Chuck17

FWIW, for the C-17 discussion: The stick shaker in the -17 is NOT a warning of impending stall... It is an indicator of APPROACH TO STALL. Ever fly low level when it's windy in mountainous terrain? The stick shaker kicks every now and again, all the time. Im not stalling, Im going 330 kts straight and level... Furthermore, Doing 160 kts at 300', configured and pulling in a circle so tiny your about to fly up you own asshole: Done it, no stick shaker. The bottom line: the airshow profile and others that are similar (WIC performance sorties in early phases of training) are flown all the time with no ill effects... the airshow profile is still being flown DESPITE what happened a month ago. The jet performs amazingly. That tells me its safe enough; time will tell us all what really happened. Though these wounds are still fresh gents, FIDO. Chuck

Youre not. You just dont know what youre talking about. In Feb 2009 we went to India for a demo airshow, a year + later, Boeing went to fly Indian pilots. Now they are under contract for C-17s. Both our statements are valid, but Boeing got beat to the punch my friend. Chuck

FWIW - the ONLY demo airshow crews I've known were guys that were experienced aviators. Specific to the C-17 world, the least experienced dude is typically sitting in the jump seat. I havent seen the "who's in town" attitude toward a Demo crew - usually only toward a ground static airshow gig involving no flying. There is a training syllabus, several flights and MAJCOM-level (general officer) approval for my command to be certified as a Demo pilot. They've always been dedicated crews with a special qual and specific training. Notably, when I was at McChord it was almost universally taken care of by USAFR pilots - so I wont comment on how they did it. Prior to SITKA 43, the Demo crew at Elmendorf went all around the world flying the jet in Demos. Want to know the reason India is buying C-17s? Elmendorf demo - they flew to India for the airshow at the Indians request for a demo, and a year later they are under contract. Chuck

SITKA 43. Here's to them. Chuck

A sad night. Keep the prayers coming, there are families who need them now. Remember dudes, any given sunday... any day you strap on a jet could be your last. To my bros... I love you all. Chuck

Dude, youre saying an ENLISTED member got the SQ/CC involved and this dude got in trouble? Or are we talking officers? Not that it matters, just curious. Always know which battles to fight. It is possible to win by losing - waiting for justice can keep you waiting for a long time... See Rule #3. Chuck

For ACSC its up to 15 credits depending on your major... same is true for the WIC. There is info on the AMU website but its pretty well buried. Chuck

One of my CPs this week somehow found a BLACK reflective belt and was wearing it all over Nellis... Brilliant. Must find them online somewhere... Chuck

Hey FAFTS - If youre interested, I have a year-long subscription to a records search engine called Footnote. It got me my cousins COMPLETE incident report from when his B-17G collided with another during assembly over the Adriatic Sea in Feb of 1945. He is still listed as missing. I have everything, all the debriefs, the report, pictures, drawings, you name it, the entire file. I may be able to help if you know who you are looking for. PM me. Things like dates, names, units and aircraft help as well. Let me know what I can do. Chuck

Dear God: If you should feel the need to shine the light of good fortune on me in the future and allow me the honor of command, please ensure that you instill in me some humility, approachability and credibility even when those in charge appear to lose all three. Give my troops the strength to call me out when its required. Give the squadron commanders the clarity of purpose and audacity to collect all MQFs, grade them, correct them and forward them up with a "100%" for all, a smile and middle finger to the man - to protect their troops from the stupidity rolling down from on-high. Grant them the balls to stand up for their men, not hang them out to dry. Chuck "You C-17 guys, buncha cowboys..." in my best Russian accent

I cant count the number of times I or the LM have called into CP what we have on board using code... only to have CP come back with "Copy, youve got 40 Pax, 4 pallets and 2 Hum-vees, standby for parking." And every time I wrote up that they comprimised the codewords... and everytime the CAOC went ballistic when I told them why. Is this stuff not taught to CP personnel? Chuck

Pred LPA banzai's and pulls it off? Nice! I hope the WIC pools their collective brainpower for retaliation... Think outside the box gents. Chuck

"2" on that. Chuck

Take it to PMs, check yours. I'll fling poo at my own community via PM, lets be positive here. Chuck

