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Nothing that can't be fixed by another "Back to Basics" read file

I have never seen such an absolutely despicable and disgraceful posturing from any government official. Mark Kelly has been a disappointment for a long time, and this has put him squarely in the category of irredeemable.

Glad to see my airline/union assisting UPS/IPA in their time of mourning and assist bringing Captain Diamond home to rest.

Go all in and put two WSOs in it.

On that being said "arg"...I declare DIBs Before "Biff_T"!

If everything’s an SII, is anything an SII?

I know, and am friends with, several great dudes who are WSOs. They’re also smart and very capable human beings. That said, get rid of their positions in totality as aircraft advancements allow. There’s good reason we don’t have FEs on airliners anymore or navs on almost all aircraft models. There was absolutely a time and place, but those days are long gone. Stop trying to force a square peg into a round hole. They all need to accept this fact and move on… retire/get out early and transition to civ employment Shift to a different AFSC USAF reduce WSO production commensurate with current WSO-required aircraft retirements Stop trying to stupidly argue WSOs are required on new aircraft

Both sides are cherry picking. My War College Classmate, now retired Col Andrew Milburn wrote his thesis on the subject: BreakIng Ranks Dissent and the Military Professional - The paper was later published in JFQ where Pultizer Prize winning author Tom Ricks (who is a complete douche by the way), picked up on it and wrote a scathing article bashing Milburn. It was obvious Ricks never read the paper as Andy simply laid out a line of thinking around unlawful orders. Bottomline, we all swore an oath to the Constitution, not the President and we should act accordingly. I have only heard reporting on Trump's comments which are obviously Fing stupid but I did hear one report say the left-leaning networks have edited his comment and left out the phrase "if convicted." Obviously that qualifier slightly lowers the stupidity factor, likely not enough to matter. Bottomline, we have free speech in this country (despite the wishes of some with the Ministry of Truth), and Trump should shut his big mac eating, diet coke swizzling pie hole.

I think Trump confused sedition and treason (and the max punishment for each). Regardless, another example of not thinking it through before opening one’s mouth.

I'm actually surprised that he hasn't been fired by Hegseth since he's fat. His daddy, Slife, was fired, so he's on thin ice (which is literally all ice since he's fat). However, a friend of mine who's an AOC at USAFA told me that apparently Fat Tony had two negligent discharges at the CATM range...the same day of shooting. At least he's maintaining the fact that he's still: Fat A Retard

You are *way* behind me in line 🤣😂

Dibs

True, but I'd still hit it.

I heard it was Ben Doverbich. I still have that one tucked away in the safe. At the request of the Air Force Museum it will go on display in Dayton when I fly west.

An interesting wrinkle here is that the B-21 is already flying.. with two pilots. So I don’t know at what point they’re planning to transition to single pilot ops or how global strike plans to train up some WSO monitors who could theoretically AR or land in a pinch. Just an all around wildly bad idea. Root cause here is they have no clue what to do with WSOs as airframes that have them gradually go away, while we simultaneously hemorrhage pilots. Get stoned, kill two birds I guess.

I want to see her wearing those chaps with no jeans.

Weed stench, incessant beggering, homeless that don't want help and just want to be assholes, $18 beers.* But hey, there's a Packers bar there with Pliny on tap. * I know, I probably described every mega city.

If it’s stable enough for you to climb down from the flight deck and walk to the door, it’s stable enough to land/ditch. If you can’t walk to the door, you’re proper fcuked whether you have a chute or not.

Sadly, none of this surprises me. The more I learn, the more jaded I get toward our military/political leadership and what kept us in the never ending quagmires since 9/11. This is proof that no one is immune to the government trying to fuck you and make your life a living hell if you piss off the wrong person. It also puts a spotlight on the hypocrisy around the different spanks for different ranks. Never mind the unwillingness of people to do the right thing so as not to upset their careers. Here's hoping the current administration will fix this situation. Funny sidenote on the point they make about being "frozen" in the rank your retired/left the service. Our OG received a call from a FDX guy about a squadron mate who had the audacity to take MLOA during peak. The dude introduced himself as Maj Gen XXX and to our OG's credit, he made a point to let him know that his retired rank didn't mean shit, then prompted told him to go fuck himself, the MLOA was legit.

