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di1630

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Posts posted by di1630

    China & Chinese Shenanigans

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    I don't think China has high enough probabilities for success right now to really risk it. Taiwan is much much smaller but MUCH MUCH better prepared and has only had to focus their defense on a linear threat where-as China's massive conscript Army is focused on multiple geopolitical goals. This is without support from the US or other Asian partners. 

    If China wants Taiwan, China could get Taiwan. The question is what price are they willing to pay for it. Right now the price is too high.

    Even with America out of the picture, the price might be too high.

    I’d give Taiwan some self defense tools that keep that cost too high for China and trash the notion of US carrier fleets stopping the attack.

    Eventually as China gains power, Taiwan might see more benefit in alliance with them than us anyhow.


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    Lufwaffe Elephant Walk...NOT

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted


    They can’t/won’t fly in the dark.

    Keep in mind these guys and an NH90 utility helicopter were the on call CSAR for all of Northern Iraq during the fight against ISIS.

    This was the reason my task force kept an air reaction force (82nd Platoon and 2x CH-47s) on dedicated stand by during the fight. We were honest in our summation that the Italians literally contributed nothing to the mission other than building us all a nice coffee shop in Erbil.


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    Poor Italy

    Their public doesn’t support them. Their jets are 100% for photo ops and show.

    The coalition asked their Eurofighters to pick up sone DCA caps over Syria...unable. They were there to take pictures.

    Imagine using a €100M A/A fighter to do the job of an RPA.

    Wait, never mind, just following our lead.

    Except they can’t afford it.


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    Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    This bonus pretty much says:

    “Hey, we know the people taking the bonus were probably going to stay anyhow. Maybe a few took short term bonuses while they built hours and polished up their guard/reserve/airline apps but that’s not what we want. We’ve (USAF) lost the battle for retention. We will reward those who after their 10+ year commitment, sign on to finish a career. We want loyalists, pilots who will do our will guaranteed to be at our whim until they retire. We are not interested in pilots who wish to ‘keep options open’ by failing to commit long term.”

    That’s how it reads to me.

    If you are unhappy with your options: quit.

    I wanted a short term bonus, of course I think I deserve it and the USAF is f-ing me over just like everyone else not getting it. It wasn’t offered. I’ll sport bitch but at the end of the day, if I don’t quit, I’m just bitching because I’m entitled.






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    • Upvote 1

    The WOKE Thread (Merged from WTF?)

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    Really?  I had that conversation with my children.  More than once too.  

    I’ve been pulled over for BS reasons multiple times. A as couple times the cops admitted off-record to profiling. I didn’t blame them...suspicious as hell.

    As a white dude, I was always 100% respectful and cooperative never expecting a free pass.

    Apparently I could have just showed them my privilege card and kept driving.


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    F-15X on the Air Force's Budget Request

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Copy that.
    Just vaporware but a Silent Typhoon concept for what could be a relevant 4.5 version.
    bae-systems-tranche-3-typhoon.jpg?w=830
    Silent Typhoon: Advanced Typhoon concept | Hush-Kit
    I like it and groking some on the idea of 4.5 fighters, what could make them relevant?  Capes that 5th gen don't / can't have to augment them on Night 1, 2, etc...
    Large missile loadouts, 10 or more.  Link node between LO and Legacy.  Active radar on initial ingress to target(s).  If 2 seater, UCAV director.  DCA for HVAAs.  Long range patrol fighter/interceptor.  Etc...
    If we could coordinate the team, spread the financial load, etc... getting them (Euros) to develop a "Super Typhoon" with the promise of sales to the US could work.  They develop to agreed upon new capes, paying for all of it.  We buy X number with the agreement they buy X number of LO assets (35 or an LO UCAV).
    Keeps most offensive capabilities with the US so if NATO or other coalition has to go kick in the door somewhere, we will be in the coalition, giving them the assurance we are in it if they are in it.  Gives us a 4.5 gen asset with the risk (financial and technical) balanced out.  

    A super typhoon would cost more than an F-35 with a fraction of the capes. Might as well stick with F-15 or F-16’s.

    A block 70 F-16 would crush a EF2K in present form. EF2K has awesome power and maneuver but it’d be dead far before it can use them because it’s innards are 20 years outdated.

    I laugh when I think of the euros talk of a 6th Gen fighter. In reality it’ll barely be 5th Gen.

    The EF2K was what Europe designed while the US made the F-22. They are decades behind.

    The Gripen is another example. I was in Hungary when C-models were there. The Hungarians I talked to were shocked looking in the cockpits at the steam gauges compared to their glass cockpits...they were equally as shocked as to how outperformed they were and I’m sure our 15’s weren’t playing full up.

    Europe should buy vipers. Anything more is a waste for their needs.

    As for a coalition to kick down the door...we’d be doing that. Maybe a little help from the Brits, some support from France, 2-ships from our N Europe allies, then when things are safe, everyone else will show up so they can take some credit.





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    • Upvote 1

    F-15X on the Air Force's Budget Request

    in General Discussion

    Posted


    Concur
    As to the EF, it’s had a decent production run - why is it that pricey to own / operate?


