raimius

AF decided to just make more LTs to replace the Majors leaving. Who needs experience when you can just make more copilot's/wingmen? /Sarcasm

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Well, it is a big fan to keep the pilot cool. If it stops, the pilot starts sweating immediately! Hueys aren't bad. The missions can get a bit boring--they tend to be "national insurance policy" types. Low probability of action, but too important to not have a plan in place. That said, we do get some cool oddball stuff and the occasional civil SAR...and drive the helo equivalent of a sixty-four and a half mustang--not fancy, but a classic that makes you drive it.

The period of 300+ saves a deployment has passed for the HH-60 dudes, unless we kick off another 100k+ troop conflict. I can't give you tons of specific info, as I'm a Huey guy and usually get 2nd hand info on CSAR stuff. Hueys are fun, but have trouble really doing the mission set well... need a bigger helo for some of the stuff people want. The MH-139 (Huey replacement) contract was awarded and not protested, so that should be coming online in the next decade or so. Global Strike is really pushing more offensive capabilities than were traditionally done in the missile complexes. There is a lot of potential in that, but also some thrash in tactics and training. So, some crews are TDY quite often.

People who want to become pilots is a far smaller issue than pilots who want to stay in the AF. Mid level experience is the shortage. The AF is trying to outgrow the retention issue by making more pilots, but already maxed out mx, training bases, etc.

Removing $10K+ from investments incurs noticeable tax penalties. I don't normally have that kind of cash on hand (cash is good for emergencies, but loses buying power over time), and interest rates (assuming excellent credit) are low enough that paying cash is likely to incur a 3-10% opportunity cost in lost investment gains (per year!). This is not a case where I could not pay cash. It's a case where a ~3% loan is likely to work in my interest. If you invest moderately aggressively, your money compounds quickly. An officer with limited expenses should be able to save enough to buy a house with cash, if they want to, within a decade. Whether paying cash is in their best interest is something they need to examine...same with any other loan... ...AKA, invest your money rather than pay off your 0.5% cadet loan. You make more money that way.

With inflation and loan rates being potentially equal to each other, you aren't losing any buying power. You'll probably do better putting the money in the market and taking the loan at ~3%. (The market is admittedly a gamble, but taking the historical averages into account, it's not a bad bet.)

Exactly that reason.

That's quite surprising. I'd have figured they were both plotting a protest revenge.

Ha, the Lakota can't always lift 3 passengers from tight LZs. Whoever thought it would be good for FLAT IRON and some of the multi-pax missions elsewhere...I don't know how they got conned to badly... I don't know if the MH-139 is the best platform for the mission, but it is more capable than the N model (even though flying the classic is fun). ...now I'm just wondering what will happen with the inevitable protests.

Flying helicopters is freaking fun...when you get to do it. I'm seeing a few of the 1st assignment guys already planning an exit...kind of sad, but they are seeing the issues with the AF, and now the airlines are actually poaching helo dudes.

It used to be "make it to a runway or taxiway via ELP or eject.". T-6 students were told they would likely be booted from UPT if they made an off field landing. IMO, if you fly something, you should practice engine out procedures...and if you only have one...

...and we wonder why people don't trust the Air Force.

A lot of them aren't informed of that until too late, unfortunately.

This has screwed over several of our younger airmen, as their IQT got extended, resulting in large negative adjustments when filing their vouchers (so, they got almost nothing their next paycheck). I'm cool with it going away.

It's hit or miss. We have one awesome flight doc, and one that asked me if I was a pilot during my PHA...I guess my medical records, seeing a flight doc, and the pilot wings weren't enough of a clue...

I showed up on the MPF outbounds roster before my CC was notified. Sometimes I wonder if the system is really this screwed up, or if we just tell ourselves there is a system.

I have not seen a P320 Carry sized with safety, but I have seen the Compact version with one. It's usually labeled as "MA Compliant."

Exactly. How many ops units are having to run more grade books than the school house? I know mine does. The AF is transferring BASIC aircrew training to the ops units, and still lying to itself that the products are going to be the same. Eventually, this will get people killed. We are already seeing an increased normalization of high fatigue, all-inexperienced aircrews, and guidance to "maximize training" (often during operational sorties)...and the new aircrew with even fewer hours are just starting to arrive, and its going to get even worse. I used to have a fair number of flights where I could do proficiency and skill development with people. Now, I spend the vast majority of time on operational sorties or just trying to do enough to log the currency requirements (sometimes at the same time). We are going to get more inexperienced crews and more so-called "experienced" crews that have fewer and rustier skills (even if their beans look good).

AFPC can't meet their own suspense or make a system designed to give people more say in assignments actually do that? I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you! /sarcasm I guess I'll keep waiting.

The idea isn't to be Rambo. A carbine buys you more time and distance, which opens up opportunities for other people to help you out.

Our population tripled between 1860 and 1920, and again between 1920 and now. I'm not sure how you conclude that doubling it in the next few decades will overload the US. The upper Great Plains isn't exactly crowded...

Holy crap, they did it! Some Strike Eagle guys were trying to push this last year. I couldn't get ACC or AFCENT to buy into it. I'm glad someone finally did! The training, mx, and SERE TTPs were the sticking points then. (As well as the cost to buy non-inventory major parts). The seat kit dimensions were a big technical sticking point. The original plan was a GAU-5 with the barrel cut at the gas block and the upper and lower disassembled--not a great thing for someone who just ejected at night, IMO. The QD barrel really made it possible. That restores a little faith in the AF sometimes getting it right.