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Dude - you paid $50 for dinner in Del Rio? I hope that came with a blow job and $30 cash back.

Well,.. 1) The official AF position is still to close the U-2 program by 2015, but there are two outstanding Congressional requirements for the GH that must be complied with and, frankly, the GH doesn't look very good right now in terms of satisfying those requirements (won't go into them here). Not sure what will happen if the AF can't meet them, but Congress has said "no meet, no retire"! The requirements aren't necessarily black and white, so there's some wiggle room to argue over. 2) There is lots of PR about the new and exciting things the GH can do, like the Japanese support, that are loudly pushed. Not so much in public about what it turns out it can't do (that it was supposed to do). 3) With all the budget woes, the GH is a big ticket program that is being considered for the chopping block (with some others). We'll see where the FY13 budget goes. 4) As for the T-38s, no, they aren't available for your personal vacation trips. Not to say that they aren't occasionally used for cross-country trips (basic navigation proficency training), but they try to mesh them in with official business (airshows, "business trips" to other bases, recruiting visits to other bases, briefings to UPT bases, etc.). Sometimes if there is no official needs, an aircraft or two might go out on a weekend training trip, usually to/near T-38 capable bases so you can get fixed easily if you break, Its a nice break form the home field routine, but closely controlled by the Wing as part of the continuation training program. You're right about the program (not just Beale's, but the whole companion trainer concept) being a magnet for FWA reviews, so the Wing staff keeps a close eye on it. Like any other program, the Wing is allocated a fixed amount of flying time based on the approved training requirements and the number of authorized aircrews in the program, so you can't just fly anytime you want. You have to be careful about who should fly and how much time each pilot gets. As for Lt Col Thomas's comments, well, Rick's the front man for the AF and is properly selling the AF's position. That's his job, and he does it pretty well (given what he has to work with). As for MKopak's comment, I guess I agree...the "non-functional manager" probably has an easier job...there's just so much more available ammunition to work with!

Visited Del Rio?

Well done. Now if we could get all operators across the globe to do this at every TIB show, we might have a chance. I was lucky enough to see one USO show while over in the sand. It was awesome, entertaining with John Popper playing music and Patriots cheerleaders showing the goods. The Brits did even better when they brought strippers and dirty comedians. TIB sucks. TIB performers, both past and present, are loads that their mothers should have swallowed. HD