HuggyU2

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/us-army-doctor-returns-arm-to-vietnamese-soldier-fifty-years-after-he-took-it-as-a-souvenir-8681787.html

We stayed up late that night, and watched a gazillion F-111's taxi and takeoff in waves from Taif. What a sight. I had to launch a few hours later, but there was no way I could sleep. I was keyed up as I was 6 weeks into my first U-2 deployment. That was quite a memorable flight.

So no "board"... but there will be a "get together" to determine who to interview? Not sure I see the nuance there.

For you retirees... Your thoughts on wearing the Mess Dress at formal events. I'll have 4-5 events in 2016 where this will matter. 1. Military graduation where graduates will wear their Service Dress: would you wear yours? 2. Formal dinner event where you will see a lot of tuxedos, but that will also have active duty military in mess dress. Which will you wear? I've become partial to the civilian tux recently (and will likely wear that), but am curious what the rest of you do. You're not a retiree? Then keep your opinions to yourself, junior, and get the hell off of my lawn.

Any new boots... approved or not... that come recommended? Im looking for the "lightest" I can find. The TR103 is a minimalist boot, but the reviews online are very mixed, and I would expect better before buying it.

If you're unaware if there is even a process, how would you know what those reimbursement costs would be?

Must have had a sinus block on his Tweet dollar ride.

Yes, Ram, I do. Now get off my lawn, and go get me an Ensure.

This jet will not stay on the market too long, me thinks.

For your high-altitude viewing pleasure... Nicely done, Meat.

The end of the Southern California aircraft manufacturing era. "Fly DC Jets".

AFPC. I'm not trying to be a smart ass. There is an Exchange Office there, and it is your best resource.

http://www.luggageworks.com/browse-products/rolling-bags.html These bags are pricey, but as solid as it gets. I've had one for 16 years.

This guy could get 100+ years in prison. I guess it is way worse than what Bergdahl did... http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/5/aaron-allmon-case-makes-minot-air-force-base-groun/?page=2

Your points are well taken, and I completely agree. I'd be curious to know how I'd act if I was in the same shoes... but 15 years later.

Why not? I did it as a <15 year Major... minus getting my wings pulled. Some of our Wing Kings were outstanding officers. I also live in a great town, not Podunk. No regrets on my decision. Indeed... to each his own.

Unwise to put up a fight? ACC has tried over and over and over to look at replacing or killing the T-38 at Beale. And each time they do, we rewrite the bullet background papers and executive memos to... once again... explain why CTP is there, why it is beneficial, why it is cost effective, and why swapping out to another airframe type will cost more. I suppose we were unwise. But we were unwilling to roll over on what we knew was the right answer.