To whom it may concern. Will the person at the O-club Friday night who drew dick pics in our flight caps please provide new hats. Sincerely, Col. Harry Balzac & Col. Hugh P. Ness

God damn that's delicious.

Dibs

I attended the funeral this weekend for Richard Wartenberg. In addition to all his Squadron mates attending there was a large UPS pilot presence as well. I was talking to one of the UPS pilots about their MD-11 and plans to replace them and he was saying that UPS has been working on an Airbus/Boeing widebody freighter for years due to the increased MX issues with the MD-11 and scarcity of parts and engineering expertise. One interesting point he said was that UPS elected not get the STC (supplemental type certificate) pylons that the FedEx MD-10/11 fleet have. These are stronger pylons that require less MX and replace the original pylon.

Kinda random, but has anyone started a gun club in their local area? I'm looking to get one going where I'm at and would love some pointers/warnings.

I guess I'm in the minority on this one. I rather have a WSO than second pilot in the B-21. Even in the long-range strike scenarios the bomber bros are pushing back against. Most are using the B-2 community as the blueprint for B-21 dynamics. That's a mistake (for a couple reasons). I always felt I had more in common with strike WSOs as a B-2 dude. Hell, I even called the "Mission Commander" position the "Pilot-WSO". B-2 employment was weird - at times the MC was a WSO, and at times it was a co-pilot. Further complicated by either the Pilot or MC could be the AC. I say make the B-21 community mirror the F-15E community as far as crew dynamic. I'm for the WSO in the B-21 - it'll make better pilots too. And WSOs don't need some special WSO course to AR and Land. A f-ing pilot can do that - with smart crew dynamics that "unofficially" teaches WSOs to land, AR, etc. Otherwise - Biff was right - go all in with 2x WSOs!

Brabus for CSAF.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-administration-proposed-28-point-russia-ukraine-peace-plan/ Several outlets are covering this not just CBS so pick your own slant. I know we all have our opinions on how this should go but rewarding Putin who is by all accounts a war criminal just makes sick. We have people on death row in this country for far less. Reminds me of a lot of American politicians who finally get worn down by an issue and just want it off their plate so they can finish out their term. On some level in fairness, I understand we have to play by rules and Putin does not. Afghanistan had both Biden and Trump half assing it and we see how that went when all was said and done. Afghanistan we can mostly ignore today but Ukraine and its potential fallout (heaven help us if that becomes literally) will be a problem again one day. Trump figures things will hold until he's out of office or this worldly realm and not his problem. Our kids and grandkids probably won't be as lucky. I can guarantee any treaty will be followed by only one side. This was on a plaque at what was once a temporary cemetery near Foy Belgium for over 2000 from the Battle of the Bulge and I think it still carries truth 80 plus years later. We have only died in vain if you believe so; You have to decide the wisdom of our choice, By the world which you shall build upon our headstones, And the everlasting truth, which have your voice. Though dead, we are not heroes yet, nor can be, 'Til the living by their lives which are the tools, Carve us the epitaph of wise men, And give us not the epitaph of fools. David J. Phillips, 506th P.I.R./ 101st Abne Div."

Love the SIIs that are complete lip service and serve zero utility. Since I’m required to brief them, this means 90% of the time it’s, “SIIs are on the wall, you can read.” The 10% that actually make sense get covered.

Need a good solid Tiger team effort with a solid look at tshirt color and boot height.

Based on the current and future plans for aviation pipelines across all the services, I honestly believe that the Bobs have made a conscious decision to accept higher mishaps rates and lower quality of product, at least in the near to mid term in order to up production numbers. They’re just not outright saying that. As an FTU CI, it’s frustrating. The FTU syllabus for the airframes I teach are based on the legacy UPT/UCT product. A lot of the T-6 direct to the FTU students are struggling. It’s not their fault; most of them are hungry, have a good attitude, and study. They’re just behind in multiple areas because they haven’t gotten enough reps before they show up here.

Sure. We see/hear it plenty. They learned it from Trump himself. I think he's calling for executions of those Dems. See, despicable posturing ... or something. * * I do not condone either actions, just playing ref and throwing a flag on both plays.

Kind of like when the space/missileers and comm/cyber guys started wearing a new badge that more closely resembled wings.

Actually, I've dealt with numerous graduates from the AQIT course, and they know their shit. That said, I'd avoid acquisitions like a burrito from Taco Bell! And at least they don't have the word 'weapons' in their name!

NTSB Preliminary Report is out.NTSB Prelim report

There is a middle ground here that should make sense to everyone but it obviously hasn't caught on yet. 200 mile high speed chases that puts everyone on the road in great danger are super dangerous and something needs to be done quickly to prevent that. Don't care what you're running for, if you're running you aren't going to be allowed to put others at risk. PIT'ng someone who you haven't established is actually running (moving up to next exit, clear indicators that you're not going to become an issue) and you move to PIT them, unsat. Some jurisdictions don't even allow pursuit anymore if the person is fleeing. Have watched plenty of videos where the dude will run and cops won't chase or they have to hope the Highway patrol or other police/sheriffs can.

This exact situation was on the Oliver show. Trooper PIT'd a pregnant lady, flipped her minivan over as she was trying to find a good spot to pull over.

Not even a CPO guy, just a line guy who’s clearly the front runner for biggest douche of the airlines 2025 award? I can’t even fathom that.

As much as AOC?

Is she dinosaur bait? I think Republicans need to give up on tough-talking women. I'll take the soft spoken Condoleezza Rice and Amy Coney Barrett over Sarah Palin, Marjorie Taylor green, Lauren Bogart, Christy noam, or Kari Lake

New rule to add to the motherhood: Egressers, defenders, and football players in the tunnel have the right of way.

It's late, I'm drunk. IAW the he man woman haters club handbook At 14:15 reminds me of taking my first wife 4 wheeling on the Eglin reservation back in the 80s. Good times Also at 21:36 there's a door in my barn just like that

A chute is the illusion of a fighting chance. Just like when we carried 6 chutes in the back.

I’ve heard lots of credible source negatives about Crenshaw for several years. Unfortunate, I had high hopes at the beginning.

Just listened to it. I’m not really surprised by any of it, but it is still absolutely blood boiling. I hope the Trump admin steps in and rights this egregious wrong.

just awesome, it's like we're all in a race to find the bottom

Russia made a robot. It's a perfect copy of a drunk Ruskie.

I've gotta go dig in my tubs of ol' USAF shit to find my "WSO Hater Union" card I was once presented at a roll call. Looks like I have others to pass that along to here. Wish I could remember the occasion for which I was awarded it.

Interesting way to get the Dems’ support on allowing Putin to keep the seized territory.

Over the years, I’ve seen numerous discussions here about the potential impact of Cyber on warfighters, the threat posed by China, and what the AF and DoD should do. i highly recommend anyone interested in the current focus on 2027 and beyond should listen to a podcast called “To Catch a Thief.” There are 9 episodes and it is well worth listening to, especially if you have more than a 20 minute drive to/from work. If you can’t muster that much attention span, just listen to the last episode. Nicole Perleroth worked for the NYT, and reminds mo of the stories of a conservative being “a liberal who got robbed.” check it out, you should be able to use it for PME credit or CEUs if you have any computer certification. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/to-catch-a-thief-chinas-rise-to-cyber-supremacy/id1798267956