arg
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Posts posted by arg
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In the great big book of bad decisions, sending gunships to Cannon will be early in chapter 1.
Somewhere close to the Japanese decision to bomb Pearl Harbor and Napoleon’s decision to invade Russia just before winter
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You are correct. The accident at Indian Springs was 6 years before I got to Dyess, but the impact was still felt. Dyess did not do SOLL/II, but started a SOLL/I program. I'm not sure how viable SOLL/I was.
Pope was the place to be if one wanted to fly the actual slick 130 mission. Pope was the lead wing for Grenada, Panama, and the first stateside slick 130 unit to deploy for the Gulf War. Pope also participated in major international exercises, like Bright Star (in Egypt). Dyess basically backfilled Pope. I did a lot of TDY to Pope to support the 82nd and JFKSWC. I also did a lot of airdrops at Ft Benning. My personal experience with special ops was to provide them a platform for training. I flew a lot of support training missions for them at Pope (HALO, Mackall AAF, etc.) and in AZ (SEAL teams practicing HALO/HAHO). Unfortunately, Dyess did not have a good reputation while I was there. There was much grumbling among the senior captains that MX ran the wing. I do remember how much emphasis was placed on the on-time take-off. Unfortunately, the poor legacy (through a bad Wing/CC) of Dyess still impacts the AF.
I want to finish by writing that though I did not think highly of the 463 TAW, I knew many hard working and well meaning individuals. They too were mostly frustrated.
No doubt the Pope guys had their shit together but I think the close proximity to Bragg didn’t hurt them being selected for a lot of missions.
Your comment on the “tail wagging the dog”. When I first got to Hurbie, which belonged to the Tactical Air Command, in 79 there was abso######inglutely no question on who ran the 1st SOW. The tail didn’t start wagging the dog here until the late 80s early 90s. MAC got a hold of us in 83, we (Ops) fought it as long as we could. We were asked one time if we could take off, do a closed pattern, then land and they would fix the plane, just so they could get an on-time take off.
It should be noted that "shoeclerk" (or "shoe") is simply a term for a rules queep nazi that has a grasp on regulations, but not on the mission; he/she is interested in doing things the way the manual says, damned the outcome, at the expense of doing things in a way that works, that's productive, and does not degrade morale.A shoeclerk, IMNSHO, is not just someone from the support or maintenance group. They can be a flyer, a commander, a pipsqueak Amn at Finance, or even a General.
Don't be a shoe...
for that FABULOUS RUMINT......got anything on my boss ;-)
That is but one sub-species. I’ve got the “Shoe clerk Stiff-arm”, you know, the “you/we can’t do that” from guys where I knew their job better than they did. One of the last examples of that I remember was just before I retired, a MSgt bringing me some 781s that he said I filled out wrong. I damn near quoted the Reg to him on how to fill out the suspect area and he still said I was wrong and that he wouldn’t input them until I changed them. Went to the Sq pubs file, pulled out the book and read it to him. “That’s not what it means”. Had to take him to the SqDO to get it done.
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So, based on this thread, the same question would have three different answers. No wonder check rides are so fun.
I can't wait for reflective shoulder harnesses.Remember, you said it first.
2It is virtually impossible for the FE to complete his required checklist items and run aircraft systems while wearing their shoulder harness.
Bomber
Can't agree with that if your talking normal checklists and duties.
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A little clarification from a New Mexican.
Disclaimer: Yes, I am the guy who just chose to go to the FCO program because #1 I love the gunships and love the idea of actually feeling like I contribute to this war we are in, and #2 I love New Mexico. (Clovis...Eh...Whatever, it's a 2 hour flight in my Cessna to Albuquerque and 3 hours to great skiing in Taos.
Here is a quick lesson in New Mexico demographics: Any where north of Albuquerque and I-40 = mostly tree hugging hippies. Anywhere south of Albuquerque = Mostly hard working, flag waiving ranch types. Albuquerque itself: 50/50.
What those guys were seeing in Tucumcari was concerned people wanting to make sure that the plane was safe. It's a new mission to the locals out here, and it's going to take them a while to get used to it. The folks in Florida are used to the sound of 130's driving in circles overhead unleashing God's wrath on the Eglin range... And it won't take to long for the people here to figure out what it is, either. Don't worry about it, with time, folks will come around and figure out what is going on, and all will be well.
