Clark Griswold

I wish that weren't true but damn it.... On spitball ideas, if we cared about the long term viability of the officers careers as pilots (and God forbid, morale) we would put MCEs at UPT bases, when the planes and RPA pilots could fit into the schedule for a CT sortie, go do it. But this is the SAPR-DTS-AAD required-Disco Belt modern day AF, hell bent on forgetting its heritage and reason for being a separate service...

Yep - not the whole bleak picture but probably a good guess at what the Battle of Taiwan would require... a shit load of airplanes, missiles, luck and brass balls to fight. Article on what a PRC invasion of Taiwan might look like or their options for a military solution to re-unification: http://www.businessinsider.com/what-a-chinese-invasion-of-taiwan-would-look-like-2014-6 Probably the best Taiwan can do it make the island one giant IED, machine gun and sniper's nest to make any amphibious or airborne invasion enormously costly to the invasion force, a pyrrhic victory at best via a very long bloody campaign. Article at TNR on that subject: http://nationalinterest.org/feature/taiwans-master-plan-defeat-china-war-12510 The best deterrent is the anticipated reaction of the world: Seizure of foreign investments and good luck getting paid on the 2+ trillion the US owes you, no one except the pariah states would recognize their annexation and everyone around you will now arm themselves to the max extent they can afford and probably cozy up with the US and maybe even Japan. Great you got an island with no natural resources, no one recognizes your claim, you fought a very bloody & expensive campaign and the population hates you - big win.

Same here but I think adding 50% + would be a reasonable WAG figuring the wagon train of logistics to put that JP8 over the AOR Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MacGruber could figure this shit out But we're without him so mere mortals will have to do...there is no solution, just as I am starting to believe there is no Syria anymore, all the nations created by Sykes-Picot are failing apart, let it just partition and separate out...

Probably something like this: Proposed Safe Zone is getting circulated with about 0.69% of happening. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/us-said-it-will-create-a-safe-zone-on-syrian-border-but-nobody-knows-how/2015/08/12/4c7d0baa-37e4-11e5-ab7b-6416d97c73c2_story.html Just as soon as we commit to an open ended 100k boots on the ground, not holding breath...

No doubt that T-X is or will be on the back burner but I don't think there is really a choice, the Tones, 38s are at a point where they either need recapitalization or replacement and the future of the AF (unfortunately) will probably consist of fewer total number of cockpits and types of cockpits, "de-specialization" is better for this future AF and in reflection of my time in the AF and flying, specialization in UPT created yet another barrier / stovepiping in the AF, Kina touchy feely comment I realize but we bitch about the lack of a unifying experience or identity in the AF, there are no obvious practical solutions to this but in this corner of the AF that tends to produce the senior leaders, we can start them with a common experience to provide amongst this small but important population in the AF the common identity we strive for.

Pretty much spot on

ANG in Vietnam.

Yep but even where they live it is do as i say not as i do, behold liberal / progressive hypocrisy and NIMBYism at its worst: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/424550/in-brooklyn-public-schools-progressives-opposing-integration-reihan-salam

Yeah, but you there are fundamentals that are transferable also the experience is universal. Granted it's not that hard and it's not an absolute requirement (NVGs, SPINs, etc...) but I think it would enhance the product delivered to the Heavies, just an idea irrespective of money, planning or logistics so it'd be highly disruptive but that's how evolution happens sometimes. No argument on returning to a single Advanced Phase Trainer - got to see the T-50 and T-100 displays at AFA Convention this year - only VIPs got to see the Boeing presentation and Clark Griswold was not on that list. Awesome jets and a huge leap from where we are at now, once again if I were CSAF for a day we'd all track to the new Phase III trainer and incorporate IFF, NVGs, LL, etc into an extended syllabus... and based on that final score, dudes would be deemed Fighter qual'd and select whatever they wanted based on merit.

Sorry my privilege got in the way Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Because stealing your stuff is ok. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/10/08/black-lives-leader-defends-looting-in-yale-lecture/

Probably the best summary of what Russia is up to in one place: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/09/30/world/middleeast/syria-control-map-isis-rebels-airstrikes.html

I agree with not shortening Phase III, I would actually add more time but only 6k an hour for the mighty 135? Seems low. Did some Google-Fu and there was no clear perfect answer but Wiki (which is always a trustworthy source /s) gives a figure in 2002 of 11k per hour, inflation would take that to about 15k per hour, seems more likely. In the AOR, who the hell knows what it is.

