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skinny

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Posts posted by skinny

    Do you love your job/airframe? If so, why?

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by skinny

    Not sure what the NetJet type gigs are like these days. Last time I talked to a friend that flies Challengers, it wasn't all that great either.

    My old man is flying Dassault Falcon 2000s for Net Jets right now. They recently laid off 500 pilots, luckily Pops had enough seniority to stick around, but it's bad everywhere right now.

    Navigator and Weapon System Officer (WSO) info

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I am absolutely aware that not everyone is going to drop a dark grey, that's a big reason why I initially asked the AFSOC question. I'm not going to be the guy that shows up thinking I've got a 15E in the bag and then cry when I drop an RJ. Rather, I want to be the guy that busts his ass trying for the 15E, but is happy with his second choice, whatever it may be when the beagle doesn't work out.

    Thank you again to everyone for the information. A huge help in my decision making. Cheers...

    Do you love your job/airframe? If so, why?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    135 Boom Operator - :rock:

    I honestly don't have anything bad to say about the job. Cargo is the worst part but overall a very fun, challenging, and rewarding job. Especially my stint at Edwards!!

    AOC Staph (intended) - :banghead:

    I work 4 stories underground. During the winter, it's dark when I go to work and it's dark when I go home. Every day I feel like a cast member in the movie Office Space. I could go on and on about why I don't like this job but my time here is way to short to waste it on bitching and moaning.

    Is everything a "Weapons System?"

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    Part of my Human Weapons System is in need of service. Pre-flight and post-flight inspections as well.

    But only by a female crew chief. And she has to be hot...

    Chuck

    Did you fly your weapons system through some "bad weather". Moderate to severe turbulence? How many drips per minute?

    Navigator and Weapon System Officer (WSO) info

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Dupe, that was perfect, thanks! I agree that the lack of basing options is a con but I also like the idea of being in one place for a decent amount of time. Is camping out at Mt. Home possible?

    Can someone give me the same rundown on the AFSOC side of the house? I know there are a lot of different airframes that make up AFSOC but just some general pros and cons of the mission and lifestyle would be much appreciated!

    @thesituation - sounds like you've been sitting on your thumb and will continue to do so for a few months. When things start to pick up down there, be sure to post up with your experiences (good and bad) at the new school house in P-Cola. Mahalo!

    Cheers...

    Boom Operator Q&A

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Like Stunna said, everyone goes to Altus by the Sea for BBOC, from there, some will go to Travis or McGuire for KC-10 IQT and the rest will stay at Altus for 135 IQT. Until that bit of information is known, you probably won't get a follow-on anytime before Altus. Good luck. Cheers...

    Leadership at the 'Deid

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Honestly, I don't know what evidence is out there but apparently a New Zealand study isn't enough for you.

    Sir, the problem with using that study is that it has absolutely nothing to do with reflective belts being worn by pedestrians. As an avid motorcycle enthusiast, I 100% agree with the study. As a member of the AF trying to relate that study to RB's, I find it 100% not applicable.

    The visibility issues for a motocycle traveling along a public road at 55+ mph is quite different than those of someone walking at a brisk 2.5 mph in an area where there is zero traffic i.e. the Bra, DEL, chow hall, cadillacs etc.

    So no Sir, that study isn't enough for us.

    Navigator to pilot

    in Pilot Selection Process

    Posted · Edited by skinny

    1. How old are you?

    Regardless of what your experience is, there will always be the age cut-off of 30 years old for UPT. While it is waiverable, I believe it's a 4-Star/MAJCOM level waiver. Worst they can say is no. After a couple of years of seasoning as a CSO, there will be opportunities to apply for UPT however, I will let other who are more in the know than I to explain that process.

    2. Did you apply pilot only?

    If not, when you turn down CSO, please apologize to those that applied for a CSO slot and did not get it. If you did apply pilot only, there were some mutterings after the 09-03 rated board of recruiters adding the CSO as a number two choice without the applicants knowing.

