary a mask in sight.

There are two potential outcomes. 1. The progressive movement concentrates into a smaller and smaller core of activists who eventually get discarded from the Democratic party machinery. The more extreme they get, the smaller the coalition will be. I think they are very close to, or have already passed a point of no return. Their only power is in the asymmetrical advantage social media communication gives them, coupled with the disproportionate representation of progressives in media and academia. 2. If they are successful in holding the party hostage and maintaining their grip over the moderates (by scaring the liberal voters into believing conservatives are monsters that hate them), they will eventually trigger a fear response and humans will do what they've done really well for thousands of years: hate and harm people who act or look differently. I didn't think this was the prominent threat until they literally started going after the kids. Smart on the one hand, because societal changes are mostly generational, but much riskier on the other hand, because parents will get very brave very fast when their kids are at stake. I think they have taken for granted the victories of the past, but racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia have not been removed from the human heart, and they can spread faster than most think. It's going to boil down to the post-2022 election Democratic party. If they don't excise the progressive movement from their ranks and get back to their class-based roots, the second option becomes more likely.

Not knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on which LA platform we choose, but for the love of god let’s not throw out a potential option just because it has a tailwheel. Once upon a time, EVERYONE learned to fly in conventional gear airplanes. This can be taught, effectively, even to knuckle dragging fighter pilots. It’s a skill, just like multi engine or instrument flying & the methods for teaching it are sound and have been around a LONG time.

Just come out of the closet already bro.

The decision has been made and supposedly will be released in the next month or so. And they’re keeping it very close hold so i doubt it’ll come out early. I don’t even know what they picked.

Here in Chicagoland, our most recent indoor mask mandate ran from 17 Aug 21 to 28 Feb 22. It was lifted citing drops in "key metrics" including hospitalizations and case numbers. I assume mask mandates will return this winter. They'll want to wait until after the midterm elections on Nov 8, so I'd wager sometime around Thanksgiving. They seem to be paving the way already. Our "COVID-19 Community Level" was raised to "High" by the CDC on 27 May 22. As part of being rated "High," indoor mask wearing is "strongly recommended," but not required. However, the city has stated: "Major mitigation changes (e.g. citywide indoor mask mandates) will be made based specifically on City of Chicago's COVID-19 hospital burden rather than the federally defined Health Service Area." So, as soon as hospitalization rated tick up in the winter (as they have in the past), I assume indoor mask mandates will return. Not to worry, the city has provided handy guidance (copied below). Remember, it's important to get your vaccine. I mean booster. I mean second booster. I mean, just make sure you stay "up to date" on your vaccine........ Also, good news, vaccinations are available for Chicagoans as young as 6 months. Hurry up, Mom and Dad, get the kiddo out there to get their shots.........

Sad news for the air show circuit. Prayers for all involved. Shockwave Accident

They also used to ground loop the shit out of planes back in the day...even with a multiple runway configuration that mean they rarely had a huge crosswind. However, though I think Tac's post is likely the case, I'm 100% in a agreement with you on this. Then again, I own tailwheel aircraft and love flying anything TW.

Which base will be the first to bring back masks this fall?

Has anyone seen anything regarding the source selection for AO? Is this the best kept secret in the DoD?

They will go very far under the current administration and it’s obsession with affirmative action. Suck at your job? Just pull the race, LGTBQAZ+$, gender etc card and all is well. I’ve seen it all the time unfortunately.

All of them

You’re overthinking it. These people are exactly as insane as they appear to be. Col Coyle actually believes that diversity (not unity) is strength. That the very diverse Afghan AF just met their end by the not-diverse Taliban has no impact on his mindlessly chanting LGBTQ+ dogma.

The ginger outside with a mask is awesome

My conclusion after five years in the Air Force and six years at a defense contractor: The priorities of the military are as follows: 1.) Serve as a conduit for money into defense contractors 2.) Push woke agendas 3 through 353.) Other stuff 354.) Protect and defend the US. I think it's interesting and telling that the "WTF" thread so often ends up discussing all things Woke. Perhaps my tinfoil hat is too tight, but I really believe that the collection of increasingly absurd Woke movements is designed to keep people enraged and otherwise distracted from the real concerns in modern society. Everyone's mental bandwidth is taken up by trying to understand how trans rights and other absurdities appear to be the biggest news story of the day, while meanwhile the country descends further and further into a quasi-oligarchy. Half of the country is scratching their head and wondering if local libraries hosting Drag Queen Reading Hour is really a thing, while the other half is getting ready to go march in support of Drag Queen Reading Hour.

Yesterday's reflective belt is today's preferred pronouns in the email signature block.

This individual is about to make an even bigger impact because there’s no real large combat deployments affecting vast swaths of the military. When there’s not those pesky wars, that’s when the Shoe Clerk rebuilds his empire. Guarantee there was some Roman hassling some legionnaires about their sandals being tied correctly after they conquered Gaul. Nothing new.

There was discussions awhile back about pulling old S-3 Vikings out of the boneyard and turning them into an Armed Overwatch Concept. Obviously nothing came of that.