While not a lease offer, the idea of only buying a core capability as needed stinks ala the original Tanker Lease idea and that worked great for us... The Tone did a good job and I thought it was good training for a large multi-crew jet, you could go with a refurbishment or look for something totally new (like the Eclipse) but if I were CSAF for a day, I would want to expand the advanced phase for more training (NVGs, International, Intro to Tactics/SPINs) and allow the Tone (or whatever might replace it) studs to track bomber also. Expand the training and choices to the studs who track to the T-1, a more capable trainer is the first step.

RT has some more from the highlights reel: https://www.rt.com/news/317864-russian-warships-missiles-launch/ Time to one up our friends in Moscow... Arc Light II

Apparently so.

Call it Op Kitchen Sink. Stopping China Would Take 2/3 of U.S. Air Powerhttp://warisboring.com/articles/stopping-china-would-take-23-of-u-s-air-power/ Minor edit.

Another good one is from the Vs. series of books: F-105 Wild Weasel vs SA-2 'Guideline' SAM (Duel) Lots of technical detail and personal interviews (especially interesting with the NVA missile crews) - worth the time to read.

Recommend "The Hunter Killers" by Dan Hampton. The Hunter Killers LP: The Extraordinary Story of the First Wild Weasels, the Band of Maverick Aviators Who Flew the Most Dangerous Missions of the Vietnam War Good backstories, technical descriptions, engagement descriptions and perspective on the origin & development of the Weasel Mission.

A toast and a salute. Godspeed.

For now but the Saudis don't like that so the tap is on to keep the price low - too low for US / Canadian - unconventional oil recovery sources (tar sands, shale, hyd. fracking) to be profitable, also it hurts their rivals the Iranians so a lot US production capacity is online for now but starting to be shuttered till oil is back in the 65 a barrel range, there is very little to no daylight between the demand and supply curves in the oil game, in the 70's with the first oil shock, the Arab boycott disrupted 3% of the supply at the time to the US but caused a quadrupling of the price in a matter of weeks, industrialized modern societies can't get enough of that delicious delicious oil crack... Foxtrot Alpha has a good article on Russian strategic aims in the ME with released footage of Russian airstrikes, bottom line, they want in to push us out or diminish our influence in the ME via a strategic foothold and influence in Syria with strong ties with Iran and Iraq. Not acceptable as the Carter Doctrine sill should be applied here and Putin is anti-US so we have to react, like it or not, maneuver or be out maneuvered... http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/russia-begins-bombing-operations-in-syria-as-a-bigger-s-1733823079 Playing internet strategist the best move to counter Russia in Syria is actually in Ukraine, arm the shit out of the government there to quash the Russian fueled rebellion there, if you can't fight your enemy directly do it indirectly. Distract his attention, focus and resources from the place you don't want him to be.

Yup I don't fault the President for wanting to disengage from the Middle Shithole but our dependence on the flow of oil to the global supply system doesn't allow that like it or not we or another global power will be the patron / guarantor of the various states as grouped by ethnicity or Islamic denomination - pick a side don't try to be friends with both sides because that's not possible and support as required to keep the crazies at bay when the oil runs out leave a note saying thanks for everything and GTFO But on this immediate issue keep a distance from the Ruskies but do t back down if confronted - aid the Kurds and think out the container I know we don't have it in our military tradition but this conflict is perfect for an army like the FFL so either form an American version or encourage the French to use the Legion there with all the support we can give - secure the eastern half before Aaad gets it back then you have leverage if continue the f around and phone it in we'll have no say in the future there and that portends more trouble with Iran winning again by default Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No doubt the fighters have been told to back down if the Ruskies get frisky - they'll be issued a demerit at the UN along with an LOC I wonder if the Turks will put up with shenanigans since this in their backyard ? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Heard they gave a one hour heads up but that would not surprise me about GTFO message also being relayed Raptor vs Su-30 not likely to meet Don't worry Kerry told them that this is not a way for nations on the 21st century to behave - that'll fix it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk