ClearedHot
-
Posts
4,165 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
362
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Blogs
Downloads
Wiki
Posts posted by ClearedHot
-
-
Hacker,Originally posted by Hacker:Doesn't change the fact that the original photo in this thread depicts a ridiculous looking excuse for a 'formation', no matter what airframe you happen to be from.
Sorry but I disagree.
Formations like the one in the photo are not meant to look like formations of pointy nose jets. The C-17 in particular has extra separation requirements due to the vortices produced by the winglets. Obviously airlift formations like the one in the picture are not meant to get folks through the weather, but what might not be obvious is that these formations are not for mutual support either, after all they don’t have anything to support each other with in the form of weapons. Large formations like this are about one thing, mass on the drop zone.
Slick guys help me out here, C-130 formations that use SKE (Station Keeping Equipment – or an electronic container that is used to fly formation in the weather), maintain a 2000’ separation between aircraft, the separation is not a pure nose to tail relationship but is also lateral. The distance provides safety in the weather, but is really based on a delivery standard developed by the U.S. Army. The Army wants to have the capability to put an entire Brigade on the drop zone in one hour. A large formation of C-130’s can accomplish that task. Unfortunately, one drawback of the C-17 is that it cannot. The problem is the increased separation requirements from the wingtip vortices means it takes the C-17 something on the order of 70 minutes to put the same amount of men and material on the drop zone.
Another reason some airdrop formations look “non-standard” is they sometimes purposely fly “ghost” positions. For a formation like the 60 ship beast that was on the way to Haiti, there are obviously spares lined up and ready to go, but once airborne if an aircraft aborts, others don’t necessarily move up and take that position. Usually a large formation will put the heavy equipment on the ground first and drop the people second (for obvious reasons), if an aircraft carrying heavy equipment aborts, the formation may leave that position open so as to maintain drop separation requirements on the ground.
I didn’t mean for this to turn into an airdrop dissertation, but if some airdrop guys started ripping a pointy nose formation without knowing the tactics, procedures, or reasons I am sure you would find a way to tactfully get them the right information.
-
Charleston breaks record with largest C-17 formation (17-Aircraft, to date.
-
I wounder how Ali G would deal with the situation?
-
It means the funding line from congress to the USAF to the Contractor was in FY03. 046 is the number assigned by the USAF to denote sequence of production.
-
War Zone Smackdown
Wrestlers' performance in Afghanistan offers U.S. troops a respite from combat
By Thomas Coghlan, Chronicle Foreign Service
Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan -- It wasn't Bob Hope, but the thousands of U.S. troops craning their necks for a peek at the hulking "superstars" and scantily clad "divas" in the hastily constructed wrestling ring at Bagram Air Base didn't seem to mind.
"I'm just here to watch the chicks wearing pretty much nothing," said Spec. Cody Chandler, 28, of Palmdale (Los Angeles County).
Apache helicopters and A-10 Warthogs with soldiers perched on top formed the backdrop for the holiday spectacle as the stars of World Wrestling Entertainment's Monday Night RAW descended on the base outside Kabul on Friday in a whirlwind of chest-beating patriotism and minutely choreographed mayhem.
In the teeth of a biting cold wind, the WWE stars grappled and grimaced heroically before 7,000 U.S. troops, many flown in from the dangerous southern provinces where Taliban activity remains strongest.
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon said he brought the show over, at the request of the military, to remind the troops of the home they left behind -- and remind people back home that the United States is still fighting a risky and largely forgotten war in Afghanistan.
"We're here to contradict those negative media types back home who have refused to tell your story and have forgotten you," McMahon shouted during a theatrical opening address. "I don't know why,'' he said, "because it's a story with a happy ending."
The soldiers didn't contradict him; it would have spoiled the festive atmosphere to point out that fighting in Afghanistan is actually on the rise. Ninety-five U.S. troops have died in the conflict this year, compared with 52 last year and 48 the year before.
For the troops at Bagram, this was a chance to forget the war, for a little while at least.
The audience bristled with placards as soldiers vied for the cameras' attention. "Lay in the smackdown for the Taliban -- Fort Bliss style," read one. Most were more personal than political, like the one that read simply, "I miss U Coca Munk."
But the biggest draw appeared to be the divas -- a tag wrestling team of four female wrestlers with six-pack abs in fur-trimmed bikinis and Santa Claus hats that evoked memories of the Playboy bunny scene from the Vietnam War movie "Apocalypse Now" and was no less enthusiastically received.
Afghan builders on a nearby rooftop laid down their tools to gaze in wonderment at the scene below. In Afghan culture, most women never leave home without the cover of a burqa and the company of a male relative.
"I really like these girls," Said Kebir, 22, an Afghan employed by the DHL delivery company, said, "but if an Afghan woman did this, it would be very bad."
After the divas, the grunting athleticism of superstars Big Show, Triple H and the aging Ric "Nature Boy" Flair could hardly excite a similar response.
However, many soldiers said they were grateful for the wrestlers' visit.
"They may not support the war here or in Iraq," said medical officer Ian Svoboda from Modesto, "but at least they are showing they support the troops."