Go airdrop, period dot. You are paying your C-17 dues right now, cutting your teeth. It sucks, but I must say, airdrop is the one and only way to fly the C-17. Throwing shit out the back... its the other half of the jet and is the one and only reason to fly it IMHO. Airdrop gives you the best of the tac and the best of the strat mission... you get a little of everything. Chuck

This thread hurts my eyes. WHAT IS WRONG WITH UPT THESE DAYS ? ? ? Chuck

What a great thread... its like watching Shark Week or something! Sharks in the water, only a matter of time before someone gets bit! Harley I applaud you for coming to baseops in defense of SF, just know that there is hostility here toward that career field, as I am sure is evident. Much like financeguy, Im sure you will learn a lot about our world if you stay and have thick enough skin. Chuck

1. Kick ass by keeping your MOUTH SHUT and EARS OPEN. There is a sense of entitlement that permeates the young copilot ranks nowadays... "I should be airdrop", "I should be on this trip", "I shouldnt have to fly today", "I should upgrade early"... on and on. Ive seen it at my squadron and at others. Its disgusting. So keep your mouth shut and LEARN. And I mean LEARN... if I ask you how long the wingspan is or what the start limits are on the engines I shouldnt get the deer in the headlights look. Dont quibble, take instruction and dont try to show off. You IPs will crush you if you do, deservedly so. 2. Tell them you want to go airdrop early and often. 3. Learn what airdrop does... its more than throwing shit out the back. 4. Dont give up. I had an acting DO take my airdrop slot away from me when I returned from deployment in 05. He said I wouldnt complete the upgrade to IP and AC Airdropper by the time I left McChord. Turns out the Commander hadnt heard about the change he made to my (and about 4 others) plans. I went over the DO's head to the boss, he lost his goddamned mind on the DO (even asked him "Whos squadron is this, mine or yours?" and gave me my slot back. The DO hates my guts but he can go fnck himself. Chuck

Damn Red Fox, I feel like youre still in the fight because the stuff youre talking about is still going on all across the USAF. And no one has the guts to stop it all at once... we've seen embrionic attempts, but there is still a long way to go (I still wear blues on monday, I still have 10,000 CBT hours a year, etc). We as a flying community have to put an end to it, but we can only do that a little at a time. I still FIRMLY believe that you can change the Air Force if you want to and can stick to your guns. But you have to start slow and small and work your way up... you have to have stamina. There are going to be 1,000 setbacks and "Shut up, Captain"s before you make headway... youll get labeled an elitist, a rable-rouser and a whiner. But you can do it. Imagine all the USAF and all its associated queep and BS is a huge brick wall. No one has the power to knock down the entire wall... but so many feel the same way, they try. They push and push and push until they wear themselves out and give up. You have to attack it one brick at a time. Just one. Win small battles, then win the war. This thread is an example of a small battle won. And it sickens me, this "Us vs. Them", Ops vs. MX, Shoeclerks vs. everyone who isnt a douchenozzle fight thats been going on since the Army Air Corps (apparently)... Im not saying "Why cant we all just get along?", I AM saying same team, same fight! FOCUS ON THE MISSION, one brick at a time gents... Chuck

Rule #3 needs to be reevaluated! Apparently there IS occasional justice. Im not a herk dude, nor did I know this guy, but after reading all this I am once again ready to mis-place my faith in the system! Beers all around for the Herk dudes! Lesson learned, SAASS grads and DGs get fired too... Chuck

Uhh, know anything about the absolute abysmal state of the US Military on the eve of the Korean War? Maybe there was a reason... like only 2% tax and NO military budget (sic) in a little over 5 years (since the end of WW2). Could be a factor! Im not saying Im for MORE taxes, Im saying statistics are bullshit 100% of the time. Especially when used to prove a point. Chuck

