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flyguy2181

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Posts posted by flyguy2181

    Drone Pilots: We Don’t Get No Respect

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Looking for info; headed to Holloman to train in the MQ-1 (Sept - Jan).  

    - Any good things to do while I'm there?  Is the airport still open?  Can I take glider lessons while I'm there?

    -  I imagine lots of free time to travel/explore.  Any must see towns, national parks, hiking trails, etc?

    -  Anything feedback for the training course?  base?  lodging?

     

     

     

    RPA School at Holloman

    in Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA/RPV/UAS/UAV)

    Posted · Edited by flyguy2181

    Thread revival.

    Headed to Holloman for MQ-1 training. Any update to the training/school/timeline would be greatly appreciated.

    Is the course really that long? Can we expect to graduate early or late?

    Is the glider club still operational and offering training during the winter?

    What's the lodging situation like? Any good off-base options?

    Anything else?

    C-17 Globemaster Q&A

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    So how does that work for those that left the C-17 as an MP for UPT after only 1 ops assignment? If AC requal spots aren't available that VML cycle what happens? Another white jet tour? Forced crossflow? Auto-Pred/GHawk? I can name at least 12 people in this position in my year group alone.

    I was in the same situation when I left the C-17 (as a MP). The functional would not have put me into another "must-fill" billet (UAVs, white jet, etc). So that would leave staff jobs, other flying gigs, etc. I know one former C-17 AC that went to staff and one went to C-12. The needs of the AF trump all but that was what he tried to do.

    AFPC ends Rip-its at downrange locations

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    To me this is a generational issue. Nobody over the age of 35 ever drinks these energy drinks. But everything he says about energy drinks can be said about coffee. People use coffee to compensate for not sleeping well, poor work/sleep cycle, drinking too much coffee keeps you up at night, it dehydrates you, causes ulcers, etc. But nobody would ever think of taking a general's coffee away from him/her. Since its only the younger folks that drink rip-its, then its not that big of a deal.

    • Upvote 2

    C-17 Globemaster Q&A

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I saw a discussion in the VML thread about getting back into the C-17 community after a white jet/UAV/etc tour. I wanted to answer but I figured this was a better post for it.

    I just recently returned to the C-17 community after a white jet tour. The summer VML is difficult to return to the C-17 because all the school graduates headed to DO/CC slots fill the summer slots. I was told by the functional to try to be reclaima and try for the fall VML. Also, what requal slot you are trying for greatly affects your chances. I was trying for a ACRQ slot and there are only like 12 a year. It seemed like IPRQ were easier to get. Like everything in the AF, luck and timing have everything to do with it.

    FY 14 Force Management Program (RIF, VSP, TERA)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    HOT****Just got off the phone with total force service again. Finally got some helpful info. She said that if you are eligible for the RIF than 13-130 is the ONLY PSDM that applies to you. 14-08 is only for those not eligible. 13-130 has no such statement about referencing 13-65 for ADSC waivers. It's back on! Now how do I find good health insurance under obamacare? Wife is pregnant and due after separation.

    So 2004 11M cannot apply since this year group is not eligible for the RIF?

    Information on PIT (Pilot Instructor Training)

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by flyboy2181

    The pilots that are stationed with the AF that fly the navs around at P-cola do in fact go to PIT. The pilots stationed with the navy go through what they call the Fixed-Wing Instructor Training Unit (FITU), which is about 3 months of training stretched into 6 months at Whiting.

    Anyway, the reason I asked is because we just got word at Whiting that the AF will no longer train students at Whiting. The last AF student has already started the program. There are a bunch of casual students here that will PCS out to Columbus, Laughlin and Vance. Us instructors aren't so sure whats going to happen with staying our PCSing. One thing that was brought up was to transfer over to Pensacola and fly the A model. I was just wondering if I'd have to go through 4 months of PIT just to transfer over to the steam gauges.

    The AF IPs at Pcola that transitioned from the Navy to the AF did not have to go through PIT. They did have to take some type of spin-up/checkride so they have an AF Form 8 on file.

    • Upvote 1

    Information on PIT (Pilot Instructor Training)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Anyone know if the guys that fly the navs around in the T-6 and T-1s at pensacola go through the same sylibus as the guys going to UPT bases?

    As of right now, the T-6 guys are doing the same syllabus. There is talk of changing things but right now it is just talk.

    I'm pretty sure the T-1 pilots (almost all are contract pilots) also go through the same T-1 PIT syllabus.

    PME and Career advice

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Best thread to ask this question, I guess.

    I'm looking at the timeline regarding first,second and third looks for school. When is it the best time to move after my PRF is written to ensure I can compete at all three looks?

    Do I need two years on station before my first look? Or do I need one year on-station before my first look... giving me two years on-station when I PCS'd.

    Leadership at the 'Deid

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by flyboy2181

    I hate sticking up for Al-Deid but I don't think the latrine email or the combat shower email is about this place. The combat shower email talks about Iraq and the latrine email uses terms that only Army guys would use "section leader". Furthermore, I am out here and I haven't seen any email like that and I use whatever bathroom I need to use. Maybe I'm just late getting the word but some people tend to take everything they read on the internet as fact and I didn't want those type of people to get all spun up.

    To add to the latest 'Deid news....

    - Still no tobacco.... they tried to get an off-base vendor to set up a tobacco shop on base: Think hookah pipes, flavored tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, etc but that plan fell through.

    - Rumors of an impending pork shortage. The host nation has a tight control over the importation or pork products and they want us to use their state-owned vendor. We'll see if it gets work out before they cut off our pork.

    - No more one ear-bud policy. As of 1 Mar, you cannot wear earphones while running on the road (ear buds are allowed on the sidewalk). In addition, they are building a running trail on the CC side. Currently, its a little better than a dirt trail but they are trying to get some money to pave it, etc. The idea is to get people off of the roads and onto the trail or into the gym.

    - Policy hasn't changed yet on the married folks crossing the threshold.

    Edit:spelling

    Lack of Flight Discipline

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    WTF are you talking about? How many degrees nose high is "too high" on an unrestricted climb? 91?

    All different types of aircraft get cleared unrestricted climb on tactical departures. From the FAA handbook, "To the maximum extent possible, Air Force One will be cleared unrestricted climb to......" So yeah, I'd say 91 degrees would be too much for AF1.

    And this is besides the point he was trying to make.

    Leadership at the 'Deid

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Email sent out today states that the host nation did not sign the tobacco waiver (didn't know we had one or required one...maybe to allow us to sell it on base). Leadership does not know when or if they will sign it. If you have every gone through customs here, you know they do things at their own pace.

    The real reason we are in Afghanistan

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by flyboy2181

    Why couldn't we invade Iran? Curious...It's not like their military is any better than Iraqs. Only reason I can think of is public opinion/support...

    Well...I'm sure we can invade any country.

    Reasons for attack Iraq versus Iran...10 yrs of no-fly zones (meaning we were actually flying over that country before we invaded it), 10 yrs of an embargo, Iraq is a smaller country, military & intelligence was actively engaged in Iraq for those ten years, Kurdish allies in the North. We could have invaded either country but the plans were in place already for an Iraq invasion.

    I'm not saying it is the reason. All I said was that I have heard theories saying we invaded one country to get to its neighbor.

    • Upvote 1

    VSP 2012 News?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I thought I read where the Air Force would do no more VSP programs. Instead, they reserve the right to do more RIFs/SERBs if required.

    Basically, they won't ask for volunteers anymore, they are going to pick who they want to leave the force. This came about after the latest VSP fiasco.

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