NoFlyZone

I don’t think that’s what Clark is advocating for - look at ADAIR T-38s for example. Why not take experienced guys at the end of their careers who might hang up the cleats if they don’t have a good opportunity and instead let them train the next gen of true combat pilots. Give them a combat capability of their own (however rudimentary that is) and boom there’s the (soon to be mass produced) T(F)-7. Totally personal opinion and I’m truly not sure how a loyal wingman program would work (or how far it is from operational capability) but it doesn’t seem to be that crazy of a pipe dream considering that the F-7 has already been pitched to the AF.

@raimius Yup that’s exactly what I mean, and I completely agree with you it’s not a real fix but unfortunately it will be the standard moving forward. It really isn’t too late to go back though, because all I hear is that the resulting pilots are bad and that it was better before. If the speed of the FTU isn’t going to increase anyway, why not replace the T-1 and go back to the way things were? Or like @Clark Griswold suggests, get something that the AF can actually use (light transport style) to work with in the meantime that kills 2 birds with 1 stone?

@Polar Bear as far as I’m aware it’s just that the FTUs aren’t ready for the influx of pilots. They fixed the UPT problem but seemed to forget that the FTUs need to be just as fast for it to mean anything effectively.

Broad answer most heavies outside of AFSOC from the stuff I’ve been hearing but no way to tell if they are working on it or content with the fact that AETC is “technically” reaching the desired numbers of winged UPT grads. and @Boomer6 yeah I wish I considered it more because they funnel guard/reserve through as quickly as they have in the past. That’s another conversation that I’m sure has been discussed on this forum with whether or not they should fast track guard people when active duty is so backed up but I don’t need to open that can of worms here

They are no doubt pushing people through faster (quality as has been discussed is a fair debate), but what’s even worse is UPT grads going to heavies are waiting 8+ months to go to the FTU. What kind of detriment will we see when less experienced pilots are waiting a year before they fly again? The result is bad right now and people aren’t even waiting as long as they will in the future. Is there really a shortage of qualified pilots because it really doesn’t seem like there is. It’s making it really hard to want to do the program knowing that boredom and inadequacy will be my future due to a lack of a real plan, and that the earlier years of my career won’t be properly utilized either.

I guess its kinda already been brought up but will studs be formally competing during IPT? If so how will the AF be able to quality control the grading? Seems like regardless the UPT T-6 syllabus will become even more important to assess studs even though its being condensed...

Yeah I figured what you guys are saying is what would happen. Really sucks for anyone dropping heavies from 38s but obviously its not the first time and it definitely won't be the last. Funny to me that they say they need everybody going into 38s to go to a fighter but then they pull this BS... typical

Just talked to a buddy who is casual at Laughlin who told me that any T38 grad going to a fighter will do a year in a heavy before going to the b course in an effort to reduce the FTU backup. Thoughts?

Thread revival! Saw this article and figured that if this concept is still being talked about by the CSAF there may be something to it… let me know what you think https://theaviationist.com/2024/08/19/light-fighter-concept-ngad/

Does anybody here know what the OA-1s role would look like in a future near-peer conflict? I can’t imagine it will have a super big one in that case

Thats fair. I'm not really pressed about it, I was just wondering if you guys had any thoughts since it seems a little weird for it to happen two drops in a row.

I'm seeing buffs dropping from T-1s in the last few drops. Do you think this is a new normal or just special circumstances/a weird coincidence?

They post a lot of drops on YouTube that do not get written in here. I've seen a lot of ENJJPT and Columbus on there but you can see some Vance and Laughlin as well.

KSPS 23-05: Saw the drop-night video on youtube so I thought I'd relay the final list here. US: F-35 Luke x3 B-52 Barksdale F-16 TBD x5 T-6 FAIP Sheppard (No follow on mentioned) T-38 FAIP Sheppard (No follow on mentioned) International: Eurofighter TBD x2 CF-18 TBD x2 F-18M Madrid x2 F-18M Zaragoza x2 C-130 Eindhoven

Great info guys, thanks!

Good point

Great info, thanks!

Thank you gentleman! I'm currently a USAFA cadet, and have been hearing mixed things from opposite ends of the spectrum (gold bars here on casual and Lt Col's teaching me in my courses). I didn't think it made sense for people to cross-train on different airframes for little to no reason (and I personally would not want to if I'm lucky enough to pull a pilot slot out of here). As far as my lack of finding other threads answering the same question - that's on me and my poor researching skills. Thanks again!

Thank you! Don’t know why I couldn’t find this

Hey everyone. I’ve looked everywhere online and done multiple searches on this forum to find the answer to this question but haven’t been able to find anything concrete. Do pilots commonly switch aircraft within their types (cargo, tankers, afsoc aircraft, fighters) or do they stay on the same airframe for their entire career? For example, do C17 pilots commonly switch to the C5 or C130 in their career or do they stay with the C17? Thanks in advance!