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    It’s a European jobs program. Very disorganized, built to provide jobs, not capes. Brit version is ok, the older tranches have big issues.

    If it were 1995, it’d be a great A/A asset. In 2021, at +100m per jet with a mech scan radar, low A/G capes, well, it’s just not competitive.

    The only thing keeping it alive is export sales (Kuwait, Qatar, etc).

    Hell of a kinetic performer though. 25 years too late.


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    F-15X on the Air Force's Budget Request

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Not being cheeky but define completely unsuitable.  If by that you mean it can't go deep into the WEZ of high end threats to deliver weapons therefore no good at all for the high end fight I would respectfully disagree as there are defensive roles and offense supporting roles that a 4+ gen could fulfill to deliver the total airpower effects we want.  As to low end as in a permissive air environment ala Afghanistan, no argument, light attack/overwatch/RPA is needed there.
    4+ gen likely now is valuable to the team if it can self-escort / defend all while accomplishing some of the attack mission set.  Not a first string player but a good second string member that rounds out the bench.

    Yes, 4+ Gen, even 4th legacy paired with 5th Gen has potential. I’m a Critic of jets like the EF2K that provide 4th Gen capes at 5th Gen prices.


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    F-15X on the Air Force's Budget Request

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Yeah but I think they are looking for capes that you likely need new iron to deliver.  
    The article referenced the desire for an OMS and specifically that the venerable Viper unfortunately doesn't have that, I suspect there are other desired capes it or other current 4th gens don't have or would be prohibitively expensive to upgrade to in a 25+ year old jet.
    New iron can make the dollars and cents work considering the steeper & steeper climb in total ownership cost of old iron as corrosion/fatigue set in, parts become scarce, vendors stop supporting/go out of business, etc... 

    What mission are you looking to do? I’ll probably be able to argue why a block 30 viper could do it fine -or- why you need a 5th Gen fighter instead.

    Lots of 4th Gen + airframes like the Eurofighter which are still rolling off the line yet completely unsuitable for either the low end or high end mission.


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    F-15X on the Air Force's Budget Request

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    We can fight the low end fight today. The F-15X is a jobs program to keep Boeing defense afloat so they can/will compete with designs later.

    If I were buying 4+ jets, it’d be more f-16s that can do multi role the cheapest.

    As for what we have now:

    An experienced F-16 guy told me they should just make most F-16s A/G only and stop supporting their old radars as they have no role in modern A/A. However with modern A/G weapons, old block 30s perform A/G terrific.




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    • Upvote 2

    Staying Beyond 20/Taking IDE

    in General Discussion

    Posted


    Thanks I really appreciate your words. It means a ton.

    And that goes to all the advise on remarks given. I have read every post and even sent some messages to continue a couple conversations. My personal and professional goals with the military are pulling me one way while the enticing lifestyle and money of the airlines are pulling me the other. I never went and got my ATP before the rule change because I never wanted to fly for the airlines. Now here I am, letting the airline jobs have an impact on my decisions.

    Yeah man, I’m in the same boat. Never wanted to fly for airlines but as I see my USAF career winding down, the ease of cash for work involved is enticing.

    I’m staying in past 20 just because I’m having fun. No strings attached, the USAF can’t deploy me, can’t PCS me without my vote.

    So as an O-5, no bonus, it’s gotta be worth ~$150k to make me stay. And it is. I fly a few times a week, have a real officer job that wasn’t my choice but I put 5hrs a week into it maybe?

    Goals, wants, desires greatly differently. You probably know what you already will do, as long as you are informed.

    My take on being a commander...where and for who matters greatly as well as the mission. Sone places you can really make a difference. Other places you can’t. So factor that in. Will you be leading a squadron with a goal, or just an interim manager and what did that cost?




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    The WOKE Thread (Merged from WTF?)

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    So...you're OK with the idea that saying things to police, unarmed, is met with enough force to put you in the hospital? 
    Because I'm not ok with that.  "Known agitator"? Maybe after the thin blue line folks did what they always do and dig up all the dirt on the victim that they can.  I'd bet my next paycheck the cops who assaulted an elderly man on video had no idea who he was.


    That old guy probably figured using his age as and excuse he could disobey orders, start touching the police (you libtards would be screaming assault if tables were turned).

    Police didn’t use excessive force...he couldn’t handle a small shove and it’s plausible he over acted and self-injured himself in the process.

    Stay at home old man!! Didn’t his leftist friends tell him if the police weren’t going to get him, the virus would.

    Root cause....stupidity.




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    • Like 2
    • Upvote 1

    Rural Living, Self Sustainment, No Urban Weirdos, and such...

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    What are your family demographics and how “rural” do you call rural?

    I live in the suburbs in a planned community but I also have a rural farm I spend time at. My kids have parks, neighbor kids their age and a pool to access and top notch schools.

    I grew up on a farm, 7 miles from a small town which was 30 miles from a medium city. Loved it but it has changed in the 20+ years.

    There are pluses and minuses in regards to schools, social outlets and activities.

    I take my kids from the city to the farm as much as I can to let them experience the freedoms of rural living and I may move there full time eventually.

    Not yet though.



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