Clark Griswold
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Everything posted by Clark Griswold
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Back in the news https://www.twz.com/air/business-jet-aerial-refueling-tankers-eyed-by-usaf Biz jet would be good (large cabin jet conversion) but I’d also say look at a small regional jet that has a freighter variant, E-175 E2 would probably be just bit more capable while still being affordable to buy in quantity. Add gravel kit and brake upgrades for ACE, hard points for missions other than Air-Land and defensive systems. Embraer wants to sell E-175s, they make Phenom 100s in Florida, a deal could be had methinks to get a good price, Buy American compliant and likely get a deal on a good T-1 replacement, Phenom 100s with upgrades to make them more than just ME trainers, architecture to carry Agile Pod, deploy new standoff weapons, exercise/training support & target emulation, etc… -
Not just for culling the herd of powerful meddling shoe clerks and their acolytes but it is the purge of deep staters. There are good ones out there but it’s time to just flush their ranks
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Reminds me of the 80s movie Gung Ho, make 15,000 cars a month or else…quality be damned Banking, enrichment training, etc…. If 1500 aeronautical ratings per FY is the one metric to go by then wing’em but give them post graduate training/enrichment training post T-6 and winging. Choir preaching but if there is waiting prior to FTU then give the Bobs a “win” while fixing the glitch I’m just a rando on BO but the training / program I’d advocate for would be affordable in the grand scheme, earlier I estimated about $230k in training costs, probably it would a bit less. Call it Mobility Pilot Training, whatever but justify by accomplishing tasks that these guys would be doing in their MQT after FTU, giving training & familiarity with NVGs, STOL, etc… If the FTUs can’t intake, build an infrastructure that can productively occupy your recent graduates while reducing subsequent training costs and risk, better prepared students perform better in WAY more expensive to fly aircraft and sims. Buy the training you need not new airplanes if the Bobs push back on acquiring new iron. Establish 3 programs, feather in grads from each of the main UPT bases as availability allows. - STOL program using a ME aircraft like a Twin Otter or Cessna Courier. Application to ACE is self evident and time/experience building. - Tail dragger course. Builds stick and rudder skills. - Sim based course for Transport category, probably should be the last course but introduction to fully automated flight deck, management of systems, experience building.
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That did happen quietly Few more articles I found after reading your post https://www.newarab.com/analysis/will-china-help-iran-build-new-air-force https://www.eurasiantimes.com/chinas-j-10c-fighters-sitting-ducks-for-israel/?amp https://thehill.com/opinion/international/5440797-iran-china-fighter-jets/
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Just adding for info on how the Brits still do it, contractor/mil mix… https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/embraer-phenom-100-multi-engine-pilot-trainer-aircraft/?cf-view&cf-closed https://ascentflighttraining.com/aircraft-profiles-phenom-100/ From Google AI During multi-engine pilot training (MEPT) with the RAF, students receive a total of 67 hours of live flight time in the Phenom T1, along with 47 hours in a simulator. This training is delivered by 45 Squadron as part of the UK Military Flying Training System (MFTS) at RAF College Cranwell. The total flight hours for Phenom T1 students are split across two distinct phases of training: Phase 2 Multi-Engine Training: Students receive 14 live flight hours in the Phenom T1 and 14 synthetic (simulator) hours over six weeks. Phase 3 Multi-Engine Training: This phase, which lasts 35 weeks, provides students with an additional 53 live flight hours and 33 synthetic hours. https://ascentflighttraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NFTE2024-Campus_Accreditation_Report-RAF_Cranwell-GBR-FINAL.pdf Only 5 jets but damn it if they can figure it out we can too
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Commute worthy longer read https://www.twz.com/air/u-s-needs-to-be-building-tens-of-thousands-of-shahed-136-clones-right-now The US needs this but really it’s our allies that need this as they live in the neighborhood Every aggressor should know if they decide to forcibly change borders there are 10s of thousands of these and like systems just waiting to be launched at them
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Red Arrows and RAF training jet proposal, T-50 https://theaviationist.com/2025/09/11/dsei-2025-news-roundup/
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The rot is deep in our society Leftist Military Members Justify Charlie Kirk’s Assassination: ‘FAFO’ https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/09/11/leftist-military-members-justify-charlie-kirks-assassination-fafo/ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2025/09/10/attention-nato-air-defences-shoot-down-russian-drones-for-first-time/
This Why at least one 3 star or above can’t just say something euphemistic about all these UPT changes/thrashes and begin to level the wings, ask for a supplemental from Congress and just fix this. Project Liberty has room for criticism but it did get ultimately what it was created to do, deliver quickly and reliably an acceptable solution, not perfect but not bad either. That same kind of VFR direct to a 2 mile final is what is needed. If ACC / PACAF can just say screw the source selection method just buy the E-7, budget shenanigans aside after that public direct call for it by Gen Wilsbach in 21, then a GO could call for a surge and fast recapitalization of UPT. No pointless “reimagining” or other bullshit, just buy already flying trainers, remission a Guard or Reserve Wing if required to expand capacity for some time frame and just get it the hell done.