Napoleon, I disagree with everything you stated on your last two posts. First, let me address your (and guineapigfury’s) points about “saving the T-38 fleet”: The T-38’s in the CTP that you are referring to are T-38A models. NOT T-38C models. They will NEVER be involved in UPT training. I recommend that you and guineapigfury avoid the apples-to-oranges comparisons. These jets will work as A-models outside of AETC until they are parked in the boneyard. What is done with them is irrelevant to utilization in the UPT environment. And no, you cannot operate a handful of T-1’s for the cost of a T-38A. That’s because AETC needs their T-1’s to train students, and they cannot buy more. They DON’T need the T-38A. Second- and third-order effects… Second… I don’t know if, as you state, the E-8 pilots get less time than the B-2 pilos. But as a U-2 interview pilot for many years, I can attest to the fact that I saw a lot of atrophied stick-and-rudder skills coming out of communities like yours. That is not to say you are a community of “bad pilots”. Certainly not. But your community has not been given the opportunity… such as if found in the CTP program… to keep their stick-and-rudder pilot skills sharp. We’ve hired some really fine pilots out of the E-8 community. But if you know any of them, ask them how much better they became after flying the T-38 for a few months. Whether it came easy or not for them, I guarantee they were better USAF pilots as a result. Many moons ago, there was the ACE program (Accelerated Co-pilot Enrichment), where the SAC co-piglets would fly a T-37 or T-38 to improve their skill set. I have a good friend who never flew in AETC… yet he logged over 1000 hours in the T-38 through ACE and CTP. He transitioned to a fighter late in his career, and ended up beating his entire community at their annual weapons competition. And guess what? He was the only “heavy guy” in the community. While he is a naturally gifted pilot and officer, he will tell you that the time in the T-38 made him a far, far better aircraft commander in the 4 MWS’ he flew in his 25 year career. Could he have been “adequate” without the T-38? Maybe so. But he would never have excelled to the level he did. Don’t you find it unfortunate that, as a co-pilot, you didn’t have the ACE program in the E-8? It could have been a T-38, T-37,… pick an airplane. But for pennies on the dollar to do it, don’t you agree that you and your squadron buds would be better pilots for it? Thanks to Gen Ralston for his short-sighted decision to end the ACE program in ’95. Cost Part 1: you impeach the T-38 CTP by bringing up the “budgetary realities”… and then you go on to say the T-6 is the best solution because it’s the best balance between cost and capability? Did you say “cost”?? You want to put 11-16 T-6’s at each CTP location, with each one costing upwards of $7M per copy? Is this some kind of modern math like my kid gets in school? How do you fund that nine-figure budget item? The “budget reality” of this scenario is a non-starter. Cost Part 2, the T-38A: Again, you mentioned “budgetary realities”. It’s a valid point to consider. But it costs money to have well-trained, best-in-the-world pilots. Where do you draw the line on “what’s good enough”. Granted, it has to be drawn, because there is a balancing act between cost and capability. On the cost side, I remember about 10 years ago when an F-22 at Nellis had a FOD incident. The crew chief lost control of a pin, and it was ingested into the engine. It resulted in a redesign of the pin flag that would allow the crew chief to hold on to it better. It also resulted in about $6.8M of damage to the engine. Yes,... $6.8M for FOD in one engine. I also remember that $6.8M was more than the entire annual budget for Beale’s T-38 program of around 3700 flight hours, including our TDY cross-country costs. So while I recognize that it costs money to fly the T-38’s, I subscribe to the view that “you have to spend money to make money”. What’s the point I’m making about the FOD incident? It’s that the T-38 CTP program is cheap. Dirt cheap. And the B-2’s program is cheap. Cheaper than a crew chief’s pin down an F-22 engine. A lot cheaper than a few more U-2 or B-2 sorties to make up the difference if there was not CTP. And it is a lot cheaper than hours on the E-8 or B-2. The dividends of the T-38 CTP are known, proven, and relevant. They are also somewhat intangible to those staffers on the outside that haven’t seen it first-hand, but want to gut it for $7M to spend elsewhere. But people like Gen Chilton, Lt Gen Otto, MG Polumbo, and MG Simpson (to name a few) will tell you the T-38 CTP is worth it. They saw it and they get it. Having spent a quarter of a century flying the T-38 as an instructor with guys like you that came out of heavies, bombers, fighters, and other weird shit, I guarantee you that your E-8 community (and all others, to differing degrees) would be better off if they had a CTP program.

Some companies will go longer than 5 years. United Airlines accepts (or at least they used to) up to 6 years of mil leave. Others here can point toward some "contingency" or other deployment language that doesn't count toward the 5 years. But, yes... exceed the limits and you will lose your number.

Burn the witch.

Keep in mind I do not work for Cessna, but am rated in the Cessna 525. I work for an independent non-profit that represents aircraft owners. My reason for asking is that I'm in a thread on another aviation forum where this came up, and I'd like to be able to address a few points that were made. To my knowledge, Cessna is not involved in putting forward a Citation solution to the T-1 replacement. No sense in competing within the Textron Aviation umbrella of companies, since Beech is part of Textron Aviation too.

Can you elaborate on this, if you know more? When it was done... how "formal" of an evaluation it was... any other specifics. Thanks.

The same way I did it: pick up the phone and start calling AFPC.

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2015-10-08/saic-offering-eclipse-550s-usaf-pilot-trainer-bid Thoughts??

Go for Option 3: Try to get the Reserve pilot slot converted to a Guard pilot slot. You're welcome.