HuggyU2

Yes. After you graduate, you'll go TDY to PIT. It lasts just about 4 months,... maybe a tad less. I don't think FAIP's will proficiency advance much, although many of the MWS types might.

For you officers: if you're not having a word with these E's about their demeanor, decorum, or whatever, then you need to. Yes, I've been to Dhafra, and I know it might elevate. But if you're right, and they're out of line, then do something good that you can post on FI.com when you get back. Rant off.

I'm guessing they are concerned about putting a 2Lt into a $220M fighter that has no two-seat training option.

Tumbleweed, Is 59K the limit then? If not, is one specified, at least for training? Above Armstrong's Line (63K), I don't believe the Combat Edge/GSuit combo will keep you alive. You'll "boil".

Go ahead and use one of the electronic ones, if it will help with computing/correlating times and doing conversions. But definitely DO NOT give up the paper logbook. And when you fill it out, throw in some comments about the flight. You'll be glad you did a few years later when you're cracking it open to look back for some reason. Great memories are had in those books. Especially when you read the comments about what happend or what you did on a cross country to Randolph on a Friday night... or the Houston Airshow. The paper logbook (Version 1.0) won't "crash", either. And I don't know this for a fact, but I think it looks pretty top-shelf to an interviewer when you hand him a career's-worth of flying in on of those logbooks. I'm very glad I kept my flight info and times the "manual way".

Anyone have any experience with a hip replacement or hip resurfacing, and getting back on flight status? I know about the Mountain Home guy in 1998 that was the first in an ejection seat. And I've talked to the Tyndall F-22 guy that had his about 5 years ago. I'm looking for new info. Thanks.

Not that I care whether you wear it or not, I got a flight with the Navy earlier this month, and some of the pilots and life support folks commented on the fact that I didn't have a pen flap. They said that wouldn't float, if I were a Navy pilot: they have to have them. Sort of ironic that this thread came out just after this happened. This thread has some good comedy. Now, when does the thread on "Peter Pockets" get cranked up?

FWIW, our unit took an Interservice Transfer from the Coast Guard. He was a C-130 pilot with about 12 years in the CG. He put on the USAF uniform, and it was tranparent. He can retire next year from the USAF, if he wants.

Weed is to bourbon as MD 20/20 is to cabernet. However, I did have a shot of weed last night. First time this year, too.

YGBSM! Say it isn't so!!

A tangent, but a good story: Boeing offered to put a sidestick on the 777. Since United was the launch customer, they had the choice. Since the UAL folks involved with the consultations were older pilots that grew up with a yoke, that's what the 777 got stuck with. What a shame.

My guess is that Toro and Hoser won't have any comment on this until after 5 Jan... in fact, they may decide that posting anything about this incident is a bad choice. As one who hit "Send" about 5 years ago and incurred the wrath of a 4-star and MAJCOM Chief Master Sgt, I wouldn't blame Toro and Hoser if they stayed quiet.... but I got to say that I hope someone outside of the 4th finds out what happens on this ort sortie, and posts it. Side note on the 4th Wing CC: I met him when he was the OG at DLF around Jan '04. You don't see too many O-6 OG's with Senior Pilot wings. This guy is on the high speed track to some stars. [ 21. December 2006, 01:18: Message edited by: Huggyu2 ]

Stop the presses! The info above is not correct. Since 2000, the U-2 community has sent 5 pilots to the F-117. These are their backgrounds: - T-37 FAIP, C-141, U-2, F-117 - KC-135, T-38, U-2, F-117 - T-37 FAIP, C-5, U-2, F-117 - B-52, KC-10, U-2, F-117 - The last guy wasn't a Marine exchange. He was a Marine interservice transfer. Cobras, T-34, U-2, F-117 In the mid 90's, we sent "TMAT" Langland and "Egg" Smith to the Viper. TMAT was a T-38 FAIP and Egg was a C-21 driver. Both are great guys, and did well. Egg came back to the U-2 for a bit, and is now the DO of the 414th Red Flag Squadron, and flies as guest help with the 64th Aggressor Squadron. TMAT just retired out of Luke. That said, not many pilots pursue that out of Beale: most really like it here. Also: if you think that you're going to come to the U-2 as a stepping stone to a fighter, you need to get real. That was never the intent of these guys. And the thing about the U-2 is this: if you don't really WANT to fly it, you're going to hate it. [ 31. May 2006, 22:30: Message edited by: Huggyu2 ]

Any of you military pilots have any experience with having a hip replacement? Did you get back on status? Please drop me a line if you did.

I love this tradition! After landing in a 4-ship, I led them to dept end EOR, went to the SOF freq, checked them in and produced my coin. The SOF, who had SA, keyed the mic, and we could hear him tapping his coin on the SOF desk. Needless to say, I ended up buying the round, since everyone claimed a safety violation, since while digging for their coins, numerous items nearly fell out of their pockets (ear plugs, money, etc..) and FOD'd their cockpits. But it was worth it.

