alohacessna
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Posts posted by alohacessna
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For those that might be interested, a Viper Bremont project is getting started. Contact info for ordering is listed on the webpage.
http://www.bremont.com/military-orders/f-16
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That Intel patch is top notch. I'm guessing she got the mandatory fun assignment to stand in front of the jet and found out later she will be ridiculed indefinitely for making the commercial cut.
Posted from the NEW Baseops.net App!
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Pretty strong language from Gen. Hostage.
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is using a mix of manned and unmanned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets to monitor the ongoing situation in Iraq, a top Air Force general said today.
“It’s what we call nontraditional ISR,” Gen. Mike Hostage, the head of Air Force Air Combat Command, said July 29. “We’re using fighter aircraft that have ISR capacities, like targeting pods, and things that give us a lot of awareness on what’s going on, on the ground.”
Hostage did not say which fighters were taking part in those missions, but assets in the region include F-15E Strike Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-22 Raptor fighter jets, as well as A-10 “Warthog” aircraft.
Hostage, speaking at a breakfast event hosted by the Air Force Association, said there are unmanned assets also assisting, but stressed the importance of using manned aircraft as the US attempts to track Islamic States forces.
“There is a love affair out there in the non-aviation world with the concept of the unmanned platform, but I really need the human in that loop, and tightly in the loop in a way I have it in a non-traditional ISR platform,” Hostage said, before acknowledging “I need both out there.”
Those comments intensified when Hostage was asked about the decision to retire the U-2 manned spy plane in favor of the Global Hawk unmanned system — something he has expressed disdain for in the past.
“It pisses me of when [people] say the Air Force cut it,” Hostage said of the U-2. “I’m only losing the U-2 because I was directed to buy the Global Hawk, and the only way I can afford to buy Global Hawks is to cut the U-2.”
“The Global Hawk right now doesn’t have the same awareness that a U-2 does,” he added. “A U-2 pilot can still look out the window and see something coming and deal with it. Global Hawk can’t do that.”
“A human sitting in a box can have the same kinesthetic awareness of an aviator sitting in a platform in the middle of combat,” Hostage said. “The day will come when I can produce that. And when that day comes, I will be happy to stop flying manned aircraft.
“But that day is not here yet, so I still need the unique capabilities the human provides, so I’m going to need manned platforms, at least for a while. I don’t think we’ve seen the birth of the last human aviator.”
Premature retirement?The Air Force detailed plans to retire its inventory of 33 U-2s in its 2015 budget request. Global Hawks would handle the high altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission. Congress, however, may block the U-2’s retirement, with language in both the House and Senate versions of the fiscal 2015 National Defense Authorization Act preventing the Air Force from executing its plan.
The Air Force itself originally asked for the Global Hawk, Hostage said. But funding and requirements from combatant commands changed.
“The calculus was: I’ve got a U-2 that’s already paid for, that already meets the current requirement and will continue to fly for another 40 years. I can meet the requirement with that and I can save money,” he said. “We were directed to buy the Global Hawk anyway and were not given the money to keep the current fleet going and buy the Global Hawk, so I have no choice but to give up the U-2 in order to purchase the Global Hawk.
Don’t tell me I cut the U-2. I didn’t. I’m sacrificing the U-2 to pay for something I have to buy.”
In a perfect world, without budget restrictions, ACC would keep flying the U-2 and continue to develop the Global Hawk until it gets to the point where it can replace the U-2. But, the unmanned aircraft doesn’t have the capability and awareness that a U-2 currently does.
Northrop Grumman is developing a “universal payload adapter,” which would take the cameras and sensor equipment straight from the U-2 and attach it to the Global Hawk. It would cost about $487 million and take three years to develop and two years to produce, according to Air Force documents.
The main factor in pushing to cut the U-2 and not the Global Hawk was a drop in sustainment costs. The cost per flying hour of all Global Hawk variants dropped to $24,000 in fiscal 2013, with the U-2’s cost per flying hour at about $32,000, according to the Air Force.
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Nope, the Army can't afford the A-10...
The article on WSJ is still locked for subscribers, but the video seems to work for everyone.
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I escaped AFSOC in 2011 for the U-2, and still to this day am amazed it happened. With everything I hear from those still in AFSOC I find it extremely doubtful people are going to be released. That being said, you never know unless you ask. Currently IST's are very difficult to get approved as are releases for fighter or bomber guys. If you have specific questions give the recruiting office a call and they will give you the latest info.
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About half a cookie dropped right out of my mouth when PP questioned if I should be eating a cookie..... I was never less than 200 lbs. I always viewed the weight issue under the auspice that I was TAMI'd there and was just doing my part to fill the needs of the Air Force. I was never going to be less than 195, but always did my best to stay as low as I could. The weight limits weren't a huge deal for a long time until the aircraft kept growing in weight and fuel loads became more critical to meet station time. I guess its a big deal again.
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Huggy...Forget shipping we can pick the books up in person on an ERT if Steve can hold them until next month.
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Yes, several Navy/Marine guys have been hired recently. How soon they will show up at Beale is another question as the inter-service transfer seems to be arduous.
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PC-12/U-28's don't require a type rating since the aircraft are turbo-props with a gross weight of less than 12,500 lbs.
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Cougerdriver...if you were offered an interview, I'm sure Huggy would be more than happy to watch the Dragon Lady serve you some humble pie as your interview pilot. Huggy would be the last person in the U-2 community you might want to insult.
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All great bro's and a tremendous loss to the U-28 community. Thoughts and prayers for the family and loved ones of those that have given the ultimate sacrifice.
Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)
in General Discussion
Posted
Zoum you are welcome for that extra raise! The AF can't even come close to competing with the airlines on a monetary level. I had no idea separating that I would be making as much money as I have been. I flew a greenslip (think overtime) the other day to fly a 3.5 hr flight from LAX to ATL then Deadhead home. Total time gone from home less than 12 hrs, it paid 25 hrs. On second year pay including retirement contributions, profit sharing and base pay that trip was worth $4500.
This year was mostly at second year pay for me. I grossed $150K base pay, with another $22K of retirement contributions. I expect that my profit sharing for this year paid out in February will be worth around $30K...Not bad for for second year pay and it only gets better each year. You can bet from a financial position leaving AD was a no brainer. The rest of the QOL stuff is again no comparison with AD.