HuggyU2

L-39 runs about $1600-$2500/hr to operate, depending on who you believe, and how well the aircraft is known. Parts are plentiful and the jet is bulletproof. I'd be curious to know the OV-10 operating costs.

SocialD, No, it was a former President of that group. I believe the plane was originally based in Chino, and if I remember correctly, he got it around 9-10 years ago. I'll get a picture if he doesn't mind me posting it online. He also restored a Clark Tructractor that was delivered to the Navy in 1943 for towing aircraft on the carrier deck. Just stunning. Again, I'll post pics if he says it's ok. Another cool thing is that there's a different U-2 guy on the field that has a PT-21. Yeah, PT-21. It's a PT-22 now (interesting history), but it was the 2nd PT-21 ever built by Ryan. Hoping to get one or both of these Ryan's to the Beale Airshow in May.

Never have flown a Super Cub... yet. I'll get some more pics of the Cub and post them. The restoration was done by a place at PVF (Placerville, CA), and is supposedly a well-known place. The guy that bought it is a former U-2 guy who is meticulous about his aircraft, and keeps them in top shape. He's got a Ryan PT-22. And his Stearman was previously owned by the head of the Stearman Restoration Society (or whatever it is called). As you might expect, it looks better than the day it rolled out of Wichita. I'm lucky that 1). he is allowing me to fly his beautiful plane, and 2) that he is allowing me to fly it after seeing how I flew it with him on my checkout. It wasn't particularly stellar. I haven't flown the U-2 in 58 months. I'd be way more confident in my abilities in it tomorrow than I am in the Cub. But the learning curve is a great thing. Loving it!

I solo'd a 65 hp 1940 Piper Cub the weekend before last. Finally... flying a Cub. And it is spectacular. Restoration was done 20 years ago... and when my friend bought it, only 180 hours had been put on it since the restoration. Planning to fly it a fair amount. IMG_3152.HEIC

Wow, you're right. I was the deployed U-2 squadron commander there in 2003 when the war kicked off. We had a large hangar on the NE corner of of the ramp for 17R, and there is nothing left. Not even the roads. I remember the Kadena Eagles flying over us on the ramp one day when they had to land on the parallel taxiway when the runway got shutdown and they were out of gas. A sight to behold. There sure were a shitload of airplanes on the ramp in March 2003. That was pretty cool. That article brings back a lot of memories I had ram dumped.

Prior to late 2014, if you heard a flight of two with the callsign HUGGY in the Western US, you can be assured that flight lead did all of the paperwork, coordination and such to make it happen. Absolutely!. No way he would just file that every time he went cross country without having run it through the AFI wickets.

What happened at Le Bourget?

I have only one data point, Chuck, but there are quite a few of us retirees near Beale that would consider it as a contract pilot, or even as a Guardsman or Reservist. But Beale/ACC/USAF/someone still... after 20 years of "looking at it"... can't manage to set up a Reserve/Guard program for U-2 and T-38 pilots. The amount of "willing talent" within an hour of Beale is staggering. I ran with the idea back in the 2008 time frame and no one "up the chain" at Beale, ACC, or AFRC really cared. We've got Reservists/Guardsmen flying the F-22, B-2, UPT, and everything else under the sun. Why Beale can't do it is beyond me. Part-time contract pilots would work also. I know plenty of them flying for Draken and ATAC. BTW, the enlisted pilot program has been successful and I know a bunch of them... and they all got commissioned after being top-notch enlisted folks. I hope they leave it that way.

"Hard to tell"? You're damn right it is hard to tell. And you need to think twice before you throw out something like that and cast aspersions, especially when it is a guess and you don't know it for a FACT.

How about if we change our paradigm, and dual qualify the pilots at whatever base they are located at to fly them? I know it's crazy, but somehow I was able to fly both the U-2 AND the T-38 within a 6 hour period, and managed to do it relatively safely. And I'm sure there are pilots getting 50-75 sorties a year that might like some additional flying. We are the United States AIR Force. It should not be that hard to... you know... fly more. Especially during a pilot shortage.

I believe this explains everything when it comes to the Navy and this unfortunate situation:

So, he will get to work with Susan at Breitling USA. Ping him in 6 months and see how he is enjoying the experience.

Congrats to Shaft! He recently got his "card", and after many years of hard work is now a full-blown Initial Attack Tanker Captain. Well done, Sir!

You cannot join the club until you can spell the club. Correct. My kid was in the last AMS class and they were commissioned December 2014.

prolly a good way 2 go 4 your sitchiation, victor2. u cud b their in no time, brah. the hole thing looks dope to me... go 4 it! bingo bango!!

I am under the impression that at least one U-2 pilot will graduate in December. If true I’m sure you will see a lot of retired and old U-2 Drivers in Vegas for the event.

Learn to spell, work on grammar, and place your posts in the correct forum.

I'll take "Contract A-4's" for $800, Alex.

6.2.3. Rank Indicators and Insignia. 6.2.3.1. General Officer Service Cap. The visor will have three clouds and darts on each side and the insignia will not have a circle. 6.2.3.2. Field Grade Officer Service Cap. The visor will have two clouds and darts on each side and the insignia will not have a circle. 6.2.3.3. Company Grade Officer Service Cap. The visor will be plain black (women’s service cap visor will be blue) and the insignia will not have a circle.

A shame. People around him have been saying for a long time (I first heard it when he was an O-6) that he was on his way to 4-stars, and that he was exactly what was needed.

How do y'all feel about a slightly overweight guy in his 50's, with a receding grey hairline, and bad breath?

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