#1: SA and being a clear thinker

Johann, Agree. We've got plenty of warrior enlisted/officers in the USAF. We just need to put THEM into the leadership roles at these deployed locations. I'd take my squadron's survival NCO over any officer in the non-support group if it came to a deployment,... POW situation,... or game of kickball. Ditto for the E-3 we have sitting behind the duty desk. Warriors, both of them. [ 16. April 2006, 13:13: Message edited by: Huggyu2 ]

Buddy of mine is down the street at (base x) a few weeks back. He gets back from an 11 hour sortie, throws on a shirt with "VANS" written on it, along withthe Van's logo. Some unidentified dude stops him in the chow hall and tells him the logo is too large IAW Wing policy. Pilot informs him the logo is 2" tall (which ok), and that the word "VANS" is a "trademark", not a "logo", and he should learn the difference. They argue. Unidentified gent says the Chief wrote the new reg. Pilot tells him Chiefs don't write regs, offciers do. Finally, pilot asks this guy who he is, and he is a SMSgt. He runs off, cries to the Chief (who is watching from afar), and within 36 hours, the sq/cc is getting asked about it from the O-6 level. We have GOT to take back control of the USAF from these idiots --- officers and enlisted alike. These stories paint a sad picture of what is going on. Technique: when pulled aside by someone for some silly-ass infraction, get close, look them in the eye, and at the top of your lungs yell, "NOTED!". Very effective, I've found out. [ 16. April 2006, 13:17: Message edited by: HerkDerka ]

When I was a FAIP (back when everyone flew the T-38, and dinosaurs roamed the earth), we'd rack-and-stack the entire class, then draw a line. If you were above the line, you were "FAR'd" (Fighter/Attack/Recce). You had to be FAR'd to be FAIP'd. Fighter/Attack/Recce/Trainer is "FART'd", but I digress. Anyways... I know plenty of pilots that didn't do so great in UPT that really came on strong after a couple of years with Wings on their chest. I know a few fighter guys that were min-FAR'd, and kind of plateaued over the years. It became clear to me that deciding who is the best pilot based on UPT ranking is like figuring out who should be the next partner in a law firm based on their Freshman undergraduate GPA. During the 3 years I spent as T-38 PIT IP, I flew with some pilots out of heavies that had great hands (sts) and were outstanding IP's. So, while the whole "figher qual" thing is probably alive and well, it's simply a way --- not necessarily an accurate way --- to stratify candidates for a follow on assignment. Think of it like the OPR: it's not accurate, there's got to be a better way, etc... but no one will bother changing the system. [ 05. April 2006, 02:01: Message edited by: Huggyu2 ]

Vetter, Flying with others that are great people and great pilots can really improve your situation. I've been fortunate to be in an environment where, even though the day-to-day grind can be long, I look forward to showing up in the squadron each and every day. If you are not in that kind of environment, keep looking. It will reset your love of aviation.

Their timing is perfect, too: with the demise of the ever-popular Tomcat demo, I'll bet the Strike Eagle's will be a crowd pleaser.

Seems the last few years, the Navy controllers that have PAR'd me have been substandard. I don't know if something changed or if I'm just having bad luck with them. The Brits give a great PAR. Anyone ever have the Brit gal in Cyprus give you the "dirty talkdown"?? What a hoot!

If I understand the question right, then: No, you do not need to make a "perfect circle" airshow-type loop (like I did today in my friend's Pitts). Instead, you try to hit 500 KIAS at the bottom, 200 at the top (and still inside the vertical limit of the MOA), and back to 500 at the bottom. And no rolling during the maneuver; just a nice straight pull.

I broke mine at graduation. I then had a "UPT aviation themed" print that I found framed, with my class' scraf and patch in it. At the top, I have the broken wings, with the pieces separated by about 1/4 inch. Makes for a nice conversation piece. [ 17. February 2006, 02:23: Message edited by: Huggyu2 ]

In the U-2, when "on the road", most of us fly with 3-4 handhelds. Sounds like overkill, but each serves a specific purpose. The one we use for "normal ops", and just plain navigatin' and SA is a Garmin 196. We've got some new ones, and I think they are Garmin 96C (I haven't used them). Locally, I fly with a Garmin GPS III; old, but very effective. Our unit bought a few, and we sign them out when needed. We will put them in with the trainees when they go solo, and then download the plot when they return, allowing us (the IP's) to see exactly how their flight progressed. Yes, you can bust a ride based on your HHGPS plot. They're great in the T-38, especially when VFR. Keep your destination's range in the HHGPS, and you can constantly work your Bingo and maximize your playtime. [ 17. February 2006, 02:17: Message edited by: Huggyu2 ]