Yeah, I see a snowball having a better chance in hell than the AF doing anything other than more insanity but you gotta hope / post on BO for something better than what they are planning on A resurrection of GUPT I see as possible with the right leadership & Congressional support but don’t see anyone picking up that cause Google AI says there’s 2 USAF pilots in the House, none in the Senate, need them to pick this as a pet project IPT via ESAs at private schools is the crux of this, it’s the outsourcing of arguably the most critical training in the AF, how this has not been noticed and really examined in a harsh light by interested parties I don’t get IPT taught at a military institution via mil / contract instructors under direct mil supervision could work to deliver a consistent product and one capable of a slightly abbreviated primary T-6 or like aircraft phase but that’s not in the plans right now. Fantasy IPT: 85 hours in Cirrus SR20, 25 hours Piper Seminole, 25 hours Gamebird GB1. Gamebird tail dragger would be the first taste of high performance and last hurdle to clear to set the tone for the next phases. Then FUPT for T-6 / T-7. I would still sport bitch for a ME mil trainer but with all that flying with mil and specific mil training contract instructors I think you would get a pretty strong graduate.
Just my two cents but joke is kinda a strong term for the T-1, concur with breadth and experience / MC-12 program AMC could fill that gap sts with a Project Liberty like new MDS, a super liaison aircraft program. All new graduates of FUPT would go there first before reporting to their FTU for their assignment awarded out of FUPT. Finishing school for Mobility pilots. Lotta reps while executing valid mission requests. Small regional airliner for routine air land support, all civilian training before their tour begins. Buy the jet with the capability to operate in low threat environments if required. Liaison, medevac, ROBE, stand off launch platform, etc.. hard points for pods for those missions, nothing deeply integrated into the existing systems, try to keep it low risk, expense to develop. E-175 E2 Freighter be an example, probably 40-60 tails. Get each pilot 75 sorties then on your way. 0.001% chance
That’s fine by me, quality and quantity are always in a tango with each other, I’m blazing away at the AF for trying to phone it in on UPT and ultimately pinch pennies while being pound foolish but some innovation / taking some risk by using new technology, methods, platforms is ok, but ultimately you have to want a product better than what you typically get produced by other systems We can take some risk by teaching / exposing SPs to the basics in cheaper GA training aircraft but you can never escape the fact you need a newly minted pilot trained to a higher level because of the risk, responsibility and missions demand it. The day after these guys are winged, excrement could hit the fan and they could be rushed thru to God knows what The innovation I’d pursue if king for a day (in addition to a lot of new jets) would be to accept that for a lot of reasons, the need is actually for fewer but higher quality graduates as the FTUs of the MAJCOMs are under their own pressures and having to intake fewer but more highly trained and ultimately easier to train graduates better unfornicates things getting ready for WW3.
Ha - nope but I get it, another consequence of letting our aerospace base consolidate too much, not enough domestic suppliers with heft to adequately compete with each other so for smaller fleets, it’s the same companies or a foreign supplier I pushed a KA solution there as the Navy has already done the groundwork of getting the T-54, would not be a stretch methinks for the USAF to acquire it then I’d prefer a jet like a PC-24 or CJ3 but every now and then I try to keep my BO posted suggestions relatively close to feasible Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yup Still the heavy track getting some T-7 hours is better than none and 40+ was more than I expected. This IPT + T-7 track only is odd to me given Leard’s background, a multi engine follow on would be probably good enough to then go on to the MAF, I’ll hold hope it or something similar will come along. Type course plus some extra sims in a King Air 260 / T-54, then about 40 sorties / 50-60 hours. Night, x-country, formation etc.. experience building then on your way. Get it done quick, 2 sorties out n backs, 1 week night, 1 week form, etc… You can afford this Air Force.
IDK about that (20 hours). Just my 2 cents the order of priority for training is quality of events, number of events then length of each event. Just from thin air, 60+ flying sorties sounds (X sims also) right if… the T-7 is the only mil trainer SPs will see as their introduction to military flying, each of those sorties being a 1.something but well planned with focused training objectives Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
