Clark Griswold

Brochure on the 777 tanker https://bemil.chosun.com/brd/files/BEMIL085/upload/2007/05/KC-777.pdf Not gonna happen but grist for the mill. Since we’re discussing big tankers and potential missions for them, this is a video showing all the choreography that the RAF had to do to get a Vulcan down range in the Falklands War. I think you can make an argument that more, smaller tankers give more redundancy than one or two big tankers but I think also you can say in the fog of war you might have more success with fewer variables to control. If/When a contingency arises in the Far East, we might be doing our own version of this. 25 to 45 big tankers would really be helpful then…

On site. I’m not one for excessive oversight but keeping them on a shortish leash might be helpful. Go pros, FDRs, quality/standardization checks with mil instructors, etc… solid pay for CFIIs for IPT, 75k to start, pass probation period, say 6 months, pay bumps up, second year guaranteed 100k+ for x number of student training hours flown, etc… This would be to off load some of a hypothetical phase 2 of my COA, intro mil flight training in a PC-21. Phase 3 then T-7s or T-54. If the AF won’t buy the -54, then a ME course in a light twin, type training course with some extra sims, a LOFT phase, call it good. Plane porn just because

If IPT were done at a military base with direct oversight do you think the quality control could be maintained?

Related item: Navy having T-45 problems https://www.twz.com/air/t-45-goshawk-navy-jet-trainer-fleet-grounded

Concur All you hear is Pacific Pivot, Great Power Competition, Tyranny of Distance, etc… from AF “leaders” and they then divest a platform suited to all of those problems/challenges in the expected title fight… Just as a PACAF GO said he wanted the E-7 now with no acquisition shenanigans or BS to replace the E-3, we need a message from the top saying we need a strategic tanker now or a strategic concept now. I say concept as while I’m always gonna say this new iron or that, I get that is likely a bridge too far in financially difficult times (8% budget cuts and the rest) Concept to me would be new overseas basing, FMS and long term posture on west coast / sovereign pacific territory Australia, NZ, Guam and a rotational presence in the PI. Some that already happening but just continuing this idea on this post… KC-45 fleet if new iron were to be had would be my suggestion if Australia would host a new PACAF base(s) A bit more fuel and interoperability with the RAAF Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We might be there, taxes are high and wallets stretched thin, if I lived there I would tell them hell no to paying for this. Tell the wealthy bleeding hearts there is no law stopping them from self funding this other than the law of common sense, when I see Newsom et al write a check for 100k+ out of their pockets for these utopian ideas I’ll be surprised

6 gen

Tangent: What a shock, paying for health care for people who are here illegally is a really bad financial idea https://redstate.com/wardclark/2025/03/13/medi-cal-fail-providing-health-care-for-illegal-aliens-is-breaking-the-program-n2186631

Yeah, that’s not a good plan. Not shooting the messenger just commenting on the situation.

Triage or publicly ask Congress for supplemental funding for reasons a, b and c… this is how we got here, here’s what we want to do to Make UPT Great Again and here’s how we are going to do it. I suspect Triage is going to be the answer Congress would approve so honestly I’d look for where operational risk is possible and reprogram money It would likely be a vertical cut versus horizontal to maximize savings, so much old iron has already gotten the ax we’re getting down to the family jewels Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think we’re starting to get to another point CAF wants one thing MAF (maybe AFSOC, AFGSC) might want something else in their new pilots Points expressed here are singular data points but enough of them become useful data clusters Is the single advanced trainer useful to try to bring back or go to in the everyone goes to T-7s after civ training model? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gotcha, I share that same reservation on going from a Baron to an afterburner The SGTO has to be a truly random sample rather than the cherry picked, not saying something you don’t know but for the thread… This doesn’t have to be hard (sts) or risky… 1 - basics in a civ program, intro to mil flying in a turbo that has a performance range to transition into aerobatics, form, low level then track… T-7s for some, T-54 for others… 2 - basics in a civ program and an extensive program in a PC-21. Assignment to follow. 3 - extensive civ program with 3 different phases, then T-6. Assignment to follow, good luck. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cool I can see that and the tactical mindset is what I want heavy crews to get too. This is how I see to get there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I can take ribbing but I’m not calling for something not flying or exotic I see MX experience beyond what we have now as desirable but the idea that anything beyond basic serving is unrealistic, just my opinion Pilot training when I went thru did a good job but looking at the future and comparing the two, I think additional phases and expanded training into non-traditional areas will pay dividends Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just threw that in for fun but honestly if the AF gave me the keys and all these kids were going to get was the civ time in a program then go to a supersonic capable, 7G jet… I’d give them as much seat time as I could Would landing a seaplane give directly translatable experience and knowledge to handle a T-7? No but it would be more aviation experience handling multiple factors in 3 dimensions requiring strong fast response cognitive skills interlinked to hand/eye/seat of the pants that would likely lead to faster neurons in most students. Probably would only take 2-3 weeks and the guys would likely wanna do it But yeah it would be a very tradeable part of a good pre mil flying program for me, cool but not necessary Icon A5 in Florida with weekends off. An enjoyable phase of training… Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk