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FallingOsh

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Posts posted by FallingOsh

    All-Seeing Blimp Could Be Afghanistan’s Biggest Brain

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Smaller versions of these things are going up all over theater. As usual, Air Force leadership has no long term vision and has completely ignored this program. Flying jets is more fun, got it, but I really wish they would understand that protecting the jet mission means doing less glamorous stuff like UAS and blimps also. The Army found a way to provide continous ISR coverage from the air without us...way to go blue.

    I don't know why you want to do more stuff like blimps. Let the Army stare at the same spot on the ground all day so i don't have to. Call me when you find something that needs killin.

    3-star ripped for presentation referencing God

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    My $.02 is that people should be doing the best the can etc. because it's their job and their they're supporting a mission, NOT because it is in the best interest of their god/religious beliefs...

    So it's ok for someone to do their best, but only if it's not because of their religion?

    If someone is doing their best, why do you care about the source of their motivation?

    • Upvote 3

    Shoe Clerk Vol 3

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    Yeah, I want to lead people that...kill people and break their toys. I want lead people to take the fight to the shores of our enemies so they stay off mine. I want lead people to protect our national interests both domestically and abroad. Is that wrong? someone has to lead.

    Do you think that you will be doing much of that personally as 0-6 with 30 years in? Not being a smart ass, that is a real question. How many full birds fly missions in Afghanistan? I don't hear about it much so I just assume the captains and majors are the ones doing it most of the time.

    Edit to add: I want to excel as a CSO and then possibly a pilot operationally but I want to stay in for thirty to lead.

    He was making the point that your focus should be on fighting and winning wars. You'll be hard pressed to find people on this board who joined the Air Force in order to stay in 30 years and make rank. That's why conversations like this run away pretty quick.

    I get that you want to lead. That's fine. But leading is not the end; it's a means.

    We're starting tp repeat arguments and split hairs. Don't lose focus of our purpose as a military. Good luck at OTS.

    Shoe Clerk Vol 3

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    No matter how good you think you are at your job, someone is out there who is just as good as you are but they're willing to play the Air Force's game to get ahead.

    There's your disconnect right there.

    • Upvote 2

    Shoe Clerk Vol 3

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted · Edited by FallingOsh

    why not pick someone who was concerned enough with their career to check that box.

    If this is really your perception and plan of attack then no amount of conversation is going to do any good. Attitudes like this are why we have such a fucked up system of promoting the Christmas party planner over the war fighter.

    so I will suck it

    I'm sure you'll go far.

    This is especially true for online Master's programs from normal universities like George Washington University and the University of Michigan. Degrees from schools like that are very different than a degree from the University of Phoenix.

    Your difficult masters checks the same container as everyone else's piece of cake masters. Your point may be true, but it's invalid in this argument.

    Job performance should be reflected in OPRs/EPRs, not by quarter awards.

    EPRs and OPRs do not do a good job at giving a good evaluation of how well someone does their job.

    Awesome.

    Shoe Clerk Vol 3

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    How hard is it to finish your CCAF? It is one semester in college which is 100% paid for by the Air Force. It is not even as hard as getting a real associates degree which takes two years. If you can't finish your CCAF and you get STEP promoted it doesn't send a very good message to the junior AMN about the importance of getting an education.

    If it's so easy and a piece of cake to finish, then why do you think it matters so much? It's the same argument people make for requiring a masters. If it's so extremely important for officers to have a masters, why the fuck do they allow free online degrees? It either matters or it doesn't. Our Check-the-container mentality is a major contributing factor in the current state of our force.

    • Upvote 4

    Tim Tebow (NSFW)

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    Football is a game played over 4 quarters, not one, and that's something Timmeh hasn't done yet - play at a good performance level over the entire course of a game.

    People keep saying this sort of thing. As soon as playoff teams are chosen based upon 2nd quarter performace, you may have a point. Nobody gives a shit how the team did during the first 5 minutes of the 3rd quarter. It matters that they win. Period.

    I understand what you're saying, but if the team wins (and wins a lot) who cares how they get there.

    Lack of Flight Discipline

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Does anyone actually know this AF wide FCIF is due to the MC-12 incident? It started out, I think on page 2, as a hypothetical. Four pages later, it's stated as fact and an "AF wide FCIF is blowing this out of proportion."

    Assuming the FCIF is due to the MC-12, and admitting we don't know all of the facts, which we don't, we could possibly assume this was not an isolated incident and it is actually being handled at the appropriate level. There are apparently pilots out there who think this is no big deal. If the squadron/group/wing had this infection then maybe a big ass FCIF is appropriate.

    Marine Corps Raptors?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    In time and range. Seriously, are you really that confused? It can support a longer vul period/time on station than a viper or beagle, as those are the two real platforms it is replacing.

