HuggyU2

If you're seriously considering this, also consider getting a small group of well-known locals and/or friends to go in on a plane with you, and share the costs... and the fun. And join AOPA. They can give you plenty of resources whatever you do. Plus, it's just good to support AOPA and all they do for the GA community. With over 50 former U-2 pilots in the local area around Beale, it is something we were going to consider... until everyone's jobs began to look uncertain as a result of the virus. I'm sure we will discuss it again next year. There's an Interstate Cadet and a T-Craft on Barnstormers I wanted to get folks interested about... but it will have to wait.

Agree. When I applied for an ROTC scholarship, all I could get was a "technical scholarship" and you had to be working to obtain a "technical degree", which was Engineering, Computer Science, and maybe something else I can't recall. There were "non-technical scholarships" but they were few and far between.

Wow. They have made some significant changes to those King Air props since I flew the MC-12. Technology. Amazing stuff

Bottom line, the answer to your question doesn't matter and is impossible to answer since the future of the U-2 will more than likely change between now and then. When you are able to apply, they will either be hiring or they won't... simple as that. As Hawk15 alludes to, go enjoy your first MWS as much as you can... and let the chips fall where they may if/when you decide to apply to the Dragonlady. In previous years when we were "a dying airframe", we never slowed hiring. A lot can happen between now and 2025, and only time will tell

My opinion: whatever you go fly, learn to fly it well. And hand fly it well too. Definitely pick an airframe and mission that interests you now. You may never go to the U-2. Most FAIP's do well. I personally believe the T-6 is a better option. You will have to get info from someone more current than me, but when I was involved in the hiring process, AFSOC was more difficult to get a release from than other MAJCOMs. If selected for an interview, they really do not care where you came from because once at the interview, it's about how well you do while there, to include your ability to adapt to the U-2 over the course of the three interview sorties. We have had successful interviews from just about every airframe in the inventory.

If you decide to reconsider the Yak-18T option, let me know and I'll get you in touch with Ross Granley. Maybe you've already spoken to him. Ross flies to airshows with the family... unloads a ton of luggage... then flies an aerobatic two-ship performance with his dad in a Yak-55... then packs up and goes home. He's got a ton of Yak -18T experience and would be a great resource. Possibly a quotable quote.

HindSight, would you care to expand on any of that? What aircraft are you looking at moving up to?

Who was it that said that?

United went above and beyond when it came to supporting those of us that were working under USERRA rules. I’m assuming they will do so again. I’ve got friends at other airlines that had a different experience.

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=fedex+pilot+careers

It's a serious subject, obviously, and there have been some high-profile cases involving airline pilots in the last few years Here's a good story on when "shit got real" in the airline industry. https://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/recovery-deep-stall-180974455/

For those looking for some good U-2 history: https://dragonladyhistory.com/ Chris knows more about the entire U-2 history than probably anyone on the planet. I met him 30 years ago when he was snooping around the U-2 squadron in England, back when I was the Bar Officer.

I don’t know, Your Honor. Apparently quite a bit. So please spell it out for us. Thank you for your patience. The fact he hasn’t gotten off of active duty makes it a slightly different case than mine. Therefore i suggested he contact a USERRA lawyer to get the truth. If you know more, then please spend a few minutes tapping on your keyboard in the hope of offering enlightenment. Torqued: CAPT Wright worked with ROA for many years and wrote a great USERRA column each month. I joined ROA as a Life Member right out of college, which gave me access to him. Glad he was willing to speak to you. Super smart guy.

Ever flown Deuce?

Wow! I guess I beat the system when I went back on full-up active duty while on Mil Leave! Yay me!! Yes, I'm being sarcastic.. although when I did it, USERRA applied to active, Guard, or Reserve. Voluntary or involuntary. I'm guessing it hasn't changed. I'm no USERRA lawyer... but if I had to bet money, I'd say your employer is full of shit. Call. An. Expert. This is the guy I called and asked for help many years ago when I was dealing with the same issue: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_F._Wright I don't know how to contact him now. But he helped write USERRA. If you need the right answer to make a critical USERRA decision, don't rely on your employer.

You have a seniority number? Go back.

I don't know your specific circumstances, but that sure sounds good to me. Enjoy the next 8-10 months. I'm not involved in any way with hiring at my airline, however there will be a logjam of applications building up due to the hiring stoppage. And yes, it will be that much more competitive. Three years ago, UAL had 10,400 qualified applicants, and I'd guess less than 15% of them got interviews. I'd say we will probably end up there again... or worse. Trivia: UAL will retire 2.1% of their current pilots by the end of 2020. Thirty percent will be gone by the end of 2027. I don't know what you mean by "dedicating to the more ancillary parts of the resume" but flying regularly as an instructor/evaluator would be my advice. Based on very recent union town hall meetings, I would expect it will be a while before any significant hiring takes place. Even though they are the experts, it is still speculative at this point, so I'll skip the details of what they said. Find a place to ride things out for a year or two. If the situation improves faster than that, all the better.

When I was a FAIP, there were a few guys going through the T-37 portion of UPT and then heading back to their home in Honduras or El Salvador to fly the A-37. An airline pilot friend of mine went through San Salvador a year or so ago, and saw 3 of them sitting on the ramp. Wiki says they are still flying 15 of them. There are two A-37's flying in North America, and a 3rd that will start flying later this year.

It worked on Safari too. I'm good. However, can you configure the site so pop-ups don't show up there?

I'm 2 for 4. If I don't get out of the house in the near future, it will probably go to 1 for 4.

Same on Chrome. I show pop-ups as blocked. The ad covers the button to post what I've written.

This is also a problem for me. I generally use Safari. I'm trying to post something now, and cannot find a workaround.

Listen up. I was the OP on this thread. I don’t care about your office. I don’t care about your fast-food cravings and how they are affected. I don’t even give two shits about UPT since they won’t let me go through the course again, nor let me teach there This thread isn’t about things like “terrorism” and “pilot retention” and “military readiness”. This thread is about something WAY more important. This thread is about Airshows. And bringing the dream of aviation to the masses... especially the young. And keeping America in the forefront of aerospace because of Airshows. And of course, great airshow parties... but I digress. So write your Congressman and Senator and DEMAND that... when this crisis is over... they REQUIRE ALL WING COMMANDERS to support the 2021 airshow season. Stop threadjacking my thread. Stop picking your nose. Wash your hands (Hacker!!) And for crying out loud, learn to use the rudder in the T-38, you pussies! WTF?!?! That is all. p.s. get off my lawn, Ram.

As a part-time contractor, I didn’t get the word from my company. I showed up and the base was a ghost town. I honestly cannot believe that the Bar Officers were not considered “essential personnel” and were not there making hot corn. WTF!?

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.