TacAirCoug

I don't know, I think it's a little early to make that call. If you're implying we need to scrap the MPD program altogether and go back to sending guys to some form of AC school, I won't completely disagree. However, until these "new" MPDs get close to upgrade and we can see how "grown up" they are I'll withhold judgement.

As I understand it, there will no longer be an AC school as of FY 08. Any remaining legacy copilots will have to be upgraded in-unit. Original MPDs upgrade to AC via a ~2 week course called the Pilot Checkout Course (PCO), which IIRC consists of only NVG airland and day/night assaults. Little Rock offers extremely limited numbers of PCO slots at the schoolhouse (Dyess is only getting something like 4 slots total for FY 08) the rest will be in-unit upgrades using the same syllabus. Both the 463d and 317th have developed their own "PCO Prep" programs which focus on systems, left-seat tac, etc. Still waiting on guidance for upgrading the new MPDs, but that's a couple of years away anyhow.

Even if you get a guard unit to hire you, it's still not a done deal. AFPC has to release you, and depending on your airframe you might be SOL. However, if the stars align in your favor it can and has been done.

Best Recruiting Video Ever. That just gave me chills.

Back on topic... Legends like Olds and Yeager are certainly worth their weight in gold in terms of their contribution to the AF's heritage. I'd like to throw another one out there for the trash haulers: WWII vet and Berlin Airlifter Col Gail Halvorson, A.K.A. the "Candy Bomber," is STILL flying C-54's!

I have the 600c. You can barely see the screen (in any light) unless you have the backlight on...so battery life is an issue if you use the light a lot. I don't tend to need to look at the screen for long periods of time anyway, so I usually just click on the backlight and let it shut off on its own after a few seconds. Doing that, the battery lasts for quite a while. Other than that, the performance & user interface is top notch. With the internal antenna I have been able to get a good signal inside my house. I have never used the Garmin so I can't compare, but I would definitely recommend the Lowrance.

The scheduler has that market cornered...but thanks.

Every once in a while the Dyess Class Six gets a small shipment of ESB in...for a short time I forget I'm in West Texas.

In no particular order:

Nope. Edit: Or maybe they will... Make up your mind Wynne!

Thread Revival for interesting development: Source

It's been a couple of years since my fini in the 50th, but that seems about right. Either way, both the analog and digital standby's are electric, so it would be hard to say one was less reliable than the other. The analog works just fine in the H3, I don't see any reason why the digital one won't do the job in the AMP birds.

One of you H3 guys out there correct me if I'm wrong, but I think those standby attitude indicators have two selectable power sources (Isol DC & INS Batt???). I would assume the SAI's on the AMP'd birds would be pretty much the same.

Awkward SKE secondary control panel - gone Worthless coffee grinder ADF - gone Shi**y NVG harness - gone That's what I call addition by subtraction. Anybody know if they're putting SELCAL in these things?

I flew with her at the Rock when she was in PIQ...definitely one of the best/hardest working pilots I've ever been around.

This is a topic? Seriously?

I was there a couple of years ago with our Japanese exchange pilot. We chose Tokyo XX and the other Herk chasing us around the racetrack was Godzilla XX. Not as fun as the ones you quoted, but got us a laugh from the DZCO anyhow.

Separated at birth?

Yeah, they're called "Iron Swap." I'm taking orders for delivery mid to late Feb.

Yeah, they're called "Iron Swap." I'm taking orders for delivery mid to late Feb.