Clark Griswold

777s as GBU-57 armed bombers… https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/israels-strategy-now-rests-on-one-bomb-and-its-american I wonder if this is like the HARM on a MiG-29, it’s already been worked out but not tried yet.

The U-2 is awesome but for this vapor ware plane I’m talking about and referencing the -57, it would be twin engined for size, weight, power and cooling. Twin engines for running probably 2 radars and links simultaneously, maybe lifting 4 AIM-174s to the high ground for very long shots, maybe jamming a wide area, etc… I just mentioned above 55k as a notional very high altitude, open source says it could fly in excess of 60k in the sensor configuration NASA used for it, a new build would easily get well above 60k with some performance left in the bank Why the strong opinion on having a plane that swings both ways (sts)? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah I know, I should’ve said like or inspired by the -57, an aircraft operating at extreme altitudes, I’d call that 55 and above, effectively is a LEO satellite but way more flexible in dynamic employment My opinion is to have both, one primary and secondary to give options if all or most of said satellites are destroyed or disabled Only if king for a day and if money were almost no object… Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup, modified biz jet in production now probably would be the only thing feasible if the powers that be said yes this is a valid way of providing C2 that is at a risk level we will tolerate but… if king for a day I’d propose a successor platform for the U-2, a compliment to the E-2/3/7, E-11 while bringing new capabilities. A modernized and larger WB-57 C2, arsenal, sensor, link and drone controller platform that could be optionally manned. LOS at 55k is 270+ NM, outside the WEZ of all but the biggest systems and at the extreme range of the ones that could conceivably engage this system when on station. Problem is how many tails, would need to be enough to avoid the problem of low volume high acquisition and high support costs.

Good Lord… What is Fraud, Waste, Abuse for a thousand Alex? That’s awful, unrequested advice but if I were you I’d focus on me, my family and my buds and how we could use the time well. I know I sound like a tool but relentless self improvement in spite of the incompetence you see before you would be my plan… study, fly GA if your situation allows, become a gym rat, PME, learn a foreign language, etc… after my 2nd TDY to the Died I decided every TDY I’d have a plan. SOS, ACSC, put log book together, get ready for CFIC, project x, whatever… The leadership of AETC may suck, doesn’t mean you have to. Play the theme to Rocky, regroup and attack. When do they project you to start flying again? Any idea?

@Big Blue What do they have y’all doing with all this time?

Don’t quit, shit sucks sometimes but usually gets better. This is 24 years of AF service from a 50 year old realistic optimist. I had some tough times at UPT too, but quitting is likely to lead to later in life regrets you can’t quantum leap back and fix. It also closes the door on what could be an awesome career. My assignment out of UPT was Grand Forks, not my first choice mind you but I just got off the phone with a bud I’ve been friends with now for 24 years, we flew tankers together and I still have friends from all my AD assignments I keep in touch with. The professional & personal satisfaction you’ll share with the guys you fly with and the camaraderie is something you can’t find anywhere else, I’m on year 3 at a legacy, I like my job but it’s not the same, not even close. My first assignment was my best even though it was damn near bottom of the list. I got to fly multiple aircraft, deploy and be part of historical events in some way and be part of an overall great organization. I was down at some points too but I tell you, your career in the flying business is like the stock market, if you consistently invest in it over time the trend is upwards. Finishing UPT is the best investment you can make in your aviation career in my opinion.

Pot stirring What if we ended ENJPT? Shepherd would be a regular UPT base and the AF and USN more evenly split our training of allied student pilots? Would that help appreciably the USAF in providing quality training (ie close or the same as UPT classic to the 1500 goal?

If the Bobs are hell bent on divesting the T-6 with no military primary trainer (bad idea) and having only 141 school time prior to T-7 I think most of us here see disaster written all over it. When it becomes apparent that an intermediate program is needed (if they won’t go and procure a mil intermediate trainer), is it financially possible to contract out an intermediate trainer without the problems of the non-standardized / directly supervised 141 schools? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just a thought from left field but a manned AWACS and unmanned might work just as the fighter + CCA concept being developed Russian concept AWACS UAS Could you modify a biz jet for ejection seats and ACE to austere fields without spending 6.9 billion?

Buy a jet

Old data and disregard for what’s actually needed. Great.

