tac airlifter
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Posts posted by tac airlifter
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This reminds me of a great CGOC coup that took place at Thumrait back in 2002.
The CGOC there (yes, CGOC at a deployed location) was complaining about no having enough participation and were bitching a moaning about not enough participation from the ops units. Like they have nothing else better to do than support CGOC. The local aviation squadron there decided to send as many people as were available to the next meeting. It ended up being 50 dudes. They voted in one of their own. His first act to drain the treasury to take it down to the Brit bar and then they dissolved the CGOC. It was classic.
That is the single most awesome CGOC story I have ever heard. Well played sir, well palyed.
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Hey bro, AFSOC needs to get out of this "we are better than you" mentality. Everyone cries foul when they see the Raptor procurement and O&M costs, but riddle me this. How much does a new U-Model Gunship cost? What does it cost to maintain one? Sure, we're not trying to buy 187 Gunships, but we've got to move past this "AFSOC is so much better than ACC" b@llsh@t! Do you think AFSOC leadership cares about a light strike platform when they want to buy the next generation gunship, the talon replacement, or to continue to get the CV-22 fielded. Every General has priorities and they don't normally match up with what the Captains think should be happening.
The reason AFSOC won't be flying a Super T anytime soon is because of the Talon and Gunship mafias in AFSOC that are afraid some of the fighter jocks from ACC will make the switch and start taking away some of their glory. The boys on the ground were asking for FAC(A)s back in 2002, but AFSOC did not answer the call and won't. The recommendation to the SOCOM commander was that this is not a SOF specific platform or mission so there is no need to use SOCOM money for it. That's why the Navy had to ask the Air Force (ACC) to help them pay for it for the Navy SOF guys. Sarcasm: Isn't AFSOC the SOF air arm?
Bottom line: no matter how much the Captains say we need this to be AFSOC owned, it won't be because of tribalism and parochialism on both sides of ACC and AFSOC. The Air Force, ACC, and AFSOC will continue to be viewed by the other services as more concerned about buying the latest greatest toy instead of doing what needs to be done to support the dudes getting shot at on the ground.
People cry foul over the cost of the Raptor because there are cheaper things that would be more useful now that are not funded, and its easy to blame the funding void on the Raptor. Of course that is a foolsih postion to take. The real funding issue is our national leadership who want to attain certain military/political goals but are unwilling to pay for those goals. All this arguing between services and intra-service ultimalty is because we all want to do our part in protecting the nation but there isn't enough cash available to us. So this is the unfortunate political and fiscal reality we live in, where we argue amongst ourselves for the inadequet amount of money. Blame congress.
I'm not against the Raptor at all, I don't know anything about air-to-air threats; but the guys who do say we need it. I trust their judgement. But I also feel a burning desire to help the 19 year old kid on a mountainside, and I think we should fund platforms that can accomplish this task now. And as previously stated, there is a finite amount of money available to us; consequently I think the priority should be supporting the Army now. I believe the fighter dudes who say we need more Raptors, but we also need to help the Army win our current war. I'm sorry we can't do both, but don't fault those who take my position as being short sided. I know we need to maintain air superiority 20 years from now, but I'm prioritizing the present over the future. Don't worry, my opinion doesn't mean shit anyway.
I have't seen any "AFSOC is better than ACC" crap at all. The line guys don't give 2 shits about the who's balls hang lower argument, they just want to fly and fight. My backround is AMC so I have an aversion to beauracracy and maybe that same aversion is what you're picking up as an anti-ACC feeling. I don't know. I do know that AFSOC is the only place I've been where guys who want to hack the mish aren't actively discouraged by leadership.
I don't care what MAJCOM buys a light fixed wing ground attack platform, I just think the Air Force should be ashamed that another service has found a way to provide a need for the warfighter from the air. Thats our sphere of responsibility, and the fact that someone else is coming into our house because we couldn't get our shit together and do it ourselves is shameful. If we start by agreeing on that point, then I'll concede the aircraft to any MAJCOM that will operate them effectively. But as a service we have to get in the game man, and it just looks like AFSOC has been more willing to do that than other MAJCOMs.
