Suposidly the CSAF signed a memo guaranteeing us a manned aircraft after this assignment. We were suppose to have said memo in hand with all the details in it "later this week". It's been 2 months.  No one has any idea about the details of this assignment, 3 years? 4 years etc. MPF has no idea (more than usual) how our training and orders should be written, TDY, PCS TDY en route, PCS then TDY, I leave for the B course in a few weeks. I'll happily take my assignment and move on, UPT was a awesome expierence, and knowing the outcome I would do it all over. I however will not believe they will sending us back to manned aircraft until I'm strapped in an actual cockpit. 

That is a good attitude to have. Having been in your shoes, I will tell you I didn't believe it until they sent the first guys back. But they sent us all back that wanted to leave. I like to think they will hold that promise. When I got them Norty was CSAF and made the promise going back. Welsh kept to that. My hope is the next CSAF will do the same. Time will tell. And just know attitude will most likely come into play when you do get back to a manned cockpit. Keep your head up. All of us UPT-D made it out that wanted too and didn't drink the kool aid they tried to make us drink.

Almost 20% of the AD guys from T-1s are getting the MQ-9. (Assuming the last few drop reports here have been accurate). For those of you dreamers reading this post... Choose wisely.

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You think 20% is bad I think the next one from XL with be 33%. I think there are six assignable studs in that class.

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quick update on Rucker drops, since no one there has been posting them recently - this is from a convo I had last week with a Rucker IP. 

Drops favor 60s over Hueys (last class had something like 5 60s and 3 Hueys) these days.  Expect 5 ish FAIP drops in a year (which typically go to those who ask for them), and CV-22s will be starting to drop again at Rucker (unknown amount, but my guess would be near the same number of FAIP drops, give or take, from historical averages when they were dropping before).

You think 20% is bad I think the next one from XL with be 33%. I think there are six assignable studs in that class.

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That's what really sucks about having a fixed # of droids drop regardless of class size

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quick update on Rucker drops, since no one there has been posting them recently - this is from a convo I had last week with a Rucker IP. 

Drops favor 60s over Hueys (last class had something like 5 60s and 3 Hueys) these days.  Expect 5 ish FAIP drops in a year (which typically go to those who ask for them), and CV-22s will be starting to drop again at Rucker (unknown amount, but my guess would be near the same number of FAIP drops, give or take, from historical averages when they were dropping before).

Forgive my ignorance, I'm an ad pilot select and going to ots in a few weeks. How many rotorwing slots are needed annually/per track select? Also, is the osprey bro-hood pretty tight knit or eat your own society? The rotor wing side intrigues me that's why I ask. A little background about myself: I'm a commercial civilian fixed winged pilot (crop duster) and would like to be in the air on the military side and not a drone if avoidable, but I will take what I'm assigned.

1-2 per class per base is normal.

3 x questions regarding UPT grads assigned to T-38 adversary squadrons at Langley/Tyndall:

1) Is this a sought after assignment?

2) Are these grads guaranteed an F-22 follow-on? If so how long should they expect to fly T-38s before the transition? If not, are there any guarantees given at all? Any examples of these pilots not becoming Raptor drivers?

3) Do they attend IFF prior to arriving at Langley/Tyndall?

 

Thanks. 

3 x questions regarding UPT grads assigned to T-38 adversary squadrons at Langley/Tyndall:

1) Is this a sought after assignment?

2) Are these grads guaranteed an F-22 follow-on? If so how long should they expect to fly T-38s before the transition? If not, are there any guarantees given at all? Any examples of these pilots not becoming Raptor drivers?

3) Do they attend IFF prior to arriving at Langley/Tyndall?

 

Thanks. 

3x answers, but they're probably not the ones you're hoping for.

1) Everyone has individual wants/needs.  There are people who would cut off their left finger to do it, others who will take whatever fighter type assignment is offered, and still others who want to fly something that will easily segue into an airline job.

2) No.  There are no guarantees.  You are always beholden to the needs of the AF for 10 years after you earn those wings.  That said, the AF is very good at MAKING promises.

3)  Think about it.  What do adversaries do?  Do you think it would be safe to have someone out there that's never been introduced to fighter fundamentals in a dogfight with a bunch of other $100M+ fighters/pilots?

16-01 KEND T-38s:

F-15E

F-15C

F-16 x2

T-6 FAIP

F-15C - ANG

 

Edited October 12, 201510 yr by Boomer6
completeness*

Almost 20% of the AD guys from T-1s are getting the MQ-9. (Assuming the last few drop reports here have been accurate). For those of you dreamers reading this post... Choose wisely.

 

 

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A little confused, so if you are a pilot select from AD, you can still get an RPA even though you only put down pilot and got selected for pilot? Is this the same for AFRC Unsponsored?

A little confused, so if you are a pilot select from AD, you can still get an RPA even though you only put down pilot and got selected for pilot? Is this the same for AFRC Unsponsored?