It was the third time that WWE has staged a "Tribute to the Troops" tour. The organization took the show to Iraq the last two years but this time passed that up in favor of Afghanistan.
"We looked at Iraq and the time when we needed to make the trip. The timing of the elections there made it difficult," WWE spokesman Gary Davis said at a news conference before the show, which will be screened on the USA Network on Dec. 19.
-
All that is left after your first solo?
-
Congrats on your upgrade. I will now include words with two syllables in posts that I think you might read.Originally posted by Hoser:I guess I should update my signature line, seeing that those were my wingman responses. As a Flight Lead, I have new and improved sayings, to include "Hack", "Fence In" "2, where are you going? and "2, STFU!"
Hoser
-
As the previous theme of the thread was from left to right and as person who speaks Anglo-Saxon English (designed to work from left to right), I decided to keep with the theme and continue from left to right.
I know your pea-brain is overloaded trying to remember your only four approved responses, "2" "Joker/Bingo" "Lead you're on fire". "ITTFO", so I will remember that in the future when composing threads I think you might read.
-
Pilot is 4th from left, Co-Pilot is 3rd from left.
-
by Capt. Eric Badger
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
12/5/2005 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Families normally get together for holidays -- but at 25,000 feet?
Not hardly.
But two pilots from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing found a way to accomplish a mission and have a family reunion at the same time.
Capts. Greg Matthew Amig reunited in the skies over Southwest Asia, where Greg refueled his brother’s aircraft on Thanksgiving Day.
The brothers are stationed together at this forward-deployed base. Greg is 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker pilot. He is deployed from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Matthew is a 16th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron E-8 JSTARS pilot, deployed from Robins AFB, Ga.
The brothers said their commanders worked to match their flying schedules so they could complete a mission together.
“Our commanders got the ball rolling,” Greg said. “From there it was up to his (brother's) squadron’s planners and my squadron’s planners. Coordination then had to be done with the combined air operations center to get it lined up.
“After about a month of planning, we finally made it happen,” he said.
Holy crap! A month?
-
Geeky, perhaps...Effective, Yes!Originally posted by Hacker:I also use 60:1 operationally when determining how much offset I need on the outbound leg of holding.
Geeky, yeah, I know.
-
Alpha Mike Foxtrot.
-
Ben Doverbich
[ 04. December 2005, 21:21: Message edited by: Clearedhot ]
-
High Speed low altitude pass...well medium speed.
-
I looked at them several times and decided to invest in a Ruger Red Lable instead.
Best Quail-Dove shotgun I've ever shot, and it looks and works the same today as it did six years ago.
[ 02. December 2005, 12:49: Message edited by: Clearedhot ]
-
USAA for 16 years with zero problems.
I also use them for Auto-Home insurance and have filed two major claims in the last five years for hurricane damage. In both cases they were more than fair.
-
Alright guys I will be the pinhead that tries to break you out of the USAF mold. If you read one book not related to flying, but will make you a better officer/person, I would vote for "General George Washington: A Military Life", by Edward G. Lengel.
I was forced to read it last year by the Marines and it turned out to be one of the best books I have ever read. I will mention in passing that after reading this book, I came to the conclusion that there was never a finer American then George Washington.
Give it a shot and you won’t be disappointed
-
Who has been higher in an aircraft without an engine?
FL 190
-
Not to discourage you, but the "trend" at the WIC in the past few years has been to go younger.
The expressed reason for this policy is to get more payback after graduation. By Reg, grads are required to be in a WIC billet for at least three years and they prefer five, which can be tough once folks make O-4 and start rolling off to school. As an example one WIC squadron had six instructors picked up for IDE next summer. Someone will get Ops Deferred, which is not always a bad deal, but it does show how tough the timing can be.
That being said, there are always a few sharp "older" guys/girls in each class. Bottom line, do your best and it may well work out. Good Luck!
-
Ok, I decided to settle this once and for all. I had a few beers last night and I went to the airport and jumped on the moving walkway going the opposite direction. No matter how fast I ran and how hard I flapped my arms, I did not take off, case closed.
-
Even "stove-pipe" careers can entail a lot of moves over time. I did seven years at Hurlburt but have moved three times in the last two years, (and it looks like I will move again next summer), which will be my eighth assignment in 16 years.
Once you leave for school or a broadening opportunity you may find yourself moving several times in a short time period.
-
As I recall there was a Damons Sports bar just across the street from McGuires.
[ 06. November 2005, 09:39: Message edited by: Clearedhot ]
-
Who gives a rats arse where you got your commision. I only care about two things.
1. Can you fly the jet and kill the bad guys?
2. Can you lead other dudes/dudettes to do the same.
-
Yeah we won't want any pictures of the mighty T-3 to leak out...Originally posted by SpyGadget:They are all parked under some carport looking sheds behind a barbed wire chain link fence.
The nice armed guard highly discouraged photography.
Highest Pilot On Baseops
in General Discussion
Posted
Vetter, I've never done the wave gig. I made FL190 in a thermal...it was a wild ride. I hoped to do some wave soaring while I was in New Zealand last month, but the conditions were aweful. I may skull out west to Mindin NV this summer and give the wave gig another shot.