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spectre56

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  1. spectre56

    Day 22

    By spectre56,

    Took the aero test - again - this morning. Passed! I have to keep those to a minimum...

    Had another sim today...went much better for me than the one yesterday, but still need to study like it's going out of style!

    I'm home for lunch right now and have to do about 5 CAIs before a class at noon tomorrow. I'm relishing these "easy" days before the poop hits the oscillating device.
  2. spectre56

    Day 23

    By spectre56,

    Pretty good day overall. Finished a couple of CAIs this morning covering flying fundamentals, then had our review class. Went straight into doing our boldface/ops limits and a class on basics of the checklists (challenge/response items, etc.). Afterwords, we had our PFT...passed, but I need to work on it a bit.

    Came home and have been studying for a couple hours now and i'm all studied out.

    Oh, I didn't mention...my son's cousin was sick over thanksgiving, which got our son sick, who in turn got me and the wife sick. Not that bad, though: just a sore throat and runny nose.
  3. spectre56

    Day 24

    By spectre56,

    I had a pretty good day today. We started out with a briefing from the wing commander and the command chief, then I went straight into my sim. It went well and the instructor gave me an excellent! Came home afterwords and had about 4 hours to study for flying fundamentals test. Took it and passed on the first shot!

    Also, heard we passed our boldface/ops limits (finally!) so it's flight suits to work now.
  4. spectre56

    Day 25

    By spectre56,

    I really had an awesome day today! Started off with a couple of CAIs which I found out I had already done! So I had some time to study some boldface and things like that. Went up to the classroom for our operating procedures test...simply a boldface/ops limits test. After that, I had a couple of hours to study for my first EP sim. It was with the instructor that teaches the operating procedures classes. He's a funny guy, but more importantly, it's easy to learn from him. Anyway, I thought I was fairly well prepared for it and I got a "good", so he must have thought I wasn't a total screw up. For those of you reading this who haven't been to IFS or UPT yet, after you learn the boldface, you will need to learn how to apply them. It's one thing to learn the boldface, but when it comes time to apply them in a certain situation, it becomes a bit tougher. I got done with the sim fairly early compared to everyone else in my class and headed home.

    There was a barbeque at one of the guys' house tonight, but since me and the wife and kid are sick, I thought it was better if we all stayed home this time. Oh well, maybe next time. Have a great weekend!
  5. spectre56

    Day 27

    By spectre56,

    Started off the day with a weather class then went into a CAI and a review of the contact lessons. That was it for the morning...I had about 4 hours off before my sim, so I came home and had lunch then went to the gym for a little bit before my sim started. I got out right at 12 hours so me and another guy don't have to go in until a little bit later than the rest of the class: nice.
  6. spectre56

    Day 28

    By spectre56,

    We had a very slow day today. There was a briefing by the T-38 squadron commander early this morning, but I couldn't go because I got out of my sim late last night. Even though i'm not interested in T-38s/fighters, I would have liked to go to see what he talked about; oh well. Had a long class on weather this morning after that, then I was done until our contact test this evening. Some people had sims today, but there were several of us that were "ahead" so our sims are tomorrow.

    09-11s track select was at 1400 (that's 2PM for you military types) so I went to that. Can't wait to be there for my track select! They had about 2-3 guard/reserve and 2-3 international students; but out of the active duty guys/gals, there were 2 T-44s, 2 helos, 3 T-38s and the rest were T-1s. Not bad if you ask me. A buddy of mine got T-1s which is what he wanted, so that's cool.

    I had a bit of time to study for our contact test and I passed! Only the weather test is left before we hit the flightline on tuesday.
  7. spectre56

    Day 29

    By spectre56,

    Started off with a weather class this morning and then some of us had sims throughout the day. I had one and it went well and got a good (chairfly, chairfly, chairfly).

    Just a little bit ago we had another weather class and our SRO got some pizza for us...sweet deal! Pretty uneventful day overall, but one day closer to actually flying!
  8. spectre56

    Day 3

    By spectre56,

    Day 3 was flight physicals. We showed up at 7 and I was out of there before noon. Not too shabby. I thought it was much "easier" than the one at Brooks: not quite as intensive and it seemed like it was just a diagnostic to make sure that nothing had changed since the initial flying class I. Looking forward to the weekend; going to go to the airshow up in San Antonio, should be a good time!
  9. spectre56

    Day 30

    By spectre56,

    Had a boldface/ops limits test this morning...I can only assume that we passed it: guess we'll hear about it on monday or tuesday if we didn't! Had a brief by the IG after that, then learned how to log in to ePex (which i've heard some folks don't like). Had a couple hours for lunch and came back after noon for 5 hours of weather classes. I could have shot myself halfway through them...it was brutal!

