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di1630

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Posts posted by di1630

    Guard fighter squadrons being reduced!?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    My question is the problem with retiring the f-22. With the NGAD not being in the Guard like you said for probably another 15+ years, ( I know no one can answer what the replacement will be) is it really gonna make a favorable impact to replace f-22's with probably something like the f-35, EX, f-16 etc. "We can't afford to keep upgrading our most capable and feared aircraft so were gonna take a step back and switch em out for X-XX which may be the same gen fighter but it doesn't have the power of the raptor." it just doesn't sit right with me (Im assuming this is their next move; I have no idea. please elaborate if I'm wrong). I thought their whole idea was "we want to be more superior in the air." I feel like any aircraft replacing the f-22 when were waiting for the NGAD would be demeaning to the Air Force.

    Not to demean but have you ever been briefed on Raptor, F-15EX, F-35 capes to actually know the hierarchy and comparison of what jets are most capable and should be “feared” in missions sets?

    I find a lot of fanboys talk of the A-10 and F-22 among others and don’t know anything outside airshow hype.

    And I wouldn’t expect NGAD in the guard in the next 15+ years if ever.






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    VA disability that doesn’t affect FAA/ civilian flying

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Valid there are scammers, but I don’t believe that’s a large percentage. I know a ton of dudes, and have met many more, who have legit VA claims. It’s unfortunate dbags exist, but certainly don’t want random civilians thinking “it’s a scam” as the default when they meet a vet who has a VA rating. 

    I’m gonna go out on a limb and say 80% of USAF claims are natural aging related. Maybe more.

    Hard for me to believe that sitting behind a desk leaves so many shoe clerks disabled.


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    VA disability that doesn’t affect FAA/ civilian flying

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    [mention=5633]di1630[/mention] I look healthy - doesn’t mean my back, neck, hips, knees, etc. aren’t in constant pain and affect how I live my life every day. Appearance does not always tell the story, and probably doesn’t more often than not. That’s what you should tell your mortgage buddy. 

    I get that there are legit claims like the viper dudes with neck issues etc. But I have people openly talking about making BS claims for financial gain like its no big deal. Funny that some of the most fiscal conservative “welfare queen” critics will brag about getting 100%, a pension and still fly airlines.

    Not I how I think it was intended.

    I’ve been through the process. 20% for a titanium spinal bridge with and ejection seat waiver, lifetime pain management, actually giving up my sports and hobbies. That’s not close to what you can get for claiming allergies.

    I no kidding know a guy who did 8 yrs active duty as enlisted support. On a deployment he saw (or said he saw) dead marines being brought back to base and says it inflicted ptsd. He’s getting 100% and moved to TX to get full advantage.

    And that’s not too uncommon.

    I saw a mx officer openly solicit advice on FB last week on how to maximize her claim.

    Scammers and opportunists are taking it away from people who really need it.


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    USAF Finally found a way to get rid of the A-10

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    One of the first things I learned about the CAS mission was that CAS and a not there to win the Army’s war. The Army needs to do that and CAS is a tool to attack rear echelons, temporarily supplement the battle or quickly add reinforcements when outnumbered, arty can’t reach + a few more tenets. It is not a primary tool.

    Makes sense for the Army to have its own effects. I’d much rather have good HIMARS and arty linked to accurate targeting capes than an F-35 or A-10 for that matter.



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    USAF Finally found a way to get rid of the A-10

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Seriously, why would the USAF entertain the idea of spending $69B to develop a new A-10 when they could use a combo of Vipers, EXs, and F-35s to do the same thing? When the existing A-10 already 1). works and 2.) costs well under $2B/year to operate and upgrade.
    If the answer is “because the senators want the airplane builders to have steady income,” ok I’ll buy that.

    Zero chance the USAF invests a dime into new CAS capes. And with good reason. Bigger things to focus on.

    CAS was a popular buzzword after 9/11 and brass wanted a piece of the pie back then. Now it’s a min run effort.


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    USAF Finally found a way to get rid of the A-10

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Dude, I agree. CAS in a permissive environment is pretty easy - If you follow the 12 steps you will be successful and should be generally within a couple seconds of your TOT in the F-35. I routinely see FRS/FTU students inside of 5" by their second event and it's unheard of to get a release without a cleared hot with the only exception I've seen of having a GBU-32 simo with -2 calling in zone with no clearance. 
    Far from air to air where it takes a lot of experience to remain effective. 

