Clark Griswold

8% …. That’s some sacred cows getting turned into DOGE burgers… https://www.npr.org/2025/02/14/nx-s1-5297896/elon-musk-doge-pentagon-dod https://www.npr.org/2025/02/20/nx-s1-5303947/hegseth-trump-defense-spending-cuts

Bio https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/2261430/jennifer-m-short/ I’m guilty of what-about-ism but Obama purged the Pentagon to align with his vision too https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/197-military-officers-purged-by-obama/ Clean house and get it done, the other side would be doing the same as always happens when there is a new sheriff in town.

But yes bomb the shit outta them

Meanwhile at Hellfire/JDAM/Griffin/SDB suppliers…

A number greater than 1 Still, this shit has got to stop, bullies respond to force and nothing more.

https://apnews.com/article/australia-new-zealand-chinese-flight-diverted-08067898b342c350ce7ef7cec56717de#

Post conflict ops being discussed, longish read but worth it https://www.twz.com/air/this-is-what-a-peacekeeping-air-policing-mission-over-ukraine-could-look-like Don’t see how this could happen without heavy US participation, Op Northern / Southern Watch 2

Roger that If only an updated version of the T-6 existed that exceeded requirements and was available with a better availability rate https://defense.txtav.com/en/t-6c

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202411/1322762.shtml?id=11 Two seater 5th gen

So flying with a USN Reserve dude (T-45 IP) and found out the Navy has figured it out with contract IPs for their T-45 program, namely money will fix manning issues with respect to that. Did the T-6 contract IP thing ever get anywhere? If not was it not enough money or crappy work rules / contract or both?

Getting crazy down under https://www.19fortyfive.com/2025/02/china-is-playing-a-dangerous-game-of-military-chicken-with-australia/

Gotcha Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gotcha, I imagine they have it and meet any legal requirements to disclose it but unless it would be very supportive to their agenda they don’t advertise it, not really a spear thrown as we all try to accentuate the positives and the negatives we put at the end of the slide deck. Another question / idea from the cheap seats but I wonder if the services could actually work together in the whole of military training pilot training (including USCG) and divide it up to specialize, have reciprocal support and allow each other to specialize in the aspect of a multi phase training curriculum they most care about? I’m imagining the Army running a basic fixed wing training program, the USAF running an intermediate program, USN running a multi engine program, the advanced phase (fighter, bomber, carrier track) being kept wholly in house, etc… thoughts? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is there any data released about the demographics of the SGTOs? X percent were CFIs, ATPs, etc…

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Honestly I think you and I are going to have to discuss this at the laymen’s level and we’d have to get into Art 1 and 2 of the constitution but fundamentally there is no Article 4, the bureaucracy is part of the part of the Executive Branch and when it ultimately comes down to it, if the Executive chooses to not execute those funds or to shape the departments, bureaus and agencies in a way NOT explicitly prohibited in statute then the Executive has primacy to act vs objections of the minority opposition party in Congress If we interpret the Constitution as some are saying, the Executive is just a programmed robot of Congress that has no will but to execute as the bill when passed is written with no deviation Now the Executive can’t go rogue, appropriate money, create programs beyond a certain scope, but I don’t think we’re there yet You’ve got a point, they may need to recalibrate but ultimately I’m for these reform efforts as the Republic is sclerotic and failing We overspend, we pass spending bills no human being reads in entirety, we don’t track where hundreds of billions of dollars are spent and it can not go on Trump is probably a bit over his skis but I think it’s necessary Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This MAGA has to tame the unelected bureaucrats and their groupies https://redstate.com/bonchie/2025/02/12/scott-jennings-baits-cnn-analyst-into-make-a-damning-admission-n2185490

https://www.twz.com/air/mystery-vertical-takeoff-and-landing-aircraft-emerges-at-mojave-air-and-space-port

Just a guess but as he is read in I think his opinions will shift a bit Our enemies still fly and are planning to fly manned aircraft well into the next 20+ years, that says something even a genius like him can hear Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

One more thing, if they actually gave a shit and we’re publicly embarrassed and exposed for this they could easily shit out the money and get something quickly done like Project Liberty Say whatever about that but the fact they could quickly get 50+ aircraft and cycle XX aircrew thru and get moving is just further proof that the AF needs to be taken to the wood shed Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

IDK, it seems we have a fair amount of GOs that were educated in the old system we pine and argue for but undercut the requirement of pilot training and effort it takes to train a mil pilot by pushing this Next UPT or UPT 2.0 that minimizes actual training and frankly denigrates the heavy / crew side of the LAF… going to fly heavies? Well, it’s not really that big of a deal so let’s just min run your training and call it good… some of these guys, a lot of them flew heavies and from my point of view they’re cuckholes watching our career path get banged away while in the corner whimpering it’s ok because…. grow some balls and just say no to being made a second class pilot track in fact and in the eyes of your peers This is incredible tech and it will supplant some of the human in the loop but not all, I mean the people who make the technology and sell the technology are also the people saying we need to run head long into it seems conflicted but as with BVR missiles, the first generation of that tech was way overhyped and not ready to fully commit to, we learned that in Vietnam the hard way, I argue for us to be not skeptical but require several steps of empirical proof and experience before we go that route even half way, the best hedge is to improve our processes and current tech while prudently investing in the new… My hope is that someone at the level that could stop this direct flight to shittsville training would put their reputation on the line and say the emperor actually has no clothes on Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I fear this idea is ascendant Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If only… The problem is the Bobs, limited money and using one airplane to do to missions A T-X / A-X would not have the larger costs, DMS problems and likely skepticism of Congress methinks Is it 1500 pilots a year we need, 1100 fighter pilots we need or both? Then get to it, use the infrastructure and people you have but shift their missions to meet the need you have Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So the AF says it needs to make more pilots and more fighter pilots specifically, but there is a delay(s) in the delivery of the T-7 and backup in the slots to FTUs for fighters as a whole, then this is a justification (IMO) for a dual acquisition of a advanced high performance trainer/light fighter. Buy 200 of an available advanced trainer/light fighter, switch them out for A-10s as Wings lose jets and establish dual programs. Light fighter with units identified as specializing in attack but not limited to that mission set and a short assignment program for fighter track graduates to go to while awaiting their assignment they were assigned at UPT graduation. There’s 140 A-10s in the ARC, 200 light fighters should not cost more than that tab or cost less. Retain experience, transmit that knowledge to young pilots, keep flying.

Nothing, it’s just the leadership of the AF thinks they can min run this enterprise and get away with it We can not have the AF we say want with the resources Congress allocates, missions we are legally required to OT&E for with the way we operate now Something has to give or more money and the freedom to execute that money in the best way possible for the needs of the AF vs the needs of X defense prime or Congressmen or pilot hating shoe clerk Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk