di1630

This post got me thinking since I only flew my plane about 50 hours last year due to ops tempo so I punched up the numbers on my plane to include hanger, annual, insurance and mx, gas and oil. using my real numbers it cost me $128 an hour to operate. That's without an engine reserve. The local FBO rents an uninsured wet 172 that cruises 15 knots slower and carries 500lbs less for $120 an hour so I am happy with my ability to fly wherever/whenever I want. Those numbers are with an owner assist annual and me doing as much mx as the regs allow.

The problem with designs lie the F-22 and F-35 is that once designed, it is very expensive to update for new emerging capes. They can't find an affordable way to put Aim-9x or a helmet in the F-22. The F-35 will have optics sub par compared to legacy fighters carrying the newest targeting pods because its system was designed 10 yrs ago and you have to replace 6 camera systems to update. WTF do we need a STOVL version? Buy more raptors, make them A/A only. The F-35 program has proven a failure in terms of cost benefit. Buy block 60 F-16's and start designing a "suitable" A-10 replacement. In 10 years our deep strike option will consist of X-47 type UCAVs. Manned 5th Gen is great for airshows and recruitment but I doubt we send any piloted jet into a high threat area while we have drones on the shelf that can do the mission.

Maybe a while back when rentals were $50 an hour for a 172 but they are upwards of $110 plus at most places and you should still carry renters insurance to boot. If you want to buy, get some buddies to split costs. Also, go with a simple 4 cyl plane like a cherokee 180 or C-172 rather than a complex retractable. The money you would save in time will eat you in mx. Make friends with mechanics and do owner assist annuals to usually keep them (well) below $1K if the plane is in decent shape. Have a slush fund for parts and shop salvage yards and learn to do your own approved mx which is a lot and planes are simple. Lots of ways to keep it affordable.

Depends on the A/C type, location, how much you want to do yourself. You have to pay for insurance, hanger/tiedown then the mx to include a yearly annual. Say type and location and you may get some better help. Unforseen cost advice....if it flies, floats or fvcks........rent it.

Interesting Factoid: Did you guys know that USAF F-16's have only have 6 total air-to-air kills (ZERO in the gulf War)....all with missiles I think? I just thought that interesting after how much I've had to listen to the capes of the 9-G death machine. I guess that stat would make airshows their primary mission.

One more who doesn't get it. Rebellion in the Air Force

Wow, talk about goals in life.....to weigh 1 ton. My link

Not only "NOT MISSION READY" but still in early developmental testing. I spoke to a guy in the program and he said the jet is still doing unexpected stuff in flight. They are doing OT in conjunction with DT well before normal time because the program is so far behind. The Eglin jets can pretty much only fly instrument patterns. We need to rush this program though because we really need this jet...now. What a typical USAF Cluster foook.

Not a psychological assessment, just an assumption based on my experience, direct observation and history lessons from others that chicks with attitudes like yours (even if you say it is a joking one) tend to f-ck up every class, organization and squadron you get into. You might try to control your ego, but you will fail because statistically chicks have 69% less control of emotions than even flaming gay men do. Just wait until you don;t get what you want and you'll have to choose, do I keep my mouth shut, or do I cry/whine/make an ordeal to get my way. You'll choose the the latter like many have before you. Also, the future of the USAF is already ######ed so you'll just be an addition.

I've seen the chicks with attitudes like Masshole in both ROTC and UPT and in the CAF. Usually they have more ego than skill and when shit doesn't pan out they A. Complain about unfair treatment, sexual harassmant, etc. B. ###### someone in a position of leadership. C. Marry some hard-up former USAFA guy who is tracking to fighters and tug on the leaderships heartstrings not to break up their happy family so she can fly a fighter too. D. Get to their Sq, suck at flying, ###### other dudes, get divorced. Play chick card to get upgrades while discrediting the shithot female pilots. Just from people watching. Good luck Masshole. I already feel sorry for the USAF as a whole and anyone who has to deal with you at UPT. If you feel you can talk like this with ZERO cred, imagine you attitude when you think even more of yourself.

You are good, ARTs are exempt.....for now.

When did the 10 yr UPT commitments start and when (if) will we see the predicted exodus when dudes can start punching?

I'd still recommend the AF for dudes even with a 10 yr UPT commitment, but just treat it like a 10 yr flying job rather than a career. I'd just be honest with them that they should start thinking about ratings and making themselves marketable to airlines much earlier and to not give a flying-fook about SOS, ACSC or masters because that is only a need if you want o stay in which I would not tell any pilot to do at current ops tempo. Be out on your ass at 32 current in a jet marketable to an airline or be out on your ass at 42 struggling for seniority which is everything in the airline biz.