"Selected for pilot" just means you are going to UPT. That doesn't guarantee you won't get an RPA, or wash out and reclass to any other AFSC in the AF.

3 x questions regarding UPT grads assigned to T-38 adversary squadrons at Langley/Tyndall:

1) Is this a sought after assignment?

2) Are these grads guaranteed an F-22 follow-on? If so how long should they expect to fly T-38s before the transition? If not, are there any guarantees given at all? Any examples of these pilots not becoming Raptor drivers?

3) Do they attend IFF prior to arriving at Langley/Tyndall?

 

Thanks. 

I'll add my 2 cents....

1.  Depends on the class I'm sure.  If there are no F-22s and someone really wants one, they frequently take the T-38 adversary assignment.  I'd definitely recommend contacting some Lts in the 2 FTS (Tyndall) or 71 FTS (Langley) to get their take but I can tell you from personal observation that they tend to really enjoy the assignment.  

2.  They were as of early this year.  Not sure about current ROE.  So far none have lost their F-22, several are already through the B-course, several more are currently in training, and many more are fragged against upcoming classes. 

3.  Yes, the F-22 track.

If you want more info or contact info, PM me.

16-01 DLF

T-38 Studs

F22

B1

B2

A10

F16 (ANG)

T-1 Studs

KC-10

KC-135

MQ-9 x2

T-6 FAIP

T-1 FAIP

Some 130 guard/ reserve guys. Don't remember them all. Only 6 AD studs.

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3 x questions regarding UPT grads assigned to T-38 adversary squadrons at Langley/Tyndall:

1) Is this a sought after assignment?

2) Are these grads guaranteed an F-22 follow-on? If so how long should they expect to fly T-38s before the transition? If not, are there any guarantees given at all? Any examples of these pilots not becoming Raptor drivers?

3) Do they attend IFF prior to arriving at Langley/Tyndall?

 

Thanks. 

1. Yes. Obviously upt grads would rather go straight to the raptor, but this is still a way into a raptor. 

2. Yes .... So far. 100% success. So far. Ymmv.  Our knuckle heads are generally here almost 2 years before the b-course.  You have a much better chance of sparing forward into a b-course from Tyndall than from Langley (no pcs required)

3.  Yes. 

RUCKER 15-10

HH-60G x 5

UH-1N x 2

RUCKER 15-11

HH-60G 

UH-1N x 2

---

PK...

CBM 16-01 (T-38)

F-16 x 2 (Holloman & Tuscon... Both AD)

T-6 FAIP

T-38 FAIP

B-52

Eurofighter & Tornado (Both Saudi)

 

CBM 16-01 (T-1)

C-17 x 2 (1 Charleston, 1 ANG)

KC-135 x 2 (McConnell, 1 AFRC)

T-1 FAIP

T-6 FAIP

C-130H (ANG)

KC-10 (AFRC)

JSTARS 

HC-130J (DM)

CV-22 (Hurbie)

MQ-9 x 2 (Creech)

---

PK...

CBM 16-01 (T-38)

F-16 x 2 (Holloman & Tuscon... Both AD)

T-6 FAIP

T-38 FAIP

B-52

Eurofighter & Tornado (Both Saudi)

 

CBM 16-01 (T-1)

C-17 x 2 (1 Charleston, 1 ANG)

KC-135 x 2 (McConnell, 1 AFRC)

T-1 FAIP

T-6 FAIP

C-130H (ANG)

KC-10 (AFRC)

JSTARS 

HC-130J (DM)

CV-22 (Hurbie)

MQ-9 x 2 (Creech)

---

PK...

Ouch...rough drop

EN 16-01? Dropped this past Friday night I believe.

Ouch...rough drop

Scroll back 5 years and say that.

Scroll back 5 years and say that.

^this

Ouch...rough drop

I don't have much ground to stand on since I won't get to UPT until next year, but this doesn't seem like that horrible of a drop. It could definitely be a lot worse. I'd be happy with any of the manned aircraft in this drop. 

Scroll back 5 years and say that.

No need to get snippy.  I'm merely pointing out that out of the 13 AD assignments, 4 were FAIPs and 2 RPAs. Certainly not as RPA heavy as years past, but still significant.  

Expect the number of RPA drops to increase in 2019.  The bulk of 18Xers start to hit the end of their ADSCs in 2018.  Expect most of them to separate.  That manning has to get replaced from somewhere.

No need to get snippy.  I'm merely pointing out that out of the 13 AD assignments, 4 were FAIPs and 2 RPAs. Certainly not as RPA heavy as years past, but still significant.  

And?

4 were FAIPs

The dreaded FAIP assignment.

Say that out loud and see how it sounds. You need to catch on how much that sounds like a little bitch.

FAIPs do alright, both in the jet and career-wise.