    If you lower your standards and scenario threat expectations enough, you can make CAS super easy. Which I’ve witnessed as it went from MCO to COIN style focus over 2 decades.

    If you make A/A super challenging where you are outnumbered and are always out of missiles, well I’ve seen that too.

    Imagine how easy DCA would be if we did it like we did CAS to mirror the sandbox.

    “Hey we’ll fly as a 2 ship and if a bad jet crosses the line we’ll shoot it down. Threat today is a heavily laden SU-24 with a gun”

    This isn’t an argument to do more CAS. I solidly support deleting it from the USAF F-35 mission set to focus on high end A/A and SEAD.

    Let’s just not BS ourselves and say we care or are good at it.






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    USAF Finally found a way to get rid of the A-10

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    That might be accurate for the AF F-35 community but I don't think it would extend to the USMC F-35 community. 
    I would agree that there are certainly better platforms for CAS but the F-35 functions as well as an F-18 in that role. 

    I hope it meets the USMC needs for the sacrifice in capabilities the F-35 program made to get that variant.

    I stand by my assertion— I don’t want to be anywhere near a MCO CAS environment in the F-35. I’ll happily stand-off and enable the jets that have the weaponry and survivability to get up close.

    Manpads and AAA while I’m heads down in my 2005 era TFLIR lasing a Vietnam era gbu-12 from my $100m single engine stealth designed to to stand-off aircraft?!! No thanks.

    We can do better.









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    USAF Finally found a way to get rid of the A-10

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    [mention=5633]di1630[/mention] You’re majorly overacting. CAS is not a priority right now, and it damn well shouldn’t be. But will it spin back up when we get into OEF 69, yep. Will multiple platforms (including TACP/CCT) knock the rust off and be just fine, yep. It’s understandable to be emotionally attached to what our generation did for the majority of our combat careers, but remove the emotion and it’s easy to see why going the direction we are is the right move for now (not to say there’s not a shitload of ery along that path). 
    Also, the A-10 patch community disagrees with you; they’re pushing to do things that are relevant to the path we’re on. Though admittedly I can’t speak to what leadership roadblocks they may or may not be facing. I hope it’s none. 
     

    I disagree but I understand your perspective.

    I’m not emotionally attached, just old.

    I’ve flown CAS and seen it evolve for 20+ years and I just think the way we are doing it or proposing to do it is not a good use of F-35 resources.

    Also, very familiar with the A-10 proposals but I think it’s too late based on hearing some high ups speak.




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    USAF Finally found a way to get rid of the A-10

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    CAS in the USAF is effectively dead for a multitude of reasons.

    First off the USAF has castrated the A-10 community no doubt, basically keeping them separated from knowledge and interoperability that would keep them effective in a big war. So the USAF just sticks with the line “the A-10 isn’t survivable” and people buy it.

    The A-10 community hasn’t helped themselves. I’ve personally tried to get them to work into higher end scenarios and the interest is what practicing they’ve been doing for 20 yrs in Afghanistan.

    When they do try a higher threat scenario, (see above) they don’t have the knowledge as a community to integrate to the realistic threat.

    Now the F-35 CAS capability is different and in my opinion - horrid. As a airframe it currently lacks CAS friendly weapons, and it lacks many of the features you’d want in a CAS platform. But all that doesn’t matter because the community doesn’t care about CAS.

    And that’s fine, because it’s not the F-35 mission.

    The real tragedy is most leadership doesn’t understand any if this.

    F-35 leadership will ignorantly or falsely say they are capable of a mission they barely understand and inept top brass will buy it.

    Time to turn the mission back to the Army.


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    • Upvote 1

    Was flying for the Air Force worth it?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Lots of paths, some happy, some not so you’ll get mixed responses.

    I did 20+ yrs Active duty, enjoyed it enough to separate into reserves vs retire. I could have more money but feel I have plenty (just being disciplined, not smart, not lucky) a line # and I still get to fly fast, low/hi etc. so other than the USAF being a shitshow, it was well worth it.

    My social circle is now fairly hi end and the super wealthy people are more jealous of me than I am of them….money isn’t everything is what I learned.

    To me nothing can replace a day of flying fighters then drinking afternoon beers in the squadron bar like I’m 22 again.

    I do it again in a heartbeat.


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