You can see the smoke from where his tires touched down. Looks like he landed oh........about 4k long on an 8k runway if you count the taxiways and crosscheck it with a look at google earth plus the airfield diagram. Hopefully all the stuff they did right before landing was legal because this is going to be the std airshow/flyby was he shining his ass>to a mishap witch hunt. Stby for extra regulations......one to a full stop via ILS straight-in when arriving at airshows.

The proposed policy wouldn't keep a lot of guys who love their jobs in let alone the guys who hate their jobs. I like what I'm doing but if at 12 yrs this was offered, I'd bail to the Guard/reserves and then build seniority at an airline while working towards a guard/reserve retirement. I/my family can take the deployments/BS with a 20yr pension at the end but without that incentive, no way.

I spoke to a Marine Hornet pilot the other day and he pretty much said that the Marines do NOT want the JSF. It was forced on them for the reasons of "joint" but they all want the super hornet. As for LO, he said that the marines will treat the JSF just like a Hornet and it will be beat to shit in no time with lots of stuff hanging external. his flat out quote was, "You expect a bunch of Marines to walk around with booties on and be concerned with the RAM coating"?

Its just a political shot across the bow. The JSF program is too joint and large to fail.

Latest bar rumor I heard is that they think they might fly by end of fiscal year. I hope the world can survive that long without them.

A fighter staff guy the pentagon told me that if the af had bought more -22s we'd go broke trying to sustain them. They are extremely worried about the f-35 as well because nobody predicted the 5th gen operating costs to be so high. Current cost per hour for an ops sq f-22.....70k, mostly due to the ram mx.

How about Gates stfu and he plus everyone else involved in the jsf going through 25 million a day go to jail for starters to cut cost. I have no appetite to hear leadership talk about pay cuts while they continue to buy the wrong sht for the wrong reasons. Also glad that gates is all for pay cuts while continuing to blow billions so the afghans can have paved roads.

The fighter pilot shortage numbers are like the carrot on the end of the stick to keep people thinking....well he'll one of these days the flying hours and open cockpits will return. Those shortages fighter pilots needed to fill desks and other positions. They are not jets sitting pilotless on the ramp waiting to go get wrung out.

I say good on the guy. He obviously was intentional, probably knew the risks, got caught, ops tested the system for the rest of us. I admire his spirit. Sounds like the type of guy I'd want on my side in war. Back before the USAF was run by a bunch of pansies who would rather write rules to get promoted than fly planes, guys did stuff like that all the time. I try to keep in mind that the great pilots of the old days would shake their heads in dismay at today's AF. For all the dudes rushing to judgement, you must be shocked at the thought of Chuck Yeager, Bob Hoover, Robin Olds, etc. who all would have been crushed in today's air force. Anyone hear what 2,3,4 got for punishment?

how often do fighter pilot traditions interfere with the rest of the gayness in the Air Force? I'd love to know the details behind the firing if anyone has it. I imagine the boss showed up at the sq and noticed there were not enough female or minority pilots on the books to get him opr fodder and went to take a piss and someone had a funny article over the urinal. Here's a guy I bet who loves fighter pilot traditions and way of doing things. bio at http://www.ng.mil/ngbgomo/library/bio/1148.htm

Dude, this isn't a fighter v heavy argument so not even worth battling that aspect. The guy talks of how fighter pilots are because that is what he is and it is written from that aspect. BL is that fighter pilot traditions and way of doing things is on the way out and for those who love the culture and what it stands for, it sucks. What once was a proud fraternity of pilots, is being shit on/destroyed by people who have never been a part of that sort of thing and who do not understand the impact. The BGEN is right on. If you've never been in a fighter sq, you might not see his point fully but I think all good dudes can see the broad point of it. Unless you are one of the homo's causing the problems that is.

Backstabbing and careerism is rampant in the USAF because success has very little to do with how you perform in your job. Instead, it is mostly about pulling a BS stratification that you get by being liked by your superiors and making yourself look good. Unfortunately, some peole can;t make themselves look good so they do the next best thing: make the other person look bad. This won;t go away anytime soon since the USAF has lost its focus and the same poor leaders who succeeded by kissing a$$ and backstabbing when they were climbing the ladder are now rewarding the same behavior. Fortunately there are a few good leaders out there...but they are grossly outnumbered.