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It's embarassing that the Navy is buying these before the AF. The perception is that we just can't seem to get our shit together and buy stuff the warfighters need. It's true that we're looking to the future as service, but we might be looking to far into the future at the expense of the present.
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I'll admit I don't know a whole lot about the systems, but couldn't one manpad or RPG take out one of these Cessnas? What's to keep the enemy ground troops from just shooting them down? I can't imagine they're very maneuverable.
Maneuverability doesn't have a whole lot to do with evading manpads, and I personally don't consider an RPG a major threat against fixed wing. You'd have be very close to a shooter with an excellent eye for leading the shot. Besides, couldn't one manpad or RPG take down just about anything anyone on here flies given the right placement? It's a risk we accept.
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I know there are some good guys in the missle field because I had the pleasure of meeting some of them at SOS. I'm not being sarcastic, the guys in my flight were great. So why is the career field dominated by people who think this madness you describe is normal? Are they attracted to the job or is that just the culture that thrives in your career and they turn that way to succeed? Also, do you missle guys think things would be better if the opportunity to crossflow was easier?
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Q3 for a 1-2 knot overspeed? That is the most absurd thing I've heard in a long time. The second most absurd thing is writing it up at all. I oversped the ramp and door by about 3 knots a few years ago. I landed and told MX what happened, wrote it up, watched them conduct the inspecdtion and bought them a case of penalty beer. When all was said and done the FE who I respected said "Sir, do what you want but I'd call 3 knots gauge error." Additionally most MX dudes won't even conduct an inspection for a gust that momentarily pushed the airspeed needle around.
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Yep, that confirms my stereotype of missile dudes.
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Yeah I guess you're right, but it's still a pain. Although I'm sure you probably use this stuff a lot more than I do. I just feel like a lot of the IRC goes so deep into the weeds that part of me does think "well I guess it's good I did this b/c I totally forgot that", but the other part of me realizes I never have applied said subject, rule, etc. while flying and just based on the mission probably never will. There's a ton of little rules out there that really in the big scheme don't make much of a difference...but, I do realize some of the annoying stuff you just have to know and deal with.
Thats a gateway into a long conversation. I agree with you that it gets deep in the weeds, but at the same time thats not a bad thing for a yearly refresher. When I flew 130s I got pretty nit-noid about knowing all I could, partly because I did in fact find myself at several unique locations where that knowledge helped; but also because the more you know the more confidence you have, and that confidence helps me fly better. Maybe its just me, but when I step to the aircraft with the feeling that I know my shit cold, I just end up performing better.
Having said that I totally understand why a Viper guy doesn't care about NDB intercepts or low close in obstacle TERPs criteria. I'm suprised they don't let you guys take the test with the non -16 info filtered out. I'm still getting used to the single engine mindset, but it definitely makes calculating climb gradiets easier; you can either make what is published or you can't, end of story. no SDPs no subtracting from OCS, etc. And in your case you can probably always make the climb, so who cares about the stuff that doesn't apply to you? It's just more brain bites you can save for mission memory items that matter.
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Not having e-pubs sucks, but you can always do the "you have 1-10, you have 11-20...." That'll cut your time by a lot. IRC sucks...not that you didn't already know that.
Individual testing here so each person has to look up everything. It's really not that hard once you're familiar with what type of information is located where, which I'm sure you are. Truthfully it's a decent refresher since e-pubs was allowing me to be lazy.
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Hey gang...new to the forum. Our base is looking for a manufacturer of lighted Follow Me signs that can be installed in the back of standard pick-up trucks. Ours were locally made years ago and are becoming their own FOD hazard. I thought we would find some manufacturers out there with a web search of ground support equipment, but no joy. Appreciate any leads you all may have.
Welcome to the forum. Signs are not considered equipment which is probably why your web search failed. I googled "ground support equipment signs" and the fouth link down was this that includes several companies who make the product you requested.
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I wouldn't worry too much about the ROE, but in a TIC when time is of the essence...I'm not sure I'd want to wait on an aircraft whose top speed is Mach 0.16...
Top speed is irrelevant if you've already been loitering on station following the action. The idea here is they stay on station and follow the mission for several hours instead of leaving after 60 minutes to hit a tanker. And when it's time to rearm and refuel you can position support assets anywhere with a dirt road and this thing will land and be serviced, then immediatly be back in the fray; no need to return to a MOB. If I were the dude on the ground I would much rather be covered by a platform that is flexible to my needs, regardless of what it looks like. The Iraqis will be well served by this aircraft.