I am going to refrain from saying any more about the mission, or how New Mexico and the high altitude is effecting the planes because I don't know jack SQUAT about it yet. Hopefully this trip to HRT at the end of July will teach me a little more. However, I do know the people of New Mexico, and I'll stand behind them...It's like anywhere else...Some are a-holes, and they tend to be the ones to make the noise, but the majority are the kind of folks you want in your corner and the kind of folks who make America the great, diverse country it is today.
On a side note, anyone still have a house at Herbie who needs me and my dog to house sit it for a couple months while I'm in academics at KHRT? I'll pay $$$$ not to have to stay in a hotel room! Send me a PM.
Disclaimer #2: Sitting at 7000 feet MSL east of Albuquerque on vacation from Oklahoma and I forgot how quickly the margaritas work at this altitude. I'm sure you guys will let me know if I was out of line here...
Edit: Geography.
First of all, good on you for volunteering for the gunship job. You WILL contribute to the war. Maybe more than you want.
My experience with demographics in NM checks with yours.
You mention getting in your Cessna to go places. Is that so you can go have some fun?
Not that I think fun can’t be had at Cannon/Clovis. My family likes outdoor type stuff, camping, wheeling, fishing, etc. We don’t need a mall, I’d rather have a good feed/hardware store.
When you get to the 16th and learn how they were selected to go to Cannon you might understand why some of the bitching is going on. Not sticking up for the bitchers because they signed up and have to go where they’re ordered but the selection process was skewed.
You will learn all about the performance when you get here for school.
And make no mistake; this school is for you to learn how to kill people.
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Another Dyess story, is that the 463 TAW was supposed to be the lead C-130 wing for Just Cause (Panama). The wing just had a squadron return from a Mildenhall rotation and told HQ MAC they couldn't turn the planes in time to support the operation. I'm amazed the Wing/CC and Wing/DCM (maintenance CC) kept their jobs. Once again, the priority wasn't the mission.
My understanding from way back “in the day” was that after the incident at Indian Springs in ’81 Dyess wasn’t invited to play in Special ops anymore. Which would include any opertation up to Just Cause and maybe beyond.
Pope, who had an outstanding SOLL/II program, did those missions.
CMIIW.
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I'm wondering what kind of holster people use for concealed carry while wearing a flight suit. The squadron issued me a cheap nylon shoulder holster but it's not comfortable in any way. I noticed a lot of guys have bought their own shoulder holsters to wear under the bag. I've looked at the Galco Jackass system, which I like because its modular, so I can get different holster components for my personal pistols and swap them out.
So what do you guys use? What features should I look for?
This is how I rolled during Desert Storm.
It was issued, had a four clip holder on the other side. I wore it outside my flight suit but under my survival vest when flying. I liked it, didn’t get in the way at all. It could go under the flight suit though, if your zoom-bag was big enough to hide it.
http://www.eagleindustries.com/product.php...t=46&page=1
Your mileage may vary.
Good luck
Edit; If you have arms it will stay on a lot better
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More of Gunships stirring up the Southwest.
http://www.cnjonline.com/news/prop-34114-h...ncommentsPage=3
16th CC says get used to it.
http://www.cnjonline.com/news/become-34127...-exercises.html
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There are guys here who are getting "W-qual-ed" from our unit. Don't expect this to be a quick process, though, regardless of what timeline is proposed.
Rant time: One of these days "they" will live up to the promises about how awesome the training here will be and less restrictive. The fact that the only two ranges for gunships have to be deconflicted with a miriad of other players, essentially making them LESS available than the ranges on Eglin is, in this man's opinion, a FAIL.
Sleepy time.
They sold us a dead mule on the range thing. Gen. Wooly said we would own the range, ha.
The Wombats could get the best of both worlds. Doing fun shit with the Herk and blowing stuff up, which is fun too. Who, on this board, didn't like to blow stuff up up when they were a kid?
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Wonder why "they" want more gunships, instead of more fighters.
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I saw a 2 ship coming in around 1600ish...
And now we get to hear about a/c performance at cvs, welcome to our lives for the past year and change.
cheers
Welcome to our lives for the past 35 yrs.
Your comparing this
to this?
You need to take a ride in the ol'e whistlin shithouse when the weather warms up.
Af Missile Crew Sleeps On The Job
in General Discussion
Posted
OT
Down to the knot of what the computer, that tells on you, thinks your flying.
The pitot system isn't any better than the H-2s and up.
Also the flap gage can be as much as 7% off depending on position.
My Gay model knowledge is limited but I think I'm pretty close.