    3. Sounds like you're not really joining the AF to be an officer but to be a pilot....which by the sound of it, you already are. Maybe it's best for you to have a little "coming to Jesus" moment and think about what you want to do; be an officer in the AF and a CSO, or a civilian pilot. Whatever you choose good luck, but I personally wouldn't throw away a great opportunity to serve your country. I was picked up in the 09-03 board after two attempts and got my second choice CSO. Sure I still wish I would have gotten UPT, but with selection rates what they are right now, I feel privileged to have even been picked up. Your civilian ratings aren't going to dissapear after six years, you can always go back to the civilian life after six years if you so desire. And trust me, six years in the grand scheme of things is not that long.

    Edit: Grammar

    Is everything a "Weapons System?"

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    I think it's always been named that, but with the updated site, it's more noticeable. I agree though, I'm typing this post on a weapons system. I just hope I'm current. Call it whatever you want, Falconer, NIPR. To me it's just a Dell and the Portal is just another website.

    Is it just me or is it strange that a few days after they pulled the funding for AF Crossroads and GI Mail, AF Portal gets an update?

    WTF? (**NSFW**)

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted · Edited by skinny

    Tiger Woods takes up firefighting and lumber uh.... jacking. I fail to see how alcohol was NOT related to this. Not only was it the wee hours of the morning but AFTER he backed over the fire hydrant, he drives straight into a tree! I smell a cover up!

    LINK

    T-38 down near Edwards

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I thought it was interesting in this article that they singled out Dash's accident.

    Linky

    More to come?

    Lax maintenance that caused a fatal plane crash could bring another round of firings.

    Last spring, not far from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., a T-38 Talon jet flying almost at the speed of sound lunged out of control at 20,000 feet. The pilot and the navigator were students at the Air Force Test Pilot School.

    Pilot Maj. Mark Graziano lost consciousness when his helmet smashed into the closed cockpit canopy and went down with the plane. He died. Navigator Maj. Lee Jones managed to eject but suffered serious injuries.

    An accident investigation board concluded the jet probably became uncontrollable when a bolt that helps control the tail rudder fell out. Inspections should have spotted the loose bolt, the board’s report said, but investigators couldn’t determine who last inspected the rudder control system because maintenance records were incomplete.

    The board faulted “the mid-level leadership and supervisors” of the 412th Maintenance Group but did not specify how many officials it was referring to or whether those in charge were officers, enlisted airmen or civilians.

    The managers, the report went on, “conveyed a disturbing lack of understanding of, or concern for, proper training procedures.”

    Any disciplinary action would be meted out by the commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center, which oversees the test pilot school. Center officials have had the report since it was released last month but don’t have a timeline for when they will finish their review, center spokesman John Haire said.

    In 1995, the Air Force filed charges against two maintainers who had incorrectly installed the flight control rods on an F-15 Eagle that crashed after takeoff from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. The pilot, Maj. Donald Lowery, died in the accident.

    Tech Sgts. Thomas Mueller and William Campbell faced trial, accused of negligent homicide and dereliction of duty.

    Their supporters insisted the maintainers were caught up in the service’s post-Desert Storm drive for accountability and took the Air Force to task for not ensuring the easily made maintenance error was not repeated after similar near-tragedies in 1986 and 1991.

    Mueller shot himself to death Oct. 3, 1996, the day of his court-martial. The suicide caused the Air Force to rethink its actions; the charges against Campbell were dropped and he left the service.

    Later, the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records concluded the noncommissioned officers had been unfairly singled out.

    “In all fairness, how can an enlisted mechanic out in the field be held solely and totally culpable for a problem the Air Force had been aware of for nearly 10 years and done little to rectify,” the board opinion declared.

    Boom Operator Q&A

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by skinny

    I personally didn't retrain into the career field an have never retrained period so I couldn't tell you anything about that process. I can tell you to expect about 3-4 weeks EAUC, I think SERE was about 2 weeks and then another 3 days for water survival. Altus can be anywhere between 6-9 months due to flying schedules, weather cancels, hooked check rides, etc. As for books to read...nothing out there really pertaining to A/R but you can always go here and read up on basic weight and balance as well as basic theory of flight.

    Not to sound weird or anything, but grow bigger bewbs so more of your chest fits in the "chair". No, they don't make different sizes. I have a friend that is well over 6 feet tall and about 250. I'm 5'8" 160 and we both refuel using the same equipment. Get comfy, you could be back there upwards of 3 hours.

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