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Taking my yearly test and unfortunatly AFSOC does not allow the use of e-pubs for testing. Not a huge deal and I've looked up all but one question. I'm looking for the online question bank accessible from a non .mil computer. Anyone know where I can locate this info?
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I appreciate the advice. I do however, have a some obstacles to building my own. 1st is research - no time. 2nd, I live in base housing - no guns on base. 3rd, I PCS soon, thus buying a complete gun is quick/easy. 4th is funds - while the S&W is nice, keeping the buy on the cheap makes it easier for the wife to say "sure."
The Marine Exchange here hasn't had any 5.56 in stock since the election. I walk in last week and they have 6-7 of them. I like supporting their shop. Besides, they price match and no sales tax.
I liked the spreadsheet and my gun GK just went up. However, I don't see myself putting thousands of rounds down it. Hell, I've only put 400 rounds through my Taurus since last Aug.
On a side note, I think it is our obligation as Americans that we help keep the gun shop inventory low. Happy Independence Day everyone.
What base? I've lived on three so far and they all allowed me to keep guns in my house provided they were registered with SFS. And if you are looking at AR's I highly recommend the LMT piston. It's pricey but a great weapon and LMT does have military contracts and a great reputation.
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In '04, we were ERO'ing some fresh Army dudes in Baghdad. The load was just about to close the ramp and door and some giagantic (6' 5" 275 lbs) army guy comes running back onto the plane. He had lost his MP3 player. We tore the back of the plane up looking for it, no luck. We had to press to stay on frag, and as he was leaving, with a tear streaming down is face, he said, "My Mamma gave me that." And he slowly walked into the darkness. I still feel bad for that guy, what a crappy way to start your year in the suck.
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Good on you for at least helping the guy look. It's a bummer to lose something like that anytime but especially starting the rotation, and if nothing else at least he remembered you guys cared enough to help. I was at the end of a long day a few years back carrying pax into Balad. Last offload of the night and we were exhausted. After shutdown while I was cleaning up the forms my load found a very expensive digital camera in the back. We decided to check the pax terminal just in case someone from our last offload forgot it. Well, after some looking and asking it turns out that we did find the chick who lost it; she was actually getting onto a C-17 for Germany going home on emergency leave for a child who had just been killed, and the camera had her most recent photos of her late son. I was very proud that my load had the integrity and the energy to do the right thing with no reward and its one of many experiences I've had that makes me proud to be around the guys I work with. I put him in for ML of the quater or something of that nature but unfortunatly he didn't get it.
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My wife was riding her bike on a bike trail here tonight and got pulled over by SF troops. Apparently you must wear a reflective belt at night while riding a bike on Hurlburt. Nevermind that the bike itself has reflective surfaces screwed on, or that she was on the sidewalk/bike trail and therefore not in danger of coming into contact with a car. And nevermind that forcing her to walk the bike home in the dark made her feel unsafe and uncomfortable walking through the pitch black alone. Stupid SF and stupid faggoty base rules.
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Wow. When I read tac air's post I assumed he was just kidding about the tea bagging....I guess thats not how it was meant?
You assumed correctly. Sarcasm doesn't come off well on the interent, and I don't know anyone who would actually do that. It's an expression. Everyone chill.
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One less worthless leader! I also worked for him at OKAS in 2005. My favorite was when he made us all room up so the C-17 guys who were doing 2 week TDYs could have hard billets instead of tents. At the time chicks flying 130s still got their own room if there was not another girl on their crew to bunk with. (a policy I agree with) Since this fact resulted in an extra guy without a roomate, usually the AC got a room to himself. But after the policy shift to get 17 guys out of the tents the AC had to room with an AC from a different crew creating crewr est nightmares. His answer? Anyone who complains can take their entire crew to a tent for 120 days. So we put herc dudes in a tent for their whole deployment to make room in the hard billets for C17 guys doing 14 days. Not to down the 17 guys, since I think this was forced on them so he could have an OPR bullet; but their life support gear was tea-bagged as a result. The whole thing was later resolved but for a period of time his lunacy prevailed.