    One more day of phase I and then we hit the flightline! I am super excited and nervous. Have a great weekend!
  10. spectre56

    Day 31

    By spectre56,

    Started off the day by going to the gym for a little while with the wife and kiddo. Followed that with an end of phase critique; hopefully we'll have helped out future classes as far as scheduling goes a little bit. Came home for lunch and study for the weather test then came back for a DTS brief: how to set it up, basically. Had another break after that so I studied some more for the test.

    Took the test, and wouldn't ya know it...3 of us busted! Sonuvabitch! Well, studied for a a few hours a little bit ago for the retake in the morning after formal brief. Hopefully i'll pass it because i'm scheduled for my dollar ride around 2pm. Pray for me that I pass and continue on in training.

    Phase II tomorrow!
  11. spectre56

    Day 4

    By spectre56,

    Day 1 of Aerospace Physiology...sweet. Not too much done today; although, we do get to wear flight suits for most of this, so that's a big plus. We did a bunch of Aero Phys inprocessing and got more briefs from various people (Health and Wellness Center and various instructors). Had some classes over local area survival and learned basic SABC (self aid buddy care), what plants you can and cannot eat, how to protect yourself in a survival situation and signaling. We went out to practice with the signal flares and, to be honest, I was really disappointed. When I did this stuff for the Marines, we got to set off every kind of flare we had...here, we set off one and used the signaling mirror. I was disappointed in the apparent lack of training, but there isn't much I can do about it; plus, I was happy to get out of the classroom, even if only for a little bit.

    Tomorrow is egress training! I still tell myself every day how lucky I am to be in the position that I'm in and doing what I've dreamt about for years.
  12. spectre56

    Day 5

    By spectre56,

    Day 2 of Aero Phys. More classes on life support stuff. Also got to go into the altitude chamber to test mask functions; we'll go "up to altitude" in a couple days, pretty sweet. We also did egress training. Ended the day with a test: everyone passed so that was good. One down, 7 to go or something like that...taking it one at a time.

    Blues tomorrow and boldface/ops limits. Hopefully everyone will pass...we'll see!
  13. spectre56

    Day 6

    By spectre56,

    Aero Phys Day 3. More classes on physiology and one on the parachute...pretty uneventful. We had our boldface/ops limits quiz today. We were sitting in the classroom waiting on our flight commander to get there and the lights flicker and then go out. Our flight commander came in and we went outside to do our boldface/ops limits. We didn't get done until about 6:15 or so, so he didn't get to grade them on the spot like he did last week. Hopefully everyone passed!
  14. spectre56

    Day 7

    By spectre56,

    Aero Phys Day 4. We did parachute landing fall (PLF) stuff all morning and, while a lot of fun, my knees are killing me! After lunch we had a couple classes on spacial disorientation and noise and vibration. Pretty good day overall. We still don't know if we passed boldface/ops limits or not.
  15. spectre56

    Day 8

    By spectre56,

    Aero Phys Day 5. Had a couple classes on acceleration, stress, and the anti G strain maneuver (AGSM). We all got to look retarded in front of the class doing the AGSM, but it's pretty important, so it's cool to look like an idiot! After lunch we did the Barany Chair - or as some know it, the spin and puke. Also had a class on night vision and then we did the FACT test. I thought I was going to have a really hard time with it because my upper body strength is not great, but I passed it...I had a hard time with one or two of the exercises, but I pushed through it. We only had a few people not pass it. Getting through that makes for a good weekend!
  16. spectre56

    Day 9

    By spectre56,

    Aero Phys Day 6. Did the altitude chamber today. That was pretty fun...it had been about 8 years since I had done it and it was still pretty cool. That took up the whole morning then one of the aero phys guys grilled burgers and hot dogs for us for lunch; good times! After lunch we came back to practice egressing from the aircraft/study for the test for a couple hours. I passed the test! Again, we had no failures. 2 tests down and 6 to go or something like that.

    We have tomorrow off for Veteran's Day...Let me say thank you to those who have served in the past and those who are serving in our military today. Thank you all for your service!
  17. spectre56

    Day One

    By spectre56,

    Today was an ok day. Death by powerpoint describes it well. We had our first boldface/ops limits test today, overall, not too bad. The PFT is another beast all on it's own. If you aren't running, start running well before you get here. You lose about a minute or two on your run time because of the altitude, and there is no waiver for altitude...we missed it by about 400 feet.