    You have to define what you are comparing it against. You can't just say "longer and further" or "more vul time." Longer and further than what? That's like the toothpaste commercials that say "Colgate cleans your teeth better." Better than what? Charcoal?

    If you're saying it will have a longer vul time than a Viper, well... no shit. If you're saying it has more fuel than other fighters so it has a longer vul, then that's wrong. Strapping externals on a jet gives it more time, but that's true because you're talking about the same platform as a constant. Just having more fuel than some of the other fighters doesn't mean anything. Range and vul depend on the fan optimization altitude, engine efficiency, threat avoidance, load out, etc. Making a claim like. "it has more gas so it has more range" is about as ambigous as it gets. So no, I'm not confused.

    I don't know or really care if it can out stay a Hog,

    Well, that would fall somewhere into the argument of more gas equals more vul time. The hog has significantly less gas than the -22, -35, or -15E.

    it's a stupid idea to replace the Hog with it.

    My point for the past two pages has been exactly that. Putting all of our eggs into one multi-role basket is stupid.

    Marine Corps Raptors?

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by FallingOsh

    I find it interesting that some people seem to think measuring dicks in an Iraq/Afghanistan CAS war is somehow a measurement of the usefulness of an asset. I'm by no means claiming to be as good at CAS as a Hog or AC dude, but seriously, it isn't cosmic. There's far more than CAS on DOC statements...shocking, I know.

    I'm not sure how you made that leap. Home boy said it will do CAS just as well as a Viper or Strike Eagle. I think it's an honest question, at that point, to define how well those two actually do CAS. I didn't say anything about Iraq, Afghanistan, DOC statements, or dicks.

    It means a longer loiter time/vul time coverage and further combat radius. It's not rocket science.

    More gas does not automatically equal longer loiter time or further combat radius. Also, how are you defining "longer and further." Longer and further than what? It actually is pretty damn close to rocket science.

    Marine Corps Raptors?

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by FallingOsh

    It will do CAS just as well as the F-16s and F-15E's do it.

    Says who? The manufacturer?

    And define how well the vipers and streaks do CAS...

    I agree, to the point that we don't even use the Harriers VSTOL for taking off of unprepared surfaces. But that doesn't mean the F-35B is useless.

    I didn't say it was useless. In fact, I even said multi-role airframes are important.

    I said it was fucking stupid to put all of our eggs in one service-wide joint basket.

    The Marines use AV-8B's from Amphib Carriers all the time. It has it's use. And people a lot more senior than us and (hopefully) smarter than us think it's still a good capability to have.

    That's how this whole thread started. People senior to us and apparently just as smart have decided it may not be the best option for the marines.

    I don't know the payload comparison of the F-35 vs F-16. You have any numbers to back it up?

    That was really a back hander at the Viper, but there are numbers. It will have more gas but nobody knows what that really means yet.

    And is there really another choice? The Navy is operating only one air frame currently and it seems to be working out

    I think ive maninted from the beginning that this way oft thinking is the underlying problem. It works pretty well for the navy so everyone should follow suit. And as that wasn't enough, we'll make every airframe be essentially the same platform. It'll promte jointness and reduce mx costs...balbllabllbladbdl]

    And we will have both the F-22, the F-35, and what remaining legacy fighters hanging around for the foreseeable future.t

    The -22 and the -35 were supposed to be Optimus Prime and Megan Fox here to save the world. Turns out Optimus did't have enough money together to bring in more Primes. and Mega Fox is on a downward slope toward rehab.

    Those air frames are supposed to replace the legacies. Tha's why they're called legacies. Your plan B, and it sounds like part of plan A, is to keep the legacies doin their thang, Your gamesplan is either, (a lie (b terrible terrble plan (c brilliant

    I think it's C. Brilliant. The plan actually involves keeping all of our legacy jets, (with very very minor upgrades... the money went somwehere else..(megan fox.) so that the brand new shiny toye can be kept at home in a glass case with the rest of our airshow circus

    Marine Corps Raptors?

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by FallingOsh

    One can argue the F-15E and F-16 fit into that definition and they are pretty successful.

    Sure you could. They are pretty successful. The Eagle is still a better air to air platform and the hawg is still a better CAS platform. The problem, as I said before, is relying on one airframe to do it all. The F-35 has a single 25mm cannon that carries less than 200 rounds and 2 bombs internally. How effective do you think that'll be in a CAS roll? The major issue is that people see the multi-role aircraft being "pretty successful" and they jump on the idea of making everything multi-role. Not good.

    According to "GlobalSecurity.org" the USAF has 1,763 ordered.

    The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs suggested there may be cuts less than a week ago.