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Not quite. As mentioned, he is the SERE example of what not to do on multiple subjects, and the guy's call sign is ZULU.
Most memorable story for me from the instructors, "When the rescue team arrives to pick you up, do not make a mad dash towards them waving your 9mm...like O'Grady did...or you'll get laid out"
I won't even get into the actions that led to his shootdown.
Please elaborate, I fail to understand the significance of this.
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I'm at SOS right now at Maxwell and managed to get my first ticket in 12 years. Basically, I pull up to a flashing red light at night, look both ways, and then continue on my way. Similarly to Toro, I see a cop pull up behind me and follow for about 1/2 mile. Finally he pulls me over and of course it takes 40 minutes to get my ticket because he is a K-9 troop and it takes forever to bring his dog back and forth, in and out of the car. So I get my ticket and it says "failure to stop at red light" and I said, "dude, I stopped at the light, what are you talking about?" To which his classic reply was that a complete stop is a three second stop. I stopped for only one second, and the proper base procedure is to stop, count to three, and then proceed. Never heard that one before.
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Yes you are allowed and I think it's a fine idea. I fly every chance I get, nothing wrong with that at all. Flying on your own for a weekend out-n-snack is nothing like flying with the IP in your chili non-stop. Have fun.
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That is by far the gayest thing I have seen from the died.
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As with most aviation discussions, the answer to a high speed reject is ... it depends. It depends on what aircraft you fly, on what speed you're at and what your performance data allows. A statement that may apply to a heavy weight tanker doesn't necessarily apply to a light weight herc.
For example, lets say you touch down fast and long, start to advance the power and someone calls "reject!" Do you honor the call? Based on this thread most of you guys say no. Now for the rest of the information-- you are very light weight and were doing touch and go's on the shuttle skid strip which is 15,000' long and you have 12,000' in front of you. The reject was called because a crew member is suffering a seizure and passed out in his vomit. WX is bad and if you take it airborne you'll be in the instrument pattern versus taxing off the active to the firestation right next to the runway. With this additional information it would appear the best choice is to honor the call. Thats an example of how any number of variables can effect what is the "best" option for your particular circumstance. I understand the value of having predetermined decisions for a lot of scenarios, but sometimes you also need the SA to act according to the situation.
As for the incident that started this thread, I determined it safer to allow the situation to continue and debreif once we cleared the active runway. Is anyone who wasn't there really going to question my call? As for getting a Q3 for doing something stupid, IP's don't have the authority and she was well known for her shenanagins; she was deputy GP/CC and punishment was not going to happen.
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I was the standing IP on her fini flight at LRF. 3 hours into the flight while doing a touch and go she called "Reject, we've lost our left hand DC bus!" For those of you qualified on the H3, you'll know that the LH DC light has been illuminated for years because we don't have the hardware that it powers (except you guard dudes). Anyway, its a well known fact and written up in the forms of every tail. So we rejected at 95 knots just prior to rotate because she at that moment noticed the light that had been on the whole time every time she's ever flown, and she had no idea what it was. She was one of the most incompetent pilots I have ever flown with, and certainly the most incompetent for her qual/grade.
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Form 8, thanks for the PM. I was pretty sure I knew but he was out there so long ago I couldn't be positive. We've sent some more winners from LRF to the 777 in the past 3 years. But I've got some good stories about that guy.
Gun Talk
in Squadron Bar
Posted
+1 on the HK 45 or HKUSP 9. Both have been flawless for me. As for Glocks, I decided on the 34 which is like the 17 (9mm) but has a longer slide and barrel, and the accuracy after 1500 rounds is still equivolent to my HKs. I don't care for the grip angle as much, but their products have been reliable and accurate for me. I wouldn't compare them to the AK rifles, you can easu=ily put better iron sights on the Glock, but the AK leaves something to be desired from its irons. Overall the Glock 34 is a great weapon, cheap high cap mags, well built and never jams. I invested in a recoil buffer and Trijicon sights. I liek to shoot 9mm because its so much cheaper than .40 or .45 and I recommend every serious shooter does the same. hell I wish I had a .22 just so I could buy more ammo and shoot more.