Just to clarify...Clovis is just a future site for the 3 SOS...all other AD Predator units are staying at Creech. I think the Clovis thing is a few years away anyway. Then again, I am not to upset, I don't really want my daughter growing up in Vegas thinking this is normal life!

I thought all the preds at Creech are under the 3 SOS now?

I thought all the preds at Creech are under the 3 SOS now?

Nope. The 11, 15 & 17 RS and the 42 ATKS are all up at Creech under the new 432nd Wing.

I’m sure this could be it’s own thread and purely speculation on my part but could it be possible that AFSOC is looking at a counter insurgency aircraft capability in the future such as a Super Tucano and that could produce a need for more AFSOC pilots? We really NEED a dedicated COIN aircraft in the sandbox in my opinion. I would settle for a Cessna 182 or 206 with a side firing 240B (think very small AC130) to hammer insurgent IED/Mortar teams (among others). For those not familiar the 240B is the successor to the Viet Nam era M-60 machine gun. I realize a piston A/C would be lacking in many areas compared to a turbine engine but I would guess a piston would have a lot smaller heat signature and less vulnerable to MANPADS among other things. I think a dedicated COIN aircraft whether turbine or not would actually compliment UAVs and you guy’s who learned on the T-6 should have no trouble moving to a Tucano. Just a thought.

I’m sure this could be it’s own thread and purely speculation on my part but could it be possible that AFSOC is looking at a counter insurgency aircraft capability in the future such as a Super Tucano and that could produce a need for more AFSOC pilots? We really NEED a dedicated COIN aircraft in the sandbox in my opinion. I would settle for a Cessna 182 or 206 with a side firing 240B (think very small AC130) to hammer insurgent IED/Mortar teams (among others). For those not familiar the 240B is the successor to the Viet Nam era M-60 machine gun. I realize a piston A/C would be lacking in many areas compared to a turbine engine but I would guess a piston would have a lot smaller heat signature and less vulnerable to MANPADS among other things. I think a dedicated COIN aircraft whether turbine or not would actually compliment UAVs and you guy’s who learned on the T-6 should have no trouble moving to a Tucano. Just a thought.

Wasn't there noise about AFSOC acquiring T-6 Texan II B's? While we're at it why don't we take a bunch of tweets, re-engine them with something designed for those very light jets and put a GPS in it?

Wasn't there noise about AFSOC acquiring T-6 Texan II B's? While we're at it why don't we take a bunch of tweets, re-engine them with something designed for those very light jets and put a GPS in it?

I know that Beechcraft is trying to persuade the AFSOC guys or maybe the Marine Corps to buy up a couple squadrons worth. I think a couple of Air Forces already use the AT-6, so it's not too big of a stretch to imagine us acquiring some.

I know that Beechcraft is trying to persuade the AFSOC guys or maybe the Marine Corps to buy up a couple squadrons worth. I think a couple of Air Forces already use the AT-6, so it's not too big of a stretch to imagine us acquiring some.

Fvck that.

You want a good SOF support airplane? Buy some of these...

......While we're at it why don't we take a bunch of tweets, re-engine them with something designed for those very light jets and put a GPS in it?

Cap-10

Yeah, I was gonna mention the atack version of the Tweet. One of my old instructors used to fly it in Central and South America. He fvcking loved it. The AF already has an AT-6B and is gearing up to start employing them - basically bringing back the "Sandy".

Edited June 15, 200718 yr by Fozzy Bear

The AF already has an AT-6B and is gearing up to start employing them - basically bringing back the "Sandy".

Uh, not quite.

More like bringing back the Hobos/Spads/Fireflys/Zorros. I seriously doubt they're going to be SANDYs.

Who's going to be flying these things?

Uh, not quite.

More like bringing back the Hobos/Spads/Fireflys/Zorros. I seriously doubt they're going to be SANDYs.

Who's going to be flying these things?

Uh, actually yes.

They're part of the AFSOC changes that are happening right now and will be quite evident in the next couple years as their budget and manpower balloon - not saying that's a bad thing.

They'll be flown (after the O-4s get the training program down) by fighter guys and any pilot with good CAS experience. Other factors will be a player, like being a former member of the Big Green Machine will help, since you'll have the lingo down. I've barely heard jack that's official, but there were rumors when I was in pilot training and now it's more than that; and I'm not guessing.

That being said, honestly, what's a Hobo?

Sandy is not SOF support, nor really CAS.

That being said, honestly, what's a Hobo?

Callsign of the 1st Air Commando Squadron, flying the A-1 in Vietnam. See the following site for a little info one one of thier more successful pilots.

https://skyraider.org/skyassn/fisher/fishermoh.htm

I think the amazing thing is that he earned the silver star on the day prior to the events that led to his MOH.

Fontus

So why do they continue to drop fighters if there just going to a UAV? Isn't this going to turn people off of selecting T-38's? And why does AFPC site always say how understaffed the fighter community is? And living and growing up in Vegas is no different then anywhere else. Whats the difference between an Indian Casino and the MGM, nothing.

Edited June 16, 200718 yr by scoobs

Uh, actually yes.

That being said, honestly, what's a Hobo?

Ugh. Uningbelievable. You don't know what a Hobo is and you don't know what a SANDY is.

KIO

Ugh. Un######ingbelievable. You don't know what a Hobo is and you don't know what a SANDY is.

KIO

In case you didn't realize, non-fighter guys don't care.

In case you didn't realize, non-fighter guys don't care.

Those callsigns are a SOF/CSAR/CAS thing, not a fighter/non-fighter thing. The pride/tradition associated with them is obviously lost on you.

Edited June 16, 200718 yr by backseatdriver

In case you didn't realize, non-fighter guys don't care.

Speak for yourself. I cared about those callsigns long before I ever flew a fighter.

Callsigns are an important part of our heritage. It takes an appreciation of USAF heritage to understand why a callsign is important.

I bet there are plenty of "non-fighter" guys that do care. Many of them right here on these boards. I'll speak for myself when I say you look like an idiot when you say things like this.

I know the shoe clerks probably don't care about the combat heritage stuff. I guess you don't either. That's fine if that's how you feel but I'm thinking there are plenty of "non-fighter" guys that do care and would rather not have you speaking for them.

Technique only.

For those interested, here's a little more info on the COIN aircraft. I'll volunteer for this gig anyday.

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/ASC/FA861.../SynopsisR.html

Speak for yourself. I cared about those callsigns long before I ever flew a fighter.

Callsigns are an important part of our heritage. It takes an appreciation of USAF heritage to understand why a callsign is important.

I bet there are plenty of "non-fighter" guys that do care. Many of them right here on these boards. I'll speak for myself when I say you look like an idiot when you say things like this.

I know the shoe clerks probably don't care about the combat heritage stuff. I guess you don't either. That's fine if that's how you feel but I'm thinking there are plenty of "non-fighter" guys that do care and would rather not have you speaking for them.

Technique only.

Count me in the "non-fighter" guys who care. But then being a JOLLY I'll always be SANDY's biggest fan. And like Rainman said I knew what a SANDY was long before they could save my ass.

Revival....just recently been told that slick hercs to AFSOC assignments will be limited for a while. My guess is that this TAMI crap is the reason why, just curious how many people actually ended up going AFSOC under this progarm, and if anyone else in the slick world has heard the limited AFSOC assignment story.....or if its BS.

if anyone else in the slick world has heard the limited AFSOC assignment story.....or if its BS.

I haven't heard anything on it, but I wouldn't be surprised if slick crossovers were reduced to make room for the guys crossing over from ACC.

HD

Thread revival, just got TAMIed and put down U-28s as my first choice, have most guys been getting the U-28 that have put them down as their first choice?

Anyone heard more than what was printed in AF times or online about TAMI 21? Im a B-52 copilot elgible to fill one of the 200 some slots. From what Ive heard it is going to be mostly UAVs with very few actual AFSOC flying jobs. What kind of deployment or ops tempo is going on in the MC-130 or the U28? Trying to decide if it is worth volunteering or not for a flying job, or if you know about UAV positives/negatives that would be good too. Thanks.

Maxwell

To quote an old AFSOC pilot when asked about Op's tempo some time ago..."If I knew it was going to be like this I'd have bought cheaper furniture and better luggage." Never a dull moment in "the show" and it's mostly fun in a sadistic sort of way!

Thread revival, just got TAMIed and put down U-28s as my first choice, have most guys been getting the U-28 that have put them down as their first choice?

Don't know about most guys. We just had 3 U-28 pilots from the 319th here at Sheppard and one was a F-15C guy who was Tamied and chose U-28's. So there's at least one example.

Don't know about most guys. We just had 3 U-28 pilots from the 319th here at Sheppard and one was a F-15C guy who was Tamied and chose U-28's. So there's at least one example.

Was the F-15C guy a prior -130 Nav?