That’s the crux… they (the Bobs) are hiding behind walls of bullshit to continue building shoe clerk fiefdoms I’m not sure which AF member of Congress should charge at them but at least the ones with UPT bases in their districts Doubt very seriously they would release the data but this looks like a very DOGE worthy project or Project on Gov Accountability AFA too close to the AF to ever tell them their stuff stinks

Has anybody asked the AF to show their work with this number of required annual new pilots to be produced? The article quotes 1,500 as the required amount but if the FTUs can not intake that amount without a lot of waiting time after UPT or extended times when they are in training because they are operating with little to no margin then why the hell modify the UPT process to produce less than desired training received pilots? Produce as many required up to standards pilots as you can with the infrastructure and resources you have allocated then supplementing the force with ARC pilots already trained and go on. If you produce 900 fully trained pilots but need another 600 in a year to fly in the AD, use the ARC to meet that difference. It seems the 1,500 number is driving the AF to make decisions that are long term bad without really proving they need to do this

If FUPT / IPT isn’t producing the right graduate and I give this 0.69% of happening… quietly recognize it and reconstitute ACE / post UPT shortish TDY assignments to build flying hours. ACE ver 2.0 - 100+ hours, jet, program designed to build flying skills, based not UPT bases maybe allocate program to the guard / reserve. Build a syllabus to complement other training programs and focus on diverse flying. Take the jet on the road, train with others as feasible/practical. TDY program - find a need, requirement, mission, legitimate training program, etc… and assign grads to before FTU if possible and fly a lot. Thinking at least 300 hours. Liaison, light transport, light mobility training platform could be part of an effort. Keep it out of the UPT enterprise as it sounds like that is maxed out, I’ve argued for this before, post graduate flying programs to help shape what UPT now might be leaving with rough edges and I’ll readily admit it’s not cheap but affordable if the leadership realizes that you’re preventing more expensive problems.

FUPT… almost the right idea, good amount of hours in GA aircraft though Needs more cowbell… a bit more T-6 flight time, a new lead in fighter trainer now and a new multi engine trainer Old man rant complete Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Maybe maybe not, depending on the size and scale, an op like the ones the Ukrainians just did yes, a single attack like an assignation probably not Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Respectfully disagree The registration and other admin is to distinguish legitimate drones from nefarious ones, if a legitimately registered drone is used for ill, the transponder tied to a certificate is to give a starting point for the investigation. I could probably come up with more but eventually I’d start arguing for a Scorpion jet purchase to protect us against rogue drones so let’s just call it bygones Break Break Sabotage in Sweden https://www.newsweek.com/nato-ally-reveals-mass-act-unexplained-sabotage-2081784

Yup, I’ll close the loop on my opinions on UAS/guns saying some control but not over control. Arming all the countries we can and pulling them into our orbit to give them multiple problems? Yes More IRBMs in theater to give them pause? Yes

You’re right, it will impede some amount of freedom of the law abiding but overall the benefit IMO would be worth it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup With the capes that non state actors have demonstrated lately and the level of support rogue states have been willing to give VEOs recently, we’re all three of lucky/blessed/well protected by professionals to not have this happen As with gun control, I’m for a certain amount, in relation to UAS, we probably need to expand the FARs and prohibit recreational flight in certain areas for that reason, require a UAS transponder always to tie back to an operator certificate, drone detection systems deployed, etc… Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No doubt, I think we believe it can’t/won’t happen to us but a novel attack is certainly on the bingo card Hard shelters, land setbacks, anti UAS systems, new Prohibited Areas around bases, jail time for violators, etc… nothing is 100% but you need to try to get there and overlapping defenses add up Not every base immediately but start now, this nation needs to get into a different place in terms of security mindset, it would give the enemy some insight into our sources and methods but declassifying some intel to tell the why for this shift to the public, like the Why We Fight movies in WW2, call them Why We Prepare, might shift the zeitgeist Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Concur but we have options if we are willing to / allowed to change force structure and fleet composition The -47 sounds like it will have the range needed to be less dependent on the tanker, if we think the priority fight is the Indo-Pacific then we prioritize systems for that theater and divest some of the older shorter range platforms to get more of what we need. Not immediately of course but soon. Off hand, more B-21s, unfornicate the -46 and certify for unrestricted ops, get a long range UCAV (not a CCA). The F-15EX probably mixes well into this too for its reported range (790 NM). That’s a relevant combat range with a tanking south of the PI to ingress to the Taiwan Strait.

Full frontal… https://www.twz.com/air/this-could-be-our-best-view-yet-of-chinas-j-36-very-heavy-stealth-tactical-jet

Seems like India achieved her objectives but the air to air losses over shadowed them in the news cycle https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/was-operation-sindoor-a-surprise-victory-for-india https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/india-had-clear-edge-in-military-strikes-on-pakistan-new-york-times-report/ar-AA1EMFni?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=9fe2e2165a9d484eabd9475848ee4146&ei=48