Right Seat Driver
-
Posts
452 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
2
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Blogs
Downloads
Wiki
Posts posted by Right Seat Driver
-
-
In the immediate, things will reset. The forces will start to flow back home and elsewhere. Training will uptick, missions will downtick - initially.
Then the shit hits the fan. No Afghanistan means GREATLY reduced TWCF missions, and with it flying hours, seasoning, and funding dollars. AMC is in a bad spot. Commercial augmentation will also reduce, and airlift will start flying channel missions again, but not enough make good on the loss of FHP. Commercial cargo airlines will start beating Congress because USTC cuts commercial cargo flow to save the crew force (follow the money), and crews will start starving for ANY flying in about 8-12 months.
And then the fun part - the FY23 budget is going to be a cut to the bone. Force reductions are coming because we can’t afford modernization, recapitalization, and people all at once. They’ll pay pilots to get out. Some wings are going to shutter. Some jets are going to the boneyard. And it’ll last for a couple years.
And then the “new new new normal” will be set. Start looking at the mid-to-late 90s as the benchmark for what AMC flying will look like - just not as heavy (Balkans, ONW/OSW replaced by routine trips/deployments to Saudi/Kuwait/etc).
Make your plans wisely. Unless there’s a pop up conflict, that’s what’s on the horizon.
Chuck
That checks.
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app -
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app -
-
1
-
-
-
https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/rsaf-stratotankers-get-third-lease-of-life, looks like a US operator has bought the Singaporean KC-135R MPRS birds and put N numbers on them. I wonder if the USAF will sell them parts or retrofit with civilian off the shelf parts. All -135 parts don't have FAA/PMA serviceable tags since they were never type 2 certificated. Logistics is provided by 2 level mx shops at the Depots. The RSAF probably had a huge stockpile of extra parts to go along with the deal.
Did this sale have to be approved by the US government as the RSAF 135s were FMS? I get the article said the jets won’t have to be de-militarized because they aren’t “US military jets.” But IIRC every FMS jet sale has to be approved.
The last I heard, Uncle Sam wasn’t too keen on the RSAF jets going to a civilian operator.
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app -
Make sure the individual did ASBC, SOS in correspondence, SOS in residence(8 weeks), Masters, ACSC and plan the squadron Christmas party. Those should eliminate the award/medals/combat/deployed time and other “useless” data points for the board.
Funny you mention ASBC. I was on leave visiting my wife at ASBC and decided to drag my hung-over self to the field to watch her flight play flicker ball (or whatever it was called). After a few minutes of me trying to figure out WTF was going on the ASBC Sq/CC walked over and started taking to me. He made it clear I had to go to ASBC after UPT and before the FTU or else I wouldn’t make Major “because the folks on my O-4 board would be ASBC grads and would notice the lack of PME.” The joke’s on him. I heard he was quietly showed the door as an O-5 and here I am as an O-4 that only went to Maxwell for SOS. Little victories.
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app -
There’s two 100% disabled. One you can work, one you can’t. Disabled veteran benefits vary by the state. In Washington, one pretty has to be 100% disabled for most benefits. I’m moving to Colorado next month and I’ll get free plates for my car due to being over 50% and free hunting and fishing licenses for life if over 60%.
I agree some people milk the system, that’s inevitable. But I’ve known a few dudes who were 90-100% that looked able bodied. However, they’re all getting hip and knee replacements in the next few years, as well as spinal surgery to replace buldged disks and to fuse vertebrae. YMMV.
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app-
2
-
-
I thought there was a phase out date in the uniform reg but the last time I looked it was only the ABU phase out.
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app
The phase out date is for the ABUs but there are caveats for the coyote t-shirt and boots with the green bags.
I hope the green bags stay forever, I cannot stand the two-piece and have worn it only once...when I was trying them on the check the sizing out.
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app -
The best part about the ASCS simulations is the disclaimer saying that AU realizes the scenario may not be a realistic representation of actual aircraft capabilities. Apparently a Viper can CAP for 6-9 hours without needing gas but a B-1 can’t fly 69 miles away from a tanker track before it bingos out.
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app-
1
-
-
At least this guy attacked a taxiing airplane. I guess that makes him the smart one.
Never gets old!
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app -
Welsh spoke to all the SNCO’s at Altus when I was there back in 2013-2014. It was just him, Chief Cody, and the SNCOs. He flat out said he loved the A-10, it was the first fighter he flew, but he couldn’t afford it. Every career field he had manned over 100%, he had to pay for out of hide, which is why he did the Great Hunger Games, Congress told him to STFU that he was keeping the A-10, getting the F-35...so the only thing he could do was cut personnel. Pretty tough place to be put in, and a good example of how one can be the CSAF and still be told by civilians to STFU and color on how their branch was goin to run.
I get it, but the execution was piss poor. I had just PCSd to EGUN just before Christmas 2013 and got a phone call telling me to show up the next day for a CC call to announce the AF would cut 36,900 people ASAP.
There’s no real way to win other than being honest with the troops.
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app-
1
-
-
T-38 students that drop heavies do just fine in FTUs without ever having learned “how to fly as a crew.”
Heavy FTUs have less time in the jet now because sims can accurately replicate flight.
I was a T-1 guy and didn’t learn how to fly as a crew until I got to the 135 FTU. I was also one of the first classes that had 28 sims and 3 flights. A lot dudes got more than 3 flights because they didn’t get enough time in the jet to go to their checkrides.
And that syllabus passed the buck to the Ops units. I think the FTU is now 5 or 6 rides and a check.
Some jets fly like the sim, the 135 isn’t one of them, IMHO.
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app-
1
-
2
-
-
9 minutes ago, FoolMeTwice said:
“The bottom line is, there just wasn’t the appetite there for the program”
Seems like it was a great deal. Only have to maintain tactical proficiency with zero chance for a non-flying assignment or PME. Only two C-17 bubbas took that deal...
What went wrong? Is there something we’re just not hearing about?
Part of the problem is there were 69 caveats in the PSDM to the Fly Only track. The lack of dudes signing up wasn't much of a surprise around the squadron.
-
1
-
-
1 minute ago, Homestar said:
Yes. Now you really die.
I think taking those off was more a result of saving the effort of AFE.
And fuel savings as well. Just like they took off the galleys, garbage cans, passenger EPOS and in some cases the troop seats. Only for AMC to release an update a year or so ago saying that taking 690 pounds off the jet did nothing to save fuel.
-
1
-
-
On 1/5/2020 at 8:33 AM, Gazmo said:
Same reason the Air Force took the thrust reversers off of it. They basically don't learn from their mistakes from the KC-135R. They did a study on winglets for the KC-135 decades ago and although there were significant savings during cruise, the Air Force felt it wasn't worth the cost of upgrading 450+ aircraft. Hindsight is 20/20 though and I'd be willing to bet that it would have been very, very worth it at this point.
Shit, SAC had a hard enough time convincing the Air Force to put new motors on the KC-135. The first KC-135R model rolled out in 1982, about a year after NASA flew the KC-135A winglet tests. By that time the oldest jet was 26 years old.
I'll take the new motors over the winglets any day. Not to mention, the KC-135 never got a second ACM because it added too much weight and cut down on total offload capability.
-
7 hours ago, Sua Sponte said:
So, it’s a K-46? Everyone that did the acquitions and acceptance should be fired.
The K might be a stretch. I'd call it a T-46 until everything gets sorted out. And people will probably be promoted, not fired.
-
1
-
1
-
-
9 hours ago, billy pilgrim said:
Heads up on the cell phone contracts - there’s no real US military clause etc.. so if you leave early you’ll be held responsible for paying out like half your contract or something ridiculous.
Have fun! It’s awesome.
Being stationed at EGUN was an awesome experience. We loved every minute of it even though the ops tempo was pretty rough. And for context so I'm not seen as the whining USAFE tanker dude, my assignment prior to EGUN was McConnell.
We ended up going with 3 for cell service that was pay as you go monthly so no early termination fee, plus they were extremely cheap on the continent. 3 would charge extra kind of like roaming, but some countries did not have roaming charges (Italy and Germany IIRC). Cell coverage is spotty in the UK, but 3 was the only company that allowed wi-fi phone calls to and from your 3 UK phone number. That was as of 2016 so more companies may have started that also.
Enjoy England, it was a great assignment!
-
Just now, BashiChuni said:
devils advocate...not every pilot deserves to be promoted.
are some of you arguing for 100% promotion to O-5? kind of seems that way.
Devil's advocate, not every non-flyer deserves to be promoted. With that being said, when the promotion rates for rated dudes are 6.9% less than the non-flyer's it sends a message to the rated force.
The Air Force is in the business of projecting power and blowing shit up through airpower. I can't speak for promotion rates in the Army, but I am certain my few Army Infantry buddies would have the same complaints if the combat arms branches in the Army promoted at lower rates than the non-combat arms branches.
-
3
-
-
14 hours ago, ThreeHoler said:
I thought we all had to recertify our marriages a few years ago...We did. I forgot that process until you wrote that. We were between PCSs and I got an e-mail saying I had to re-validate my marriage. I can't remember how many duty days I had to re verify but it wasn't much. Super convenient when PCSing.
-
I never file 1801s for CONUS, the 175 is the heat. Why would you ruin GA with the 1801?
-
1
-
-
I think it used to be only for lt col and up back in the day.
AF and Army have been farts and darts for O-4 and above for decades. You just never see AF O-4s wearing wheel caps.
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app -
1 hour ago, Homestar said:
Is there a YouTube link or someplace to watch the episode?
-
13 hours ago, SurelySerious said:
And that’s about the only time you think to yourself, “man I’m really glad I fly an airplane too old (and neglected enough) for any kind of CVR.”
CVR erase is a game-saver.
-
Good old school video on the B-58 Hustler. It would have been awesome to see these things take-off with 4x J-79s in full blower.
New BUFF Engines (Finally)
in General Discussion
Posted
IIRC they pulled a F108 off of 0123 early to get some data on engine fatigue in 2011. The motor was initially installed in 1984. I’ve flown tails that have never swapped R model motors since their initial mod.
Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app