Since you didnt qualify that with anything about a permissive environment... Done, Done and Done... USN was still enroute... Right back at ya Beavis! :) Chuck 1. C-17 delivers U.S. relief supplies to China by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais, Armed Forces Network-Hawaii CHENGDU SHUANGLIU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, People’s Republic of China (May 18, 2008) – Two U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs landed here today carrying nearly 200,000 pounds of relief supplies in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck the region on May 12. The C-17s were assigned to U.S. Pacific Air Forces. Before 2005, C-17s were stationed exclusively in the continental U.S. C-17 squadrons are now operational at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, and at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska’s 3rd Wing. 2. 7/26/2006 - MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) -- The C-17 Globemaster III detachment here recently had a name change and change of scenery. The 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron's detachment used to be Detachment 4, but due to a reorganization of the theater's airlift placement, is now Detachment 1. Det.1's primary mission is flying passengers and cargo into Operation Enduring Freedom's area of operations. Though usually flying folks downrange, they proved they are just as capable of flying people out of harm's way. Two crews from Det.1 joined the assisted departure of Americans from Lebanon in Cyprus. One crew, led by aircraft commander Capt. Lauren Palagi, flew from Manas to Cyprus to pick up the Americans from Lebanon July 23. The other crew went to supplement the 817 EAS fleet at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. 3. Dover Aircrew flies first C-17 into Georgia 8/15/2008 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Seven Airmen from Dover's 3rd Airlift Squadron flew the first C-17 Globemaster III carrying humanitarian supplies into the Republic of Georgia Aug. 13. Earlier this week, Air Force airlifters returned approximately 2,000 Georgian troops from their deployed location in Iraq. The U.S. previously committed to transportation of the troops when Georgia offered their participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom. "Our airlift capability also allowed our nation to keep its promise to Georgia," said General Lichte. "When Georgia needed its troops at home, we were able to quickly provide the lift to get them there." AMC C-17s deployed with the 4th and the 14th Airlift Squadrons flew missions redeploying Georgian troops from Iraq to the Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, on Sunday and Monday after the Georgian government asked the U.S. for assistance. The redeployment operation spanned slightly more than 24 hours, he said. Command and control and coordination of the airlift effort is provided by the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott Air Force Base. The 618th TACC coordinates an average of 900 airlift and air refueling missions each day, and can seamlessly redirect aircraft to support requirements for contingency or humanitarian relief operations. During Hurricanes Katrina and Rita the 618th TACC tasked nearly 900 sorties to support relief efforts, and mobility forces moved more than 14,600 passengers, nearly 3,000 patients, and hauled the equivalent of 686 semi-truckloads of supplies to and from the Gulf Coast region. During Pakistan earthquake relief operations in 2005, the 621st Contingency Response Wing supported 273 U.S. missions, and provided 15,294,000 pounds of relief supplies, including more than 93,000 sleeping bags and 292,000 blankets. The wing also loaded 587 trucks and processed 4,481 pallets.

Gents - I just finished "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell, a US Navy SEAL who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2005 and was the only one left alive from his SEAL teams engagement in the Hindu Kush. It was the best and most unbelievable tale I have read since I put down "Boyd" by Robert Corum. There are now three books at my bedside... The other one is The Bible. This book will make you laugh, cry and hurt. This guy is the "lucky" one who lived thanks to the efforts of his teammates, to include USN Lt. Mike Murphey, who was posthumously awarded the CMOH for his actions and leadership in what may be the most gut wrenching firefight described out of the GWOT. Youll find out why when you read it. It will make you want to be a better warriror. Dont pass it up. Its the only thing on the NYT Bestseller list that isnt a POS (Besides Denis Leary's book, which is fooking hilarious). Get it. NOW. Chuck

Ouch bros. This one hurts, especially when framed like that. Thoughts and prayers... Chuck

.69 seconds on ask.com... "The air intake is located underneath the fuselage, at a point just below the cockpit. The ventral location of the air intake subjects it to minimal airflow disturbance over a wide range of flight conditions and aircraft maneuvers, since the forward fuselage tends to shield the intake from the full effects of aircraft maneuvers, minimizing the effects of sudden changes in the angle of attack on airflow into the engine. At an angle of attack of 25 degrees, for example, the air flows into the intake at an angle of only ten degrees with respect to the aircraft's longitudinal axis. The lower edge of the intake lip is only 38 inches above the ground, but, surprisingly, FOD problems caused by the ingestion of runway debris into the engine have been relatively minor. The intake is of fixed geometry type, which saves on complexity, weight, and cost. A fixed-geometry boundary-layer splitter plate separates the upper lip of the intake from the lower fuselage. There is a separation strut mounted inside the intake for additional tunnel rigidity. " Not a Viper dude, but it sounds reasonable enough... Chuck