    So I guess the Marines/Navy should retire all their amphibious assault ships then. Just because it has STOVL doesn't mean it's going to be parking under a bridge and operating off a two lane highway. The Marines don't even do that with their Harriers.

    My point was, and still is, that I don't expect to see the F-35 in the shit, especially where it would need STOVL. Reference the other rediculously expensive airframes we have that hang out at Red Flag or "deploy" to Diego.

    And how do you know that the F-35 doesn't deliver? The only thing you are judging is based on finances and delays. Yes, the over runs and delays are staggering, but that doesn't mean the F-35 isn't a far leap ahead of F-16s and F-15s.

    You answered your own question. It doesn't deliver because it's billions over budget, years late, and will be cut down in numbers. It carries an inferior payload even compared to the Viper and won't save money in maintenance as was originally planned. Name one way that it does deliver.

    I think multi-role platforms are important. I think putting all of our eggs into one multi-role, multi-service, end all-be all is fucking stupid.

    Marine Corps Raptors?

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by FallingOsh

    Also, wtf are the marines going to do with essentially a -15C?

    WTF is the Air Force going to do with essentially a -15C?

    I kid. But seriously...

    We could have light attack aircraft for a fraction of the price while still pumping out Raptors for the A/A roll. We've gotten so far away from building mission specific aircraft that we've created one that doesn't fit any niche. It's like trying to design a block that is round and square and triangle all at the same time so you can just use one block to fill all the holes. (sts?) Turns out it doesn't fit any. It's a neat looking block, though.

    Everything is joint to the point of breakdown. The entire -35 program has been one compromise after another in order to build a joint platform. It's not an expert at anything. It's too expensive to buy in meaningful numbers. The order is too small to replace any of the airframes it's designed to replace. If you think the -35 is going to deploy to remote locations where STOVL is needed then I think you're diluted. $200M airframes aren't sent to play in the dirt. What we have is an unbelievably expensive airframe that doesn't deliver to any of the services, missions, or original goals of the program.

    Reminds me of The Homer Car.

    • Upvote 1

    Military retirement under attack

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by FallingOsh

    I remain skeptical of all the people who say they would bail if retirement was changed. I really do want to call that bluff, because I believe that even without a pension plan, people are still addicted to the benefits, pay, and job stability.

    You're basing that on what?..... the VSP mess?

    People might bitch, complain, and threaten to leave, but they'll stay, because they can't afford to leave until they're ready.

    I know PLENTY of people, myself included some days, who would gladly cut their income in half for a chance to not deal with active duty bullshit. If you are so sure that people won't leave, then why have a 10 year commitment out of UPT?

    Now the DoD is actually more beholden to how it treats is members.

    Oh now you're just making things up. :vomit:

    Ironically, if all the people weathering the bullshit for the 20 year pension left in droves, I would most likely stay in, as I see them as the main problem with the military. The massive staff officer bureaucracy between 10-20 years of service (not counting prior enlisted), the careerism, and the willingness to let things go unchecked because they're holding on for a pension, are the biggest causes of what I see wrong with the Air Force.

    And I think the biggest problems in the air force come from people like you who just want to move people out of the way so you get to continue up the chain. You think the tired, beat up pilot who has been away from his family for probably half of his 17 year career is the one who gives a fuck about Friday patches and T-shirts being banned? You think he's the one causing all that fuss? He's the one you're accusing of being a careerist?? You think the guy who could make two or three times the cash as a contractor stays in just so he can preach about everyone getting an online masters? Fuck no. The people ruining the air force aren't tired majors or young LtCols waiting to get out. They're the fuck heads who disregard everyone on their way to O-8.

    Our squadrons' senior instructors and leadership fall into this mystical category you've created that accuses them of being careerists who are ruining the Air Force. Feel free to tell them that as they head out the door on their 4,5, or 6th deployment.

    You think there's a retention problem for pilots now? Cut that 8 years' worth of time out from under them as an incentive to stay. All you'll be left with is a bunch of douches looking for their chance to pounce on a brand new shiny rank. Have fun with that.

    • Upvote 1

    MD-88 'hard landing' at ATL

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    Looked liked a blown tire and/or brake fire. Either way, what caught my attention was the fact that numerous people were evacuating the jet with their luggage.

    WTF?

    I'm sorry, if I'm evacuating from a jet that's on fire...I'm not stopping to grab shit.

    Fox News Link

    It's a psychology thing. People under that amount of stress and confusion act irrationally by trying to act normal. They default to what they know by gathering their familiar belongings and exiting the plane. There are people holding coats and bags standing on the wings of a jet in the Hudson river. Some survivors of United 232 were found walking around in the field, severely burned, carrying their luggage.

    Interesting stuff if you're into that sort of thing; or if you need a topic for an ERAU master's paper.

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