HuggyU2

A big thank you to Springer for sending me some incredible vintage and original A-37 memorabilia. Although I’ve been fortunate to get orientation rides in some frontline fighters, when you sit in an A-37, you realize the guys that went to war in those machines were something special.

Sorry for the confusion. I was just trying to be sarcastic and funny, and figured that anyone that looked at my avatar would chuckle.

You're right! I completely forgot about this track out of UPT. I worked with a number of these guys that went on to successful fighter careers having done exactly what you stated. Case in point: Brig Gen (later Lt Gen) Bob Otto. Started in the O-2, and then off to the Eagle after 2-3 years in the Duck. Great pilot, officer, and American. p.s. what's an OA-37 ???

https://youtu.be/wujVMIYzYXg

Sent from a friend at Delta.... This is from an email our Delta Air Lines CEO sent out this morning. 40% reduction in capacity in the next few months and parking up to 300 aircraft. Unprecedented pull down in flying by any company. Crazy times. “The speed of the demand fall-off is unlike anything we’ve seen – and we’ve seen a lot in our business. We are moving quickly to preserve cash and protect our company. And with revenues dropping, we must be focused on taking costs out of our business. In order to do this, we are taking difficult but determined actions to protect the financial position of the company. These include: An overall capacity reduction in the next few months of 40 percent – the largest capacity reduction in Delta’s history, including 2001. Elimination of flying to continental Europe for the next 30 days, which could be extended. We will maintain service to London. Parking up to 300 aircraft as our reduced capacity requires a substantially smaller fleet. Deferring new aircraft deliveries to manage our reduced capacity and preserve cash. Reducing capital expenditures by at least $2 billion for the year, including delaying aircraft mods, IT initiatives and other opportunities to preserve cash. Immediately offering voluntary short-term, unpaid leaves as well as an immediate hiring freeze. Substantially reducing the use of consultants and contractors. We’ll be making more critical decisions on our response in days to come. The situation is fluid and likely to be getting worse.”

Which circus are you at?

I found this old post from over 11 years ago, which I quoted above. Despite the fact the OP is an asshole, I wanted to reiterate the relevance of his statement about coming to Beale to get a first-hand look at The Program before you apply. Don't interview, get accepted, PCS there... only to find out the U-2 isn't for you. If that happens, you have no one to blame but yourself.

Yes, that was a decision that saved no money, and ruined an excellent program. I remember when "they" were giving the hairy eyeball to the T-38 CTP at Beale back in the 2006 timeframe. IIRC, we were flying around 3700 T-38 hours. Around 2005, there was an F-22 at Hill that sucked a gear pin down the intake and trashed the engine. Damage cost? About $6.9M... more than the entire 3700-hour budget of Beale's T-38 CT program.

Although most of you weren't around for it, ADAIR was around in the 70's and 80's at Tyndall, Hickam, and other places using the T-33. Some of those pilots racked up a shit-ton of T-33 hours (1000-2000 hours) before transitioning to the Eagle. I never did it, but those I know that do/did say it is very cost effective. Years ago, Beale T-38's used to work with Fresno's Vipers on occasion. We did a variety of "different" presentations for them and it was great training for all of us.

Pretty interesting statement. Are basing this on the perceived cash-on-hand the major airlines have? Something else?

I’d expect an announcement will come tomorrow or Monday... but I would expect the Demo Teams to be stood down until the end of May. I flew to San Diego today to announce the Blue Angels’ season opener at El Centro. I got off the plane... got a phone call telling me the show was cancelled... walked three gates to my right and was on the return flight to Sacramento 55 minutes later. LA County, Yuma, Laughlin and McDill all cancelled about the same time. Looks like Navy Contracting is going to only pay me a fraction of my contract. Even as a retiree, if you do business with the Govt, be ready to deal with the “I have no control over that” mentality.

Well... I suppose I posted a few hours too early. Excellent speech by the President. When The Pentagon wakes up in about 6 hours, I'm guessing that military support of airshows is going to get cut for ~60 days.

I might make a day of SnF, but too early to see. Staying on the west coast this year and cutting back on my airshow work. March ARB just cancelled their airshow in the last hour or so. But it was a local decision, not mandated from DoD.

I hope you're right. As a note: the airshow season starts Friday, and the demo teams are traveling today.

It's actually a DoD discussion too.

I'd like your opinions... Will airshow attendance suffer due to the current COVID-19 situation? Or will people tire of so many other "events" being cancelled that they may make extra effort to go to an airshow?

Any idea how many pilots were selected for the crossflow? If it was like the early and mid 90's, it was a very small number.

You were wise beyond your years.

Skelator!! That photo is a GREAT find.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Fogleman https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/29/us/criticism-over-blast-leads-top-air-force-general-to-retire.html July 30, 1997 As my tenure as your Chief of Staff ends, I want to tell you what an honor and a privilege it has been to represent everyone in the United States Air Force. The timing of my announcement was driven by the desire to defuse the perceived confrontation between myself and the Secretary of Defense over his impending decision on the Khobar Towers terrorist attack. The decision to retire was made after considerable deliberation over the past several weeks. On one level, I’ve always said that my serving as the Chief of Staff was a “tour” not a “sentence” and that I would leave when I made all the contributions that I could. After I accepted this position in 1994, I met with other senior leaders of the Air Force to discuss our goals for my tenure. We wanted to take care of the troops and their families, to stabilize the force, to set a course for modernization, and to develop a new strategic vision. During some difficult and challenging times, we have worked hard to accomplish that and more. Certainly there is more to be done, but the framework of the plan and the leadership [are] in place to move forward with the support and efforts of the magnificent men and women of our Air Force. On another level, military service is the only life I have ever known. My stock in trade after 34 years of service is my military judgment and advice. After serving as Chief of Staff for almost three years, my values and sense of loyalty to our soldiers, sailors, marines, and especially our airmen led me to the conclusion that I may be out of step with the times and some of the thinking of the establishment. This puts me in an awkward position. If I were to continue to serve as Chief of Staff of the Air Force and speak out, I could be seen as a divisive force and not a team player. I do not want the Air Force to suffer for my judgment and convictions. In my view, this would happen if I continue as your Chief. For these reasons I have decided to retire and devote more time to personal interests and my family, … but the Air Force will always be in my thoughts. [My wife] and I have met a lot of wonderful American servicemen and -women—active duty, Guard, Reserve, civilians, and family members—and they will continue to be a part of our lives. We have been proud to represent the men and women of the United States Air Force around the globe and to serve in the finest Air Force in the world. God bless and keep you all as you continue to serve this great nation.

Congrats. That's the airplane I'd most like to own right now.

You're going to have to do something more to entice me to come back out of retirement... again.

I'm kind of curious to see how Amazon's airlift plans are affected. Probably nothing crazy. But I'm still interested to see how they react. No, Karl, I don't know Jeff B.

Yes. Some base/equipment/seats have been offered 50 hours of pay to take the month off.

Update: UAL just cancelled the 3 March Indoc class. I’d tell you where I heard it, but if I “name drop”, Karl Hungus will be triggered.