    This weekend is free for us, but it will most likely be the last one as all the classes are backed up and we'll probably be flying most saturdays. Oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do.
  18. spectre56

    Day26

    By spectre56,

    Started off with a visit to what is going to be our flight room for several months. Got an intro by the flight commander and then, when the students from the class we're replacing showed up, they showed us what a standup and formal brief was all about. Pretty exciting...we start flying next tuesday!

    Had yet another sim and some CAIs and that was the day.
  19. spectre56

    Dollar ride? Nah...

    By spectre56,

    I was scheduled for my dollar ride this morning, but the weather decided it was more important, so cancelled for the morning. Got to go to commander's call, though! Got back and got scheduled for a dollar ride in the afternoon. You guessed it...the weather was just crappy enough to make us not go--again.

    We'll try again tomorrow.
  20. spectre56

    Done!

    By spectre56,

    Took our last test yesterday and passed with flying colors! I know I haven't updated this in a while, but everything's been going very well. I'll finally get to do a job...and on the second try! Graduation is later today and i'll head back up to California.
  21. spectre56

    Donuts anyone?

    By spectre56,

    Well, still waiting on word on where and when i'll be going. Little bit of good news today, though: learned that i'll find out when and/or where i'll be heading either friday or next week sometime. Bad news about that is that, since the school is 2 years long or so, and each of the 10 guard bases where the training occurs can only accommodate 4 trainees each, i'll be sticking around here for another 2-3 months. Not bad in the grand scheme of things, but it would be nice to leave sooner rather than later.

    Found out another few people from my class are on commander's review for flying stuff. 3 more of my class got added to the CR process within the last week. Yikes!

    Hope everything is well with yall who are reading this...I'm doing good, just a little bored: wish I could be some sort of training!

    Till next time!
  22. spectre56

    EPQs

    By spectre56,

    So, did I mention that I really dislike EPQs? Well, I do...why? I busted another one; this time by one question. But I guess that's all it takes. These things are killing me! I understand the material, but i'm just not recalling all the info that we have to read. Ugh, I'll make it...it's going to be tough, but i'll get it!

    Other than that, not much going on today. It's night week so we don't go in until 9ish (am for those who didn't catch that). We don't have many flights this week because maintenance can't keep up with us...or something along those lines. I don't really know.

    Wish me luck and good fortune on the EPQ tomorrow!
  23. spectre56
    So today was our flight commander's last day as a UPT IP. He had his fini flight, which was pretty cool...those of us not doing anything in the flight room went out to say hey. His family and some friends and some of the other IPs went out there...pretty neat! He's going to a much better place than Del Rio: he's going to England! He is a great guy and will be missed. Safe travels to you and your family, sir!

    One of the guys' birthday was today (or yesterday) so we had some pizza before we had our instruments review this evening. Knocked that out and went home for a 3 day weekend; sweet!
  24. spectre56

    Finally

    By spectre56,

    Well, the man has decided that it would be best if I not continue in pilot training. My new assignment, however, will be airfield operations which, from what i've read, doesn't sound too bad.

    It sucks that I won't be able to be a military pilot anymore, but I did try my hardest and gave it my best shot, and it just wasn't in the cards for me. I thank everyone who has been reading this and supporting me along the way. I'll still be around on Baseops about as much as I normally am, but probably won't continue this blog anymore...unless yall are interested in the Airfield Ops field. Actually, now that I mention it, I just might blog about that! That school is supposed to be 2 years long, training with the Guard. Sounds pretty cool since I can't be a pilot. I'm keeping a positive attitude about everything and am certain that everything will work out for the best.

    Oh, big congratulations goes out to Riddller on graduation from UPT! Doesn't seem all that long ago that he started his blog at IFS and now he's done. Congratulations!

    Feel free to leave messages on here or PM me if you want. Take care!
  25. spectre56

    Finally!

    By spectre56,

    Weather cleared up around noonish today and got to do my dollar ride this afternoon! Pretty cool, but I need to put my nose in the books that much more now. That was my only free ride in T-6s and we just went out to the aux field and then to the area to tool around some. Came back after an hour flight and called it a day.

    End of week 1 in phase II and so far so good! We get paid to do this stuff?!?!?! What a deal